epiphytic fern
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2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
Rizkia Adhatirana ◽  
Nina Ratna Djuita ◽  
Sulistijorini Sulistijorini ◽  
Taufikurrahman Nasution

Epiphytic ferns can be found in host trees from the Angiosperm and Gymnosperm groups. Epiphytic ferns in Angiosperm plants host have been widely studied, but there is little known for Gymnosperm plants host. The aim of this study was to identify the species of epiphytic ferns in the Gymnosperm plants host at Cibodas Botanical Garden and to analyze the diversity of epiphytic ferns based on microclimate conditions and the surface texture of Gymnosperms plants host. Epiphytic ferns diversity data was obtained using purposive random sampling method. Factors that influence the occupancy of ferns are analyzed using Principal Component Analysis. Epiphytic ferns in Gymnosperm host at Cibodas Botanical Garden were identified as 18 species including 7 family. The most dominant species of epiphytic fern is Davallia denticulata (59.45%). Diversity of epiphytic fern on Gymnosperm at Cibodas Botanical Garden is moderate (H’ = 1.81).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Thomas Dawes

<p><b>Epiphytes and other structurally-dependent plants have a spatial ecology and community structure intrinsically linked to that of the host trees in the forest, unlike fully terrestrial plants. Understanding of the ecological implications of this from a theoretical perspective is in its infancy. New Zealand’s south temperate rainforest, whilst not as species rich as tropical forests, hosts one of the richest temperate epiphyte floras. Our understanding of the ecological processes structuring the epiphyte communities of New Zealand forests is however lacking. Here, I present four key studies seeking to add to our knowledge of epiphyte community structure, host specificity and spatial ecology in the New Zealand eco-region.</b></p> <p>First, I tested if seed size determined the likelihood of woody plant species occurring epiphytically on tree ferns (their arboreality) – Chapter 2. Arboreality was negatively related to seed size, with only smaller-seeded species commonly occurring on tree ferns. However, the effect of seed size reduced in later life history stages, as expected. These small-seeded species, most notably Weinmannia racemosa, appear to be utilising an alternative recruitment strategy by establishing epiphytically on the tree fern trunks.</p> <p>Second, on Cyathea dealbata host tree ferns, I tested patterns of species accumulation, metacommunity network structure, and differences in vertical stratification (Chapter 3). Epiphytes and climbers followed a species accumulation model of succession between tree ferns of different sizes and between older and younger portions of the tree fern. The metacommunity network showed patterns of species co-occurrence and nestedness consistent with null expectations. Epiphytes of different habits and different dispersal syndromes show different vertical profiles of occurrence, with bird-dispersed species occurring more often near the top of the tree fern than other taxa.</p> <p>To understand an unusual pattern in epiphyte between-host structuring, I quantified the relationship between epiphytic plant and sooty mould assemblages in New Zealand montane beech forest (Chapter 4). Due to the presence of host specific scale insects, the sooty mould was limited to two of three co-dominant canopy tree species. On these two host species, epiphyte richness was significantly reduced. The host size-richness relationship in these two species was also removed, with species composition significantly altered compared to the mould free host species. My results are consistent with the sooty mould amensally excluding the epiphytes and it can be considered as a part of a keystone species complex (with the host beeches and scale insects). This produces a strong pattern of parallel host specificity otherwise not seen in epiphyte assemblages.</p> <p>Lastly, I compared the differences in spatial niche and host species diversity between three arboreal plants, with divergent ecophysiology, on Lord Howe Island (Chapter 5). These focal species were a dwarf mistletoe, an epiphytic orchid and an epiphytic fern. The mistletoe was restricted to thinner branches, and had a significantly different niche to both epiphyte taxa. The host diversity of the mistletoe and orchid both differed significantly from null model expectations. However, the epiphytic fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) had a host diversity consistent with null expectations.</p> <p>Taken together, these studies increase our understanding of epiphyte community assembly in New Zealand and provide a platform to encourage further work in this field. They also provide results that expand understanding of spatial patterns between host and up vertical clines.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Thomas Dawes

