Fern species diversity along selected roadside vegetation of Macalelon and Infanta, Quezon Province, Philippines

Perida, J.B.O.; Peñaverde, H.A.A.; de Villa, K.R.; Barrera, W.B. Jr

Fern species diversity along selected roadside vegetation of Macalelon and Infanta, Quezon Province, Philippines

2023

Perida, J.B.O. | Peñaverde, H.A.A. | de Villa, K.R. | Barrera, W.B. Jr

Limited information is known about fern diversity and ecology in roadside vegetation because fern studies are mostly conducted in montane ecosystems. This study aimed to report the diversity and distribution of fern species in the roadside vegetation of Quezon Province, Philippines. Authors established sampling plots along selected roadside vegetation of Macalelon and Infanta and surveyed the fern communities. The ecological factors were measured in situ while the edaphic factors were analyzed ex situ for physicochemical parameters. Authors identified a total of 15 species belonging to seven families and 12 genera. Both study sites have low fern diversity and evenness. The most common species in Macalelon was Nephrolepis hirsutula (G.Forst.) C.Presl., whereas Sphaerostephanos hirsutus (Kunze ex Mett.) Holttum was in Infanta. Two species, Lygodium circinnatum (Burm.fil.) Sw. and Pteris vittata L. were classified as least concern (LC), and one species, Phymatosorus scolopendria (Burm.f.) Pic.Serm. was classified as vulnerable (VU). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that fern distribution in Macalelon was highly influenced by relative humidity, elevation, soil temperature, and air temperature, whereas it was by soil pH, slope, soil organic matter, soil moisture content, and elevation in Infanta. The fern species thriving in the roadside vegetation of the localities are adaptive to disturbance and changes in ecological and edaphic factors, which highlights their importance as potential bioindicators.

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