Biodiversity of ferns in Mapawa Nature Park with consideration of moisture and temperature
A Concept Paper
Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Science
Senior High School Department
Xavier University- Senior High School
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental 9000
Kirsten Gabrielle Bernabe
Grachielle Edrea Dequeros
Vince Ralph Gulay
Loraine Josephine Icong
Noel Francis Labis
Jade Godwin Lagua
Lance William, Laput
Joshua Martin Madroño
Maria Faiza Mejorada
Crystal Angela Monte
Grade-12 Thomas
Anna Marie Maghanoy
September 2019
Background of the study
Ferns belong in the plant kingdom, Pteridophyta. According to Mexican biodiversity,
“ferns are grouped into classes (Class: Polypodiopsida, Class: Marattiopsida), the club mosses,
Isoetes and selaginella (Class: Lycopodiopsida), the psilotum (Class: Psilotopsida) and
equisetum or horsetail (Class: Equisetopsida). Ferns are the type of plant that reproduces
through spores. They are vascular plants that do not produce flowers or seeds. Their vascular
tissues (xylem and phloem) are arranged in bundles that conduct water, food and minerals.
While many have stems and roots, for others the stem consists of creeping rhizomes with
adventitious roots (Jones, 1987). Hence why they are called to be an “inferior” vascular plant.
Geographically most ferns live in hot, humid Earth regions. Growing abundantly in
tropical regions, the amount of ferns decreases as the latitude increases and reduces moisture
supplies. There are few ferns discovered in cold locations such as Arctic and Antarctic areas.
Ferns range in size alone from minute filmy plants only 1 to 1.2 cm, tall to huge tree ferns 10
to 25 meters high. Some are even twining and vine-like; others are floating on the ponds
surface.
In tropical rainforests, over 100 species can be found in just a few hectares away, some
of which may be a dominant vegetation component. This is what best describes fern diversity.
But besides their role to agriculture, many distinct species are used as a minor source of food
and medicine (Akomolafe & Sulaimon, 2018; Benjamin & Manickam, 2007; Jaman & Yusuf,
2010). through a Phytoremediation method ferns also have the capacity to clean the polluted
environment with different heavy metals (Akomolafe, Dedeke, & Sirajo, 2013; Oloyede,
Akomolafe, & Odiwe, 2013) The number of known extant fern species is about 10,500, but
estimates have ranged as high as 15,000, the number varying because certain groups are as yet
poorly studied and because new species are still being found in unexplored tropical areas. Smith
(1841) made a list of Philippine ferns based on the collection of Hugh Cuming. The list contains
297 species that include 207 species from Luzon. The three-volume “Fern Flora of the
Philippines” by Copeland (1958a, 1958b, 1958c) records approximately 940 species of ferns
in the Philippines.
Succeeding inventories of ferns in Luzon Island were made by Price (1975), Iwatsuki
and Price (1977), Barcelona (2003), and Catapang et al. (2012). Pteridophytes have been with
us for more than 300 million years and in that time the diversification of their of their form has
been phenomenal. Pteridophytes grow in many different habitats around the world(Brummitt,
1992). And with such diversity, there are still Pteridophytes that remain unexplored and
undiscovered (Galang, 2004).
In this study, a floristic survey of Mapawa Nature Park, Malasag, Cagayan de Oro City,
Philippines is presented. This focus to the diversity of Pteridophytes in Mapawa Nature Park,
considering the factors that can affect them. There are 2 factors that this study consider, which
is moisture and temperature. Fern diversity has been attributed to edaphic variation (Young and
León,1989), i.e., the presence of different soil types would result in increased species richness
of the pteridophytes. Young and León (1989) also stated that topographic position (i.e., a
hilltop, upper or lower slope, exposed ridge) results in a habitat mosaic, consequently
enhancing the diversity of pteridophytes.
Preliminary literature review
Relatively few studies on the fern flora of Philippine mountains have been conducted.
