Threatened lycophytes and ferns in four Protected Areas of Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

There are nearly a thousand threatened species of vascular plants in the Philippines and of which about 12% are lycophytes and ferns. However, there are not enough data on the distribution of the species. Thus, the threatened lycophytes and ferns were determined based on field surveys in four protected areas in Mindanao, namely Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, and Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary. The conservation status assessment was based on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources DAO 2017-11 updated list of threatened plants of the Philippines. A total of 45 species of threatened lycophytes and ferns was documented belonging to 16 families and 25 genera. Of these, three species are Critically Endangered, 23 Endangered, 15 Vulnerable, and three are other threatened species. Families with the highest number of threatened species are Cyatheaceae, Polypodiaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Ophioglossaceae, and Psilotaceae. The Critically Endangered species are Platycerium coronarium, Phlegmariurus magnusianus, and Helminthostachys zeylanica. The threatened species endemic to the Philippines are Phlegmariurus magnusianus, Alsophila apoensis, A. atropurpurea, A. hermannii, A. fuliginosa, A. heterochlamydea, A. negrosiana, A. rufopannosa, Lindsaea hamiguitanensis, Tmesipteris zamorarum, Aglaomorpha cornucopia, and A. sagitta. The highest number of threatened taxa was observed in the Mt. Apo Natural Park (29 species), followed by the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (28 species), Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (27 species), with the lowest number in the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (19 species). Most of the species were recorded in the lower and upper montane forests. The occurrence of threatened and endemic lycophytes and ferns in the four protected areas calls for a strict implementation of the ordinances necessary for a long term conservation and protection of the species.

ADDITIONS TO THE VASCULAR PLANT FLORA OF THE REPUBLIC OF MORDOVIA (RUSSIA): CONTRIBUTION OF THE iNATURALIST PLATFORM

“…The study of plant biodiversity is an important part of biological and ecological research around the world [2,8,14,24]. The additions to data on the plant diversity of certain regions or Protected Areas [1,3,5,28] are a basis for creation of checklists of countries and particular geographical macro-regions. This is especially important in relation to such a large country as Russia, characterized by broad and at the same time hard-to-reach territories.…”

Floristic Composition and Structure of Vegetation in Gunung Salak Geothermal Power Plant, West Java, Indonesia

“…The understory was Selaginella plana (paku rane) with 115 individuals and Barleria cristata (landep) with 70 individuals. Selaginella plana, has a habitus as ferns with a wide distribution, in the lowlands and mountain forests (Rahmad & Akomolafe, 2018;Setyawan et al, 2018;Coritico & Amoroso, 2020). Trees with a more than 75 cm diameter around the Gunung Salak Geothermal Power Plant unit recorded as many as six individuals (Fig.…”

Variation on morphology and spore characters of Dicranopteris and Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae) from Rokan Hulu District, Riau, Indonesia

“…Research on the diversity of ferns as the basis for producing a checklist in two tourism forests in Kedah, Malaysia by Rahmad and Akomolafe (2019) found two species of Gleicheniaceae, namely Dicranopteris linearis and Gleichenia truncata. A study to uncover ferns that were classified as threatened was carried out by Coritico and Amoroso (2020) which served as a basis for protection and conservation, as well as growing public awareness of the diversity of ferns that need to be protected. Recently, Saharizan et al (2021) investigated the species composition, diversity, and species richness of ferns in oil palm plantation areas in Segamat, Johor.…”