Ecological significance of pteridophytes

about the ecological significance of pterodophytes

1. Ecological significance of pteridophytes By PARVATHY MOHAN 1 st Msc Botany

2. ROLE OF FERNS They provide microhabitats as well as shelter and shade for small animals. Provide a source of food and medicine for animals. Colonize disturbed sites as one stage succession. Evolve to fill unique niches in ecosystem and co- evolve with other species. Pteris vittata shows excellent arscenic hyper accumilation ,it stores arsenic in their leaves.. Invasive fern species pose a major threat to native biodiversity, as thy are known to disrupt local ecosystems. Nephrolepis codofolia and Hypolepis muelleri identified as hytostabilisers of Cu, Pb,zn and Ni.

3. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS Equisetum arvense and Equisetum plebejum are indicators of gold rich soil. Pteridium sps are indicators of burnt and highly distributed coniferous forest. Pteris aquilinum is well adapted to grow in burnt and highly disturbed areas as an indicator of fire. Equisetum arvense Pteridium aquilinum

4. DIVERSITY OF MACRO AND MICRO HABITATS Pteridophytes are densely growing plant groups which always need moisture content . It will provide a cool, shady and better environment and habitat for organisms like millipedes, arthropods , their larvae and all microbial organisms like fungi,bacterias,cynobacterias. This will ensure a macro and microhabitat for these habitats. Aquatic pteridophytes like Salvinia , Azolla provide a good environment for the laying of eggs of frogs, and fishes which will provide a hiding space for their young ones also.

5. STABILIZATION OF DISTURBED HABITATS 1. Ferns often colonize habitats disturbed by tectonic activity, wind, water, fire and humans. 2. Fern dispersal into disturbed habitats can result from long distance movement of spores but is usually by short distance spore dispersal or vegetative expansion of nearby plants. 3. Rapid establishment and dense growth can make ferns competitive with other vascular plants through light reduction and nutrient uptake or immobilization. Fern thickets can delay successional transitions but ferns also provide regeneration sites for other species and stabilize slopes. Fern influences may vary across environmental resource (e.g., light, water, nutrients) and topographic gradients .  Ferns can have important roles in the restoration of disturbed ecosystems . Polystichum montevidense , Pteridium arachnoideum and Blechnum penna -marina

6. Pteridium arachnoideum Blechnum penna -marina Polystichum montevidense

7. PREVENTION OF SOIL AND NUTRIENT LEACHING Leaching is the loss of soil and essential water soluble nutrients. The subterrarian rhizome will prevent soil erosion and the slow degradation of the gametophytic plant will prevent the soil from excessive leaching

8. MICRO-HABITATS FOR SEED OR SPORE GERMINATION The germination of seeds or spores need a good environmental conditions with sufficient moisture ,shade and a cool atmosphere. Pteridophytes abundantly growing region can help the seeds and spore germinate easily by providing a perfect environment. The shady environment will provide acclimatized conditions for young seedlings to withstand the natural environment condition.