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Plant composition patterns inside an endemic birds’ nest fern (Asplenium goudeyi) on Lord