Price (1975) studied the pteridophytes of Mt. Makiling and vicinity and presented 305 species
including three novel species discovered in the area. Tolentino (1988) worked on the fern flora
of Mt. Santo Tomas, Benguet and documented 100 [Link] and Bañoc (1994)
determined pteridophyte species diversity and distribution in Mt. Pangasugan, Leyte and
reported 93 species found at 5 – 400 m a.s.l. Amorosoet al. (1996) studied the diversity, status
and ecology of pteridophytes in three forests in Mindanao, namely, [Link] (275 spp.),
Mt. Apulang (249 spp.) and Marilogforest (183 spp.).This study determined the species
diversity and dominance and patch structure. Many studies have been published regarding the
dominant families of vascular plants in urban forests. However, these studies focused mainly
on woody tree species and not on lower vascular plants such as ferns. Data on fern diversity
in the area is very limited. Approximately 12,000 living species or about two-thirds of ferns
are found in tropical regions. In the Philippines, it is represented by more than 1,031 species
of which 30% are endemic and 2 are considered as threatened species. Ferns are commonly
considered to be plants of damp shady places. Many of them are, and their numbers in peninsula
has decreased but many other ferns are adapted to exposed and less humid situations, and their
numbers have increased (Holttum, 1966). Ferns also have the ability to clean the environment
polluted with various heavy metals through a process called phytoremediation (Akomolafe,
Dedeke, & Sirajo, 2013; Oloyede, Akomolafe, & Odiwe, 2013). They found out that 33 fern
species were preferential to specific microenvironments along the altitudinal gradient, thus
making them effective altitudinal zone markers and biodiversity conservation indicators for the
forest ecosystem of Mt. Banahaw De Lucban and delos Angeles (2011)
Statement of the problem
The researchers seek to classify and determine the biodiversity of ferns present in
Mapawa Nature Park. The importance of this is to be able to help put order into the world.
Classification provides a robust framework in which we can identify different species of ferns.
In turn, this allows us to organise, retrieve information and undertake further study on other
species.
Abridged methodology
The methods to be used in this study are:
Sampling method
A. Point Transect Method The point transect method is a technique based on point sampling to
determine cover. This method will be used during the surveying of the different ferns species
that are present along the area selected by the researchers which is in Mapawa Nature Park.
B. Systematic plot sampling method
Systematic sampling is a wide class sampling strategy in which selection of individual elements
is following a systematic pattern. The sites or specific area within the location of sampling plots
are determined systematically by the researchers of the study.
Timeline
1st week of September Identifying of equipments to be used in
conducting the study and collecting data.
Identifying of equipments to be used in
conducting the study and collecting data.
2nd week of September
4th week of September Analyze and organize results from the survey
method using the systematic plot sampling to
determine its relationship with
environmental factors such as temperature
and moisture.
1st week of October Know the abundance of the fern species
found in Know the abundance of the fern
species found in Mapawa nature park
nature park
References
Classifying and identifying ferns. Retrieved from
[Link]
fernsFerns: Mexican Biodiversity. Retrieved from
[Link]
echos_ingles.html
Rathinasabapathi, B. (2006, September 11). Ferns represent an untapped biodiversity for
improving crops for environmental stress tolerance - Rathinasabapathi - 2006 - New
Phytologist - Wiley Online Library. Retrieved from
[Link]
SALEHHUDIN, S. (n.d.). DIVERSITY OF FERN SPECIES IN DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEM
TYPES: CASE STUDY AT GUNUNG JAGOI, BAU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA.
Retrieved August 16, 2019, from [Link]
OF FERN SPECIES IN DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEM TYPES-CASE STUDY AT
GUNUNG JAGOI, BAU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA (24pgs).pdf
Yatskievych, G., Mickel, J. T., Wagner, W. H., Walker, W. F., & Gifford, E. M. Fern. Retrieved
from [Link]
Biodiversity and conservation Ferns Diversity in different forests of Dehradun district. (2019).
International Journal of Pharmacy Research & Technology, 7(2). doi:
10.31838/ijprt/07.02.01
