1. Air plants are part of the Bromeliad family, air plants are epiphytes — plants that attach themselves to other plants for support, without relying on the host to thrive.
2. They absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves, not their roots, which they use only to anchor themselves to other plants or objects. Since air plants don't absorb their nutrients through their roots, they can't be planted in the soil.
3. The internal structure and anatomy of Tillandsia have adapted to survive on varied hosts both alive and not. Their leaves are able to pull moisture from the air more efficiently while some have developed a camel-like ability to store water and survive in areas prone to drought. Being up in trees or on rocky cliffs protects these plants from damage done by foraging animals, flooding or erosion on the ground.
Explanation:
Epiphytic plants can be used to determine the elemental composition of the air and soil in which they grow, cycle nitrogen, affect water retention within the rainforest, and house many resources for various plants and animals.
Through the analysis of epiphytes, biologists can determine changes in air and soil composition over time. Air pollution in the rainforest can be monitored by the use of air plants. By monitoring how mosses and lichens respond to different air pollutants, especially heavy metals, the effect that the toxins have on the environment can be determined In the rainforest, epiphytes can be placed in areas where there is ecological damage to determine if nearby pollutants are affecting the health of the forest and additionally play a role in nitrogen cycling.
