Diversidad y distribución de los helechos y licófitos de un bosque subandino del norte de los Andes

Abstract

Background and aims: Ferns and lycophytes are highly diverse in Neotropical forests, and their distribution is influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors, including disturbance. This study analyzes the effect of some of these factors on the diversity of these plants in a sub-Andean forest. M&M: Four transects of 400 m2 (80×5 m) were established, two in highly disturbed sites, grassland, and stream edge, and two in the forest. Each transect was divided into 16 plots where all terrestrial and epiphytic individuals were recorded. Clustering analyses were performed to recognize the presence of floristic groups, and a canonical correlation analysis was performed to identify how soil chemistry and vegetation structure affect the composition and diversity of these plants. Results: A total of 4935 individuals were found, representing 42 species. Amauropelta rudis (Kunze) Pic. Serm. (2485 individuals) and Asplenium flabellulatum Kunze (1190 individuals) were the dominant terrestrial species. The clustering and ordination analyses revealed that the plots of open sites are more related to each other than to those of the forest. Species of open sites are more correlated with a lower layer of litter, a lower height and coverage of trees or saplings, a higher concentration of aluminum and a lower concentration of sodium. Conclusions: Ferns and lycophytes are influenced by the environmental, structural and disturbance conditions of the site where they grow. Key words Disturbance, diversity, edaphic factors, multivariate analysis, pteridophytes, richness, structural factors.