Pteridopytic diversity in Loolkandura forest

Abstract

The plant category ferns and fern allies are taxonomically known as Pteridophytes. In Sri Lanka about340 Pteridophytes have been recorded belongs to 29 families. They have ornamental, medicinal andedible values and play an important role in biodiversity of forest understory. Unlike flowering plants,studies on Pteridophytes are Iimited in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's first tea plantation has started in Loolkanduraarea but the remaining hilly areas still exists as undisturbed forests with high biodiversity. Howeverlimited studies have been carried out on biodiversity of Loolkandura forest area. Consequently, theobjective of this study was identification ofPteridophytic diversity ofLoolkandura forest area.

Three elevation levels (1100, 1300 and 1500 m) were selected along the stream networks and threeplots (each of lOx 10m) from each elevation level were established for sampling. Number of species,their population size and habitats were assessed for each plot. Data were analyzed to identify correlationof species and individuals with elevation levels. A total of 56 Pteridophytes from 19 families wereidentified from studied area. Seventeen percent of Sri Lankan Pteridophytic flora represent in Loolkanduraforest area which consists 3 endemic species (Cyathea walkerae, Meringium macroglossum andDiplazium beddomei). Two main Pteridophytic habitats were identified as lithophytes and terrestrial(terrestrial dense forest, terrestrial open and terrestrial road side). In Loolkandura forest area, bothnumber of families and number of species are in increasing trend with increasing of elevation. Thereare three species namely, {15plenium nomale (R-= 0.69), Metathelypteris flassida (W = 0.54) andPolystichum biaristatum (R -= 0.64) showed significantly positive relationship with number of individualof a specie~ with increasing of elevation from 11,00 to 1500 m. Two species namely Araehniodesaristata (W= 0.69) and Teetaria decurrenee (W= 0.59) showed decreasing trend in number ofindividuals with increasing of elevation. Disturbances to the ecosystem and soil moisture content wereidentified as major parameters to variations of Metathelypteris flassida and Araehniodes aristata.Check Iist for Pteridophytes was prepared for the studied area and impl ications offind ings on conservationand uti Iization of Pteridophytes are discussed.