<p><b>Epiphytes and other structurally-dependent plants have a spatial ecology and community structure intrinsically linked to that of the host trees in the forest, unlike fully terrestrial plants. Understanding of the ecological implications of this from a theoretical perspective is in its infancy. New Zealand’s south temperate rainforest, whilst not as species rich as tropical forests, hosts one of the richest temperate epiphyte floras. Our understanding of the ecological processes structuring the epiphyte communities of New Zealand forests is however lacking. Here, I present four key studies seeking to add to our knowledge of epiphyte community structure, host specificity and spatial ecology in the New Zealand eco-region.</b></p> <p>First, I tested if seed size determined the likelihood of woody plant species occurring epiphytically on tree ferns (their arboreality) – Chapter 2. Arboreality was negatively related to seed size, with only smaller-seeded species commonly occurring on tree ferns. However, the effect of seed size reduced in later life history stages, as expected. These small-seeded species, most notably Weinmannia racemosa, appear to be utilising an alternative recruitment strategy by establishing epiphytically on the tree fern trunks.</p> <p>Second, on Cyathea dealbata host tree ferns, I tested patterns of species accumulation, metacommunity network structure, and differences in vertical stratification (Chapter 3). Epiphytes and climbers followed a species accumulation model of succession between tree ferns of different sizes and between older and younger portions of the tree fern. The metacommunity network showed patterns of species co-occurrence and nestedness consistent with null expectations. Epiphytes of different habits and different dispersal syndromes show different vertical profiles of occurrence, with bird-dispersed species occurring more often near the top of the tree fern than other taxa.</p> <p>To understand an unusual pattern in epiphyte between-host structuring, I quantified the relationship between epiphytic plant and sooty mould assemblages in New Zealand montane beech forest (Chapter 4). Due to the presence of host specific scale insects, the sooty mould was limited to two of three co-dominant canopy tree species. On these two host species, epiphyte richness was significantly reduced. The host size-richness relationship in these two species was also removed, with species composition significantly altered compared to the mould free host species. My results are consistent with the sooty mould amensally excluding the epiphytes and it can be considered as a part of a keystone species complex (with the host beeches and scale insects). This produces a strong pattern of parallel host specificity otherwise not seen in epiphyte assemblages.</p> <p>Lastly, I compared the differences in spatial niche and host species diversity between three arboreal plants, with divergent ecophysiology, on Lord Howe Island (Chapter 5). These focal species were a dwarf mistletoe, an epiphytic orchid and an epiphytic fern. The mistletoe was restricted to thinner branches, and had a significantly different niche to both epiphyte taxa. The host diversity of the mistletoe and orchid both differed significantly from null model expectations. However, the epiphytic fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) had a host diversity consistent with null expectations.</p> <p>Taken together, these studies increase our understanding of epiphyte community assembly in New Zealand and provide a platform to encourage further work in this field. They also provide results that expand understanding of spatial patterns between host and up vertical clines.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uswatun Hasanah ◽  
Hadisunarso Hadisunarso ◽  
Titien Ngatinem Praptosuwiryo

Abstract. Hasanah U, Hadisunarso, Praptosuwiryo TN. 2021. Composition, community structure, and vertical distribution of epiphytic ferns on Cyathea junghuhniana in Gede-Pangrango National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 4968-4976. Epiphytic ferns are a significant component of tropical forests worldwide and contribute significantly to the high species diversity found in tropical regions. Tree ferns are important phorophytes for the establishment and occurrence of epiphytic fern species in tropical forests. The first detailed description of the diversity and abundance of epiphytic ferns on the tree fern Cyathea junghuhniana (Kunze) Copel.  in a natural forest of Indonesia is provided. This study aimed to determine the species composition, richness, abundance, community structure, and vertical distribution of epiphytic ferns growing on the tree fern C.  junghuhniana in the mountain forest of Gede-Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia. The 35 tree fern caudices of at least 3 m height were selected by purposive random sampling. Each tree fern was divided into intervals of 1 meter from ground level to a height of three meters, thus obtaining 105 one-meter samples of the epiphytic fern community on tree fern caudices stratified according to height. The Importance Value Index (IVI) was estimated for each species of epiphyte based on the frequency of occurrence on caudices. The 35 tree fern caudices hosted 760 fern epiphytes belonging to 12 species of 9 genera and 6  families. The highest species richness occurred in Polypodiaceae. The species with the highest Importance Value Index (IVI = 1.24 %) was Nephrolepis davallioides (Sw.) Kunze, with increasing frequency from bottom to top of the caudex.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 522 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-255
Author(s):  
SUMIT SINGH ◽  
SNEHA ◽  
BIKARMA SINGH

