A journal on scientific research on the Identification of Pteridophyte Species in Mt. Ca[istrano

1. Identification of Pteridophyte Species In Mount Capistrano
Girlee R. Aya-ay
Khemgerald C. Albacite
Bachelor of Secondary Education
Major in Biological Sciences
College of Education
Abstract
Pteridophytes are one of the most abundant and diverse plant group because of their
comparatively well-known taxonomy, their small size, their high species richness, and the
wide distribution of individual species.
The study intended to identify the pteridophyte species present in Mount Capistrano
and distinguish the species richness, abundance and distribution along different elevated
gradients and different phases of the mountain. In order to generate the data for this study,
the researchers applied quadrat sampling method. The data were treated using Shannon
and Simpson’s Diversity Indices. Generally, the mountain has six (6) local pteridophyte
species with varying richness. Analysis of the data revealed that there is a significant
difference in the distributional pattern of pteridophyte species along different directions,
where greater population is present in the West. Furthermore, all the species vary in their
population along the different phase of the same elevated gradient of the mountain.
Key terms: Pteridophytes, Plant distribution, Species Richness, Elevation Gradients
Rationale
Ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) appeared on earth more than 350 million
years ago. They were at their peak during the Carboniferous Period. Most of these taxa
became extinct, but several of them gradually evolved into our modern pteridophytes.
Currently, there are about 13,000 extant species of this plant group worldwide. There is a
more sporadic and piecemeal body of knowledge on the roles that pteridophytes play in
ecosystems. Pteridophytes are vital to many facets of human being and their present
account is based on their unique classification. They are usually characterized by the
nature of sporangia—spore-producing, the nature of gametophyte development, and the

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nature of the leaf which is classified into 3 divisions namely: Lycopodiophyta,
Equisetophyta, and Polypodiophyta (Boonkard & Pollawatn, 2000).
Pteridophyte plant groups have unique valuable features such as their large, highly
dissected and visually appealing leaves that many are sold as ornamentals. Most moist
woodlands will have several pteridophyte species blanketing the understory with their
pungent foliage. In tropical woodlands, they are often at eye level or above, providing an
aesthetic and delicate sub-canopy. Even in arid lands or on newly exposed surfaces such as
burns, clear-cuts or landslides, pteridophytes can be present and sometimes dominant.
Alongside their immediate visual appeal, pteridophyte plant species’ richness continually
grows and dominate woodlands, forests, and mountain ranges (Sharpe, 2010).
Several hundred million years ago, ferns and fern allies were the dominant
terrestrial plants. Thus, the fossils of these plants have contributed greatly to the formation
of our fossil fuels—coal, oil and natural gas. Various non-western cultures have used the
starch-rich rhizome and stems of some fern species as a food. Herbalists have ventured on
some fern species for treatment of diseases, infections, and various other ailments
(McHugh, 1992). In general, these species play a minor economic importance to humans.
There are crises in the distribution and survival of pteridophyte plant species. They
thrive between 700 and 2,000m altitude which ranges directly related to the amount of
precipitation. Therefore, these kinds of plants grow in varying kinds of habitats. However,
the threat of further deforestation tells that half of the pteridophyte species can be
regarded as vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. (Blackmore, 2014).

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The root cause of loss in species and their habitats is the growing number and
encroaching behavior of human beings and their institutions. In addition, the spread of
human settlement affects many other species in the premises of the vicinity. There are
extractive and industrial activities undertaken to support growing human populations
which directly and indirectly imperil other species and their habitat. Natural disasters also
affect not just pteridophytes but all other species especially when typhoons, earthquakes,
and floods come (McBeath & Leng, 2006).
Considering the fact that the decrease of the number and poor distribution of
pteridophyte species endangers humans as well as other living organisms, many efforts
have been taken to address this problem (Tekkaya, 2006). Conservation of this species is
very important. Our job is to harmonize the increasing kit of different tools used in daily
living and the increasing recklessness in using them which they are applied. In all aspects
of life, we are only mediators and moderators which mean that there shouldn’t be an abuse
of the things we are utilizing. They should be properly used and managed concerning about
how it will affect the nature’s life (Leopold, 1940; 1991).
Moreover, pteridophytes are most common in wet and seasonally mild tropical and
subtropical mountains. They include the highly differentiated vascular cryptogams, living
on land. They show a distinct alternation of generations in their life cycle (Ogura, 1972),
and have evolved to fill almost every ecological niche.
Tourism, unfortunately, takes the mature trees with large canopies frequently
covered with rich epiphytic pteridophytes to pave way for the mountain climbers. Hence,
we need to make the importance of the existence of these species as part of society’s

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knowledge. It is important to survey as soon as possible those areas of the mountain under
threat and to identify how many and which pteridophyte plant species are actually
distributed along the threatened elevational gradient of the mountain (Jermy, 1990).
Should you wish to read the full transcript of the journal, contact the authors through:
khemgeraldc@gmail.com
girleeroldanayaay@gmail.com

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