The effects of natural and artificial edges on phenology: A case study of Ctenitis submarginalis

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation increases forest edges, which in turn influence the microclimate to which ferns are exposed. Ferns do not depend on pollinators or dispersers, which make abiotic variables responsible for triggering the manifestation of their phenophases. Phenology has been an important tool in understanding the effects of habitat fragmentation on plant behaviour. Our aims were to compare the phenology of populations of the fern Ctenitis submarginalis at a natural edge, an artificial edge and in the forest interior and determine whether the edge effect has an influence. Populations of C. submarginalis were monitored in these three subareas of an Araucaria forest for 2 years. Relative air humidity, air temperature, precipitation, photosynthetically active radiation, photoperiod and soil moisture were monitored concomitantly with the collection of phenological data in each subarea. Among the populations, that of the artificial edge had the greatest number of individuals and the highest intensity of sporangium formation and leaf senescence. Only the reproductive event (sporangium formation) of populations of all subareas was seasonal. The forest interior populations had the highest seasonality of sporangium formation. Ferns at forest edges (natural and artificial) were more affected by the edge effect than those of the forest interior. Abiotic variables that are more sensitive to alterations by the edge effect, such as relative air humidity, soil moisture and temperature, influenced vegetative events at edges. On the other hand, photoperiod, which is constant from year to year, overlapped the influence of the other environmental factors in the forest interior. Thus, we evidenced heterogeneity in the phenological responses of ferns at forest edges.

Climatic triggers of the phenophases of Elaphoglossum macrophyllum in Southern Brazil

“…When the mean temperature reaches 20 °C, there is an intensification of senescence and leaf renewal decline reducing the second leaf renewal event by 10%. It is already registered that the increase in temperature also causes a reduction in the rates of leaf renewal and fertility in fern species growing in southern Brazil (Müller & Schmitt 2019;Müller et al 2020).…”

Trends and Climate‐Sensitivity of Phenology in China's Natural and Planted Forests

“…Generally, natural forests (NFs) have a higher species richness than planted forests (PFs), and consist of more complex and stable communities with diverse age structures (You et al., 2023). Consequently, the phenologies of natural and planted forests may differ due to varying stresses from human interventions (Müller et al., 2021; Nunes et al., 2022). For example, a previous study found that understory herbs in intensively managed forests flower later in spring, suggesting potential far‐reaching consequences for the ecology and evolution of the understory communities (Willems et al., 2021).…”

Edge effect on vascular epiphytes in a subtropical Atlantic Forest fragment

“…Peripheral microclimatic conditions differ from those in the interior of remaining forests, mainly due to decreased humidity and increased luminosity, temperature, and wind incidence (Murcia, 1995;Silva, Mehltreter & Schmitt, 2018). The use of surrounding land affects the intensity of microclimatic stresses at forest edges, with a direct connection between the type of use and the response of forest remnants to edge effects (Laurance et al, 2007;Müller et al, 2020). Understanding these responses is fundamental to the implementation of effective forest management actions according to distinct situations and edge effect patterns (Hardt et al, 2013).…”