Diversity and composition of vascular epiphytic plant on tree ferns (Cyathea spp.) at Cibodas Botanic Garden, West Java

Abstract

Nasution T, Junaedi DI. 2017. Diversity and composition of vascular epiphytic plant on tree ferns (Cyathea spp.) at Cibodas Botanic Garden, West Java. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 3: 453-460. Tree ferns are important horticultural commodities for ornamental plant and planting medium. These ferns are also ecologically important for the habitat of vascular epiphytes. The information on the relationship of tree ferns and vascular epiphytes is still limited, so that it is important to be studied for supporting its management in Cibodas Botanic Garden. This study aimed to study the diversity and composition of vascular epiphytes on wild tree ferns in Cibodas Botanic Garden. The census of vascular epiphytes on 30 individuals of Cyathea contaminans and 30 individuals of Cyathea junghuhniana had been conducted. About 3,034 individuals of vascular epiphytes were recorded belongs to 138 species and 51 families. The species richness of vascular epiphytes on C. contaminans was 95 species and higher than C. junghuhniana (86 species). The abundance of vascular epiphytes on C. contaminans was 1,820 individuals and higher than C. junghuhniana (1,214 individuals). Shannon-Wiener index of vascular epiphytes on C. contaminans was 3.13 and lower than C. junghuhniana (3.67). The species composition of both hosts comprised 108 species of spermatophytes and 31 species of ferns. The highest species richness on C. contaminans was Polypodiaceae, followed by Poaceae and Orchidaceae, whereas Moraceae, Polypodiaceae and Urticaceae were the highest species richness on C. junghuhniana. The vascular epiphytes of tree ferns in Cibodas Botanic Garden had a relatively high diversity. The management of tree ferns would support the conservation of vascular epiphytes in Cibodas Botanic Garden.