Fern EcologyKlaus Mehltreter, Lawrence R. Walker, Joanne M. Sharpe Ferns are an integral part of the world's flora, appreciated for their beauty as ornamentals, problematic as invaders and endangered by human interference. They often dominate forest understories but also colonize open areas, invade waterways and survive in nutrient-poor wastelands and eroded pastures. Presented here is the first comprehensive summary of fern ecology, with worldwide examples from Siberia to the islands of Hawaii. Topics include a brief history of the ecological study of ferns, a global survey of fern biogeography, fern population dynamics, the role of ferns in ecosystem nutrient cycles, their adaptations to xeric environments and future directions in fern ecology. Fully illustrated concepts and processes provide a framework for future research and utilization of ferns for graduate students and professionals in ecology, conservation and land management. |
Contents
1 | |
22 | |
3 Ecological insights from fern population dynamics | 61 |
4 Nutrient ecology of ferns | 111 |
5 Fern adaptations to xeric environments | 140 |
6 Ferns disturbance and succession | 177 |
7 Interactions of ferns with fungi and animals | 220 |
their impact and management | 255 |
Common terms and phrases
abundance American Fern Journal angiosperms aquatic areas Asplenium Azolla Biogeography Biology biomass Blechnum bracken cells Chapter Cibotium colonization conservation Costa Rica Cyathea cycle Cyclosorus desiccation tolerance Dicranopteris linearis dispersal distribution disturbance diversity drought Dryopteris Ebihara Ecology ecosystem effects elevational endemic environmental environments epiphytic epiphytic ferns extinction fern ecology fern species ferns and lycophytes fertile leaves flora fungi gametophytes genera germination gradients growth habitats Hawaii Hawaiian Islands herbivores Hietz insects interactions invasive Isoëtes IUCN Journal of Botany Kessler landslides leaf litter lycophytes Lygodium Mehltreter montane mycorrhizae native nutrient patterns photosynthesis Plate Pleopeltis Polystichum populations potential problem ferns production ptaquiloside Pteridium aquilinum Pteridology pteridophytes Puerto Rico Pyrrosia rain forest range Ranker rhizome Salvinia seed plants soil species richness spores sporophytes studies subg successional terrestrial Thelypteris tree ferns Trichomanes Tryon Tuomisto understory uptake vascular plants vegetation Viewed March 2009 Vitousek Walker xerophytic Zealand