Geographic distributions of homosporous ferns: does dispersal obscure evidence of vicariance?

The central problem in biogeography is that interactions between different processes result in the formation of historical patterns, such that it is difficult to discriminate the relative roles of vicariance and dispersal. Ferns are distributed by small wind-dispersed propagules that are produced in very large numbers and capable of dispersing thousands of kilometers. Thus, most taxon distributions in ferns are assumed to be a function of dispersal rather than vicariance. Here, we review some case examples that provide good evidence for vicariance and dispersal in ferns. We then ask whether dispersal is so extensive in ferns that vicariance is no longer detectable in most cases. Although we think that too few studies have been carried out to make generalizations at this stage, we outline the criteria for an effective research programme that can address this issue. Phylogenetic and distributional data are needed, not only because they are lacking in an evolutionarily important group of organisms, but also because data from ferns and other cryptogams are likely to be crucial in making broad biogeographic statements.     

浙江天目山自然保护区药用蕨类植物资源调查

据初步调查,浙江天目山自然保护区药用蕨类植物共有114种(含种下等级单位),隶属于32科57属。本文对其种类、分布、主要化学成分等进行系统介绍,并讨论蕨类植物资源的开发利用前景及保护措施。     

湖南省蕨类植物分布新记录(二)

本文报道了湖南省新记录的13种蕨类植物,分属3科,4属。     

Ecological diversity and adaptive tendencies in the tropical fern Trichomanes L. (Hymenophyllaceae) with special reference to climbing and epiphytic habits

Among the basal fern families, the Hymenophyllaceae, with more than 600 species, display a high diversity in terms of their morphology and the habitats that they occupy. We have chosen to focus on Trichomanes L., a clearly defined genus for which a phylogeny is presently being developed, to investigate the appearance of the climbing and epiphytic habits, as well as the related supposed adaptive characters. In this study we present the first review of the different ecological types within the genus: terrestrial, climbing (divided into hemi-epiphytic forms and true lianas), and epiphytic types. The study of several features concerning stem morphology and leaf size allows a proposal on relationships between ecology and plant morphology. Terrestrial species display a thick monocaulous rhizome with robust roots and short internodes. Climbing species are characterized by a branched, thick, creeping rhizome with long internodes. Epiphytic species also exhibit long, creeping and branching stems with long internodes but the rhizome is fine to filiform. Under these circumstances, there is a reduction of root system and frond size leading to dwarfism in numerous instances. This may be related to an extreme hygrophilous epiphytic strategy. Finally, hypotheses on the evolution of these habits and hence on the evolutionary relationships between ecology and characters are presented and discussed.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 142 , 41–63.     

中国石松类和蕨类植物的多样性与地理分布

物种编目及其科属系统排列是了解生物多样性的基础, 本文采用Flora of China使用的分类系统, 结合最新分子分类学研究成果以及近几年发表的新资料, 对中国石松类和蕨类植物多样性和地理分布数据进行了统计和分析。结果表明中国共有石松类和蕨类植物40科178属2,147种5个亚种118个变种, 其中特有种839个, 占总种数的39.08%。种数最多的5个科依次为鳞毛蕨科(505种, 含种下单位, 下同)、蹄盖蕨科(323种)、水龙骨科(280种)、凤尾蕨科(266种)和金星蕨科(209种); 种数最多的5个属依次为耳蕨属(Polystichum, 209种)、鳞毛蕨属(Dryopteris, 176种)、蹄盖蕨属(Athyrium, 137种)、双盖蕨属(Diplazium, 98种)和凤尾蕨属(Pteris, 97种)。在地理分布上, 种数排名前5的省份为云南(1,365种)、四川(875种)、贵州(838种)、广西(785种)和台湾(779种)。含中国特有石松类和蕨类植物的科属中, 排前3位的科分别为鳞毛蕨科(257种)、蹄盖蕨科(169种)和凤尾蕨科(113种); 排前3位的属为耳蕨属(140种)、蹄盖蕨属(82种)和鳞毛蕨属(61种)。     

What drives elevational patterns of diversity? A test of geometric constraints,climate and species pool effects for pteridophytes on an elevational gradient in Costa Rica

Aim We studied pteridophyte species richness between 100 m and 3400 m along a Neotropical elevational gradient and tested competing hypotheses for patterns of species richness. Location Elevational transects were situated at Volcán Barva in the Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Station (100–2800 m) and Cerro de la Muerte (2700–3400 m), both on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica, Central America. Method We analysed species richness on 156 plots of 20 × 20 m and measured temperature and humidity at four elevations (40, 650, 1800 and 2800 m). Species richness patterns were regressed against climatic variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation and actual evapotranspiration), regional species pool, area and predicted species number of a geometric null model (the mid‐domain effect, MDE). Results The species richness of the 484 recorded species showed a hump‐shaped pattern with elevation with a richness peak at mid‐elevations (c. 1700 m). The MDE was the single most powerful explanatory variable in linear regression models, but species richness was also associated strongly with climatic variables, especially humidity and temperature. Area and species pool were associated less strongly with observed richness patterns. Main conclusions Geometric models and climatic models exclusive of geometric constraints explained comparable amounts of the elevational variation in species richness. Discrimination between these two factor complexes is not possible based on model fits. While overall fits of geometric models were high, large‐ and small‐ranged species were explained by geometric models to different extents. Species with narrow elevational ranges clustered at both ends of the gradient to a greater extent than predicted by the MDE null models used here. While geometric models explained much of the pattern in species richness, we cannot rule out the role of climatic factors (or vice versa) because the predicted peak in richness from geometric models, the empirical peak in richness and the overlap in favourable environmental conditions all coincide at middle elevations. Mid‐elevations offer highest humidity and moderate temperatures, whereas at high elevations richness is reduced due to low temperatures, and at low elevations by reduced water availability due to high temperatures.     

坡向差异对广东古兜山自然保护区蕨类植物多样性的生态影响

为揭示坡向差异对蕨类植物多样性的生态影响,作者在广东新会古兜山自然保护区海拔1,000 m以下的中低山植被东、南、西、北4个坡向,分别选取10个5 m×5 m的样方进行调查,分析蕨类植物群落多样性和种类组成的差异.结果表明:(1)东坡(半阴坡)与北坡(阴坡)物种多样性最丰富,而西坡(半阳坡)和南坡(阳坡)相对贫乏;(2)4个坡向的相似性系数均很低(不超过0.5),其中南坡(阳坡)与北坡(阴坡)间种类组成差异最大;(3)反映热量差异的区系地理性质分析显示,热带性质蕨类植物在阳坡占优势,而非热带性蕨类在阴坡占优势,南坡、西坡、东坡、北坡的热带成分比例依次下降;(4)反映光照条件的植物耐荫程度分析显示,阴性种类占优势,阳性和耐荫性种类较少,其阴性蕨类植物的比例依南坡、西坡、东坡、北坡顺序增加;阳性蕨类植物比例最高的坡面是西坡,而最低的是东坡.南坡的比例稍高于北坡.研究结果显示坡向差异对蕨类植物物种及其生态习性的多样性分布格局具有比较明显的影响,蕨类植物多样性可以作为环境和气候变化的一个较好的指示物种.