Pyrrosia sarthalensis, belonging to the family Polypodiaceae from the Bani Valley of Kathua district, Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir, India is described here as a new species. It shows restricted distributional range and so far, is only known from the Bani Valley, within the Himalayan centre of endemism. It is an epiphytic fern species having brownish sori, formed only on the upper half of the frond. Other diagnostic features include grooved rhizomes, rhizome scales, lamina size and structure, sori placement, size and structure, and spore characters. This new species is morphologically similar to P. flocculosa but differs in certain characters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny Helsen ◽  
Tsung-Yi Lin ◽  
David Zeleny

While functional trait-trait and trait-environment relationships are well studied in angiosperms, it is less clear if similar relationships, such as the leaf economics spectrum (LES), hold for ferns and lycophytes. Similarly, studies exploring potential differences in trait-trait and trait-environment relationships between terrestrial and epiphytic fern communities in a given ecosystem are largely lacking. We measured nine leaf traits for 76 terrestrial and 43 epiphytic fern and lycophyte species across 59 vegetation plots along an elevation gradient in the subtropical forest of Northern Taiwan. We explored trait-trait and trait-environment relationships at both the species- and community level for both species groups. Epiphytes differed from terrestrial ferns and lycophytes in species- and community-level trait values, mainly reflecting responses to higher drought and nutrient stress. The angiosperm LES was reflected in the trait-trait correlations of terrestrial ferns, but not of epiphytes. This suggests that epiphytic trait patterns are mainly shaped by water, rather than nutrient availability. Trait-environment relationships were nonetheless more-or-less similar for several drought-related traits across both species' groups. This study illustrates that ferns and lycophyte trait patterns are not equivalent for epiphytic and terrestrial species or communities, and should not be extrapolated across species groups or between the species- and community-level.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Johan Reyes-Chávez ◽  
Megan Quail ◽  
Stephanie Tarvin ◽  
Michael Kessler ◽  
Sven P. Batke

Abstract IPCC predictions for Honduras indicate that temperature will increase by up to 3–6°C and precipitation will decrease by up to 7–13% by the year 2050. To better understand how fern and lycophyte communities might be affected by climate change, we comprehensively surveyed the community compositions of ferns and lycophytes at Celaque National Park, the highest mountain in Honduras. We surveyed a total of 80 20 × 20 m2 plots along an altitudinal gradient of 1249–2844 m a.s.l., identifying all species and estimating their abundances. We recorded a total of 11,098 individuals from 160 species and 61 genera. Community composition was strongly influenced by changes in altitude, precipitation and the abundance of bryophytes (a proxy for air humidity). Of the 160 species, 63 are expected, under a RCP2.6 scenario for the year 2050, to shift their range fully or partially above the maximum altitude of the mountain. Of these, 65.1% are epiphytes. We found that species with narrow altitudinal ranges at high altitudes were more at risk. Our study indicated that conservation efforts should prioritise higher altitudinal sites, focusing particularly on preserving the vulnerable epiphytic fern species, which are likely to be at greater risk.


Lilloa ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 156-163
Author(s):  
Mariana Fernandes da Rocha ◽  
Isabella Rodrigues Lancellotti ◽  
Marcelo Guerra Santos

Cyanogenic glycosides are defense substances that can produce hydrocyanic acid when they undergo hydrolysis as a result of herbivory, a process called cyanogenesis. Galls are neoformed structures of plant tissues induced by species-specific interactions between an inducer organism and a host plant. Earlier studies in Microgramma species have demonstrated that has a variation in cyanogenesis within and between populations, as well as in different plant organs. Microgramma squamulosa is an epiphytic fern that may contain stem galls induced by Tortrimosaica polypodivora (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess cyanogenesis seasonally and in different tissues (galled and non-galled) of M. squamulosa. The study was conducted in populations located in the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Cyanogenesis was assessed using the Feigl-Anger paper test. A total of 260 galled and non-galled tissues were analyzed, 45 gall samples, 67 sterile leaves, 103 stems and 2 croziers. Cyanogenesis was detected in only three sterile leaf samples. In none of the samples were the stems or galls cyanogenic. The results corroborate the hypothesis that the stems of Microgramma squamulosa galled by Tortrimosaica polypodivora are not cyanogenic.


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