Crossing the Divide: An Exploration of Functional Traits in Ferns that Grow Across Terrestrial, Epipetric, and Epiphytic Habitats

Watts, Jacob Lewis; Watkins, James E.

doi:10.1640/0002-8444-111.4.308

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…While ferns are typically found in moist ecosystems, many ferns are epiphytes in these ecosystems, which often exposes them to drier and harsher conditions than terrestrial plants in the same ecosystems (Nitta et al, 2020; Watts and Watkins Jr, 2021). Additionally, some ferns have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in drylands (Hevly, 1963; Nobel, 1978; Nobel et al, 1978; Sharpe, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation applications of niche modeling: native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

Edwards-Calma,

Jiménez,

Zenil-Ferguson

et al. 2023

Preprint

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PremiseCompetition from non-native species and habitat loss are common threats to biodiversity and may act synergistically to increase competition for decreasing habitat availability. We develop a workflow using Hawaiian dryland ferns as a model for the interactions between land-use change and non-native competition in determining available habitat for native species.MethodsWe use fine-resolution climatic variables and carefully curated occurrence data from herbaria and community science repositories to estimate the distributions of Hawaiian dryland. We quantify the degree to which non-natives occupy similar regions of niche space and map the remaining available habitat given land-use change in Hawai‘i.ResultsThe estimated niches for the endemic species (Doryopterisspp.) are more narrow than for the indigenousPellaea ternifolia.Doryopteris angelicahas the lowest proportion of non-native occurrences in its estimated suitable area whileD. decorahas the highest. BothD. decoraandD. decipienshave low proportions (¡20%) of inferred suitable area covering native habitat.DiscussionAreas characterized by shared environmental preferences of native and non-native ferns may also decrease due to human development and fallowed agricultural lands. Our study demonstrates the value of a novel ecological niche modeling approach for conservation risk assessment in a rapidly changing and urbanized island ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation applications of niche modeling: native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

Edwards-Calma,

Jiménez,

Zenil-Ferguson

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While ferns are typically found in moist ecosystems, many ferns are epiphytes in these ecosystems, which often exposes them to drier and harsher conditions than terrestrial plants in the same ecosystems (Nitta et al, 2020 ; Watts and Watkins Jr., 2021 ). Some ferns, however, have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in drylands (Hevly, 1963 ; Nobel, 1978 ; Nobel et al, 1978 ; Sharpe, 2019 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation applications of niche modeling: Native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

Edwards‐Calma,

Jiménez,

Zenil‐Ferguson

et al. 2024

Appl Plant Sci

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PremiseCompetition from naturalized species and habitat loss are common threats to native biodiversity and may act synergistically to increase competition for decreasing habitat availability. We use Hawaiian dryland ferns as a model for the interactions between land‐use change and competition from naturalized species in determining habitat availability.MethodsWe used fine‐resolution climatic variables and carefully curated occurrence data from herbaria and community science repositories to estimate the distributions of Hawaiian dryland ferns. We quantified the degree to which naturalized ferns tend to occupy areas suitable for native species and mapped the remaining available habitat given land‐use change.ResultsOf all native species, Doryopteris angelica had the lowest percentage of occurrences of naturalized species in its suitable area while D. decora had the highest. However, all Doryopteris spp. had a higher percentage overlap, while Pellaea ternifolia had a lower percentage overlap, than expected by chance. Doryopteris decora and D. decipiens had the lowest proportions (<20%) of suitable area covering native habitat.DiscussionAreas characterized by shared environmental preferences of native and naturalized ferns may decrease due to human development and fallowed agricultural lands. Our study demonstrates the value of place‐based application of a recently developed correlative ecological niche modeling approach for conservation risk assessment in a rapidly changing and urbanized island ecosystem.

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A new approach to an old problem: how to categorize the habit of ferns and lycophytes

Zotz,

Armenia,

Einzmann

2023

Annals of Botany

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Background and Aims Substrate preferences are often treated as species traits and are used to distinguish different habits, i.e. an epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial habit. Such a categorization, however, ignores substantial intraspecific variation. An approach that takes biological variability within a species into account is needed. Methods We focused on four large genera of ferns and lycophytes and found relevant information in >500 sources, such as online databases, checklists, floras and species descriptions. Translating textual information into a quantitative index, we quantified the propensity to grow on either substrate as a continuous trait for 1475 species. Key Results Only a minority of species exhibited strict substrate fidelity, but a majority of them showed clear habitat preferences. The relative frequencies of intermediates between strict lithophytes, epiphytes and terrestrials does not support the frequent notion of ecological similarity of the lithophytic and epiphytic habitat. Conclusions The compiled data are useful immediately for ecological and evolutionary studies with the focal taxa. More importantly, we propose the replacement of the concept of distinct habits with one of gradual differences. This should have a profound impact on any such study with plants in general.

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Crossing the Divide: An Exploration of Functional Traits in Ferns that Grow Across Terrestrial, Epipetric, and Epiphytic Habitats

Cited by 3 publications

References 65 publications

Conservation applications of niche modeling: native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

Conservation applications of niche modeling: native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

Conservation applications of niche modeling: Native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat

A new approach to an old problem: how to categorize the habit of ferns and lycophytes

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