Estimating dynamics of fern species richness and assemblages for 30 years in Japan capital and along planning belt of linear motor car from Tokyo to Nagoya

Research on ferns ecology has gained attention in the last decade, yet there is paucity of information on the intercontinental comparison of ferns community across two continents. This study focused on comparing the ferns community assemblages in tropical forests of Malaysia and Nigeria, thereby assessing the patterns of the species richness and diversity across the two continents. The diversity and taxonomic compositions of ferns were assessed using 180 plots of size 10 m x 10 m in each country. The species richness and other diversity indices were determined using the combined forests data for each country and for the individual forests. The observed and rarefied–extrapolated fern species richness are significantly higher in Malaysian forests than Nigerian forests. Also, the other diversity indices (Simpson index, Margalef index, and Fisher’s alpha) are significantly higher in Malaysian forests except Shannon index which showed no significant difference between the two biogeographic regions. There is a very low similarity in the taxonomic composition of ferns between the two biogeographic areas, although the similarity in composition increased with increasing taxonomic levels (genus and family levels). Terrestrial and epiphytic ferns are more dominant than the other life forms in the two countries. Since the two countries receive varying degrees of environmental factors, we then hypothesize that these observed differences are due to climatic differences as well as historical and evolutionary processes.

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The predominant role of soil in determining species composition of fern communities in subtropical coastal forest ecosystems

Neotropical Biology and Conservation ◽

10.3897/neotropical.14.e49028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 559-575

Author(s):

Amanda Angélica Carmes ◽

Michele de Sá Dechoum ◽

Pedro Fiaschi

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Canopy Openness ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Edaphic Conditions ◽

Fern Species

Ferns are an important component in the understorey of tropical forests and their distribution is influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors. At a regional scale, soil characteristics and canopy openness play an important role in fern species composition and richness, as well as in the abundance of individuals. Our objective was to compare the influence of edaphic conditions and vegetation structure on the abundance and distribution of fern communities in Atlantic forest and restinga forest. Our hypotheses were that fern species richness and diversity are higher in Atlantic forest than in restinga due to limiting conditions in this habitat and the composition of fern species in Atlantic forest differs from restinga, especially due to differences in edaphic conditions. A principal coordinates analysis was applied to ordinate sampling units in relation to the environmental variables and a permutational multivariate analysis of variance was used to test that environmental variables did not differ between the two vegetation types. Species richness was compared using rarefaction curves. The influence of abiotic variables in species composition and abundance was verified using canonical correspondence analysis. No differences were observed in species richness, diversity or dominance between vegetation types, although abundance was higher in restinga. Fern communities respond to edaphic conditions and vegetation structure variations between vegetation types, the soil playing a major role. A greater variety of habitats resulting from differences in soil drainage in restinga facilitates the co-existence of species with different ecological tolerance, increasing local diversity and compensating for limiting conditions in restinga.

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FERN SPECIES RICHNESS PATTERNS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PREFERENCES ACROSS ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT ON MOUNT TRUS MADI, SABAH, MALAYSIA

10.26525/jtfs2021.33.1.58 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 58-68

Author(s):

MAF Suis ◽

L Majuakim ◽

M Suleiman

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Environmental Preferences ◽

Fern Species ◽

Richness Patterns

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Ecological Diversity of Pteridophytes Across Land Use Types in Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Luzon Island, Philippines

Journal of Marine and Island Cultures ◽

10.21463/jmic.2020.09.2.08 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Marjorie D. delos Angeles ◽

Ailene A. Alcala ◽

Inocencio E. Buot Jr.

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

The Philippines ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Forest Reserve ◽

Community Patterns ◽

Land Use Types ◽

Fern Species

Changes are evident in fern species richness, composition, and abundance as a result of environmental changes caused by forest conversion to various land use types. This study identified fern species and described its distribution pattern with reference to ecological parameters obtained from various land use types across the northeastern slope of Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Los Baños, Philippines. The plot technique was employed using a 20x20 meter quadrat. Three 5x2 subquadrats were randomly distributed within the established quadrat. Cluster and ordination analysis were used and edaphic factors were analyzed. Fern specimens were identified (sensu PPG) and measured. Samples were collected for herbarium vouchers and were deposited at the Plant Biology Division Herbarium, University of the Philippines Los Baños (PBDH). Cluster analysis revealed six land use types: buffer, agroforest, agri-farm, roadside, mahogany, and forest. Twenty-nine (29) fern species belonging to 23 genera from 14 families were recorded across the different land use types. Among the land use types, the forest had the highest fern species richness (13) and the agri-farm and Mahogany had the least (6). Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that moisture, OM, pH, and CEC were significant explanatory drivers of fern distribution especially in the Mahogany and Agroforest land use type. Understanding the fern community patterns and edaphic factors in Mt. Makiling would aid in its conservation planning.

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Testing the accuracy of non-experts in biodiversity monitoring exercises using fern species richness in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-011-0094-0 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (12) ◽

pp. 2615-2626 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Johan A. Oldekop ◽

Anthony J. Bebbington ◽

Franka Berdel ◽

Nathan K. Truelove ◽

Thorsten Wiersberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Ecuadorian Amazon ◽

Fern Species

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Diversity and endemism of tree ferns (Cyatheaceae: Polypodiopsida) in the Central Andes along latitudinal and elevation gradients

Acta Botanica Malacitana ◽

10.24310/abm.v42i1.2959 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 41-47

Author(s):

Adrian Tejedor Gutierrez

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bimodal Distribution ◽

Central Andes ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Tree Fern ◽

Montane Forests ◽

Elevation Gradients ◽

Climatic Fluctuations ◽

Tree Ferns ◽

Fern Species

Tree ferns are a conspicuous and yet poorly known component of Neotropical montane forests. Conservation efforts for these plants are hindered by a lack of information of patterns of species richness and endemism, which has been in turn prevented by an unstable taxonomy and limited collections. Based on distribution data from the most recent floristic accounts of tree ferns from Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, this study presents an analysis of species richness and endemism of this group in the Central Andes. Results show that tree fern diversity falls steeply with distance from the equator, and the effect is stronger in the lowlands than at tree line to -20°. In elevation, tree fern species richness shows a bimodal distribution with peaks at 1000 and 2100 m, where as many as 24 species can coexist in 200 m elevation intervals. Endemic species are concentrated in the northern Central Andes. Endemics in more southern latitudes tend to be restricted to higher elevations. Correspondingly, the tree fern flora of the southern Central Andes is mostly composed of widely ranging species, potentially tolerant of higher seasonality and longer term climatic fluctuations. These results provide a tool for predicting how many tree fern species should be found in any given area of the Central Andes, even those botanically unexplored, and indicates areas where species richness and endemism is concentrated, and may serve to guide efforts aimed to conserve tropical montane forests.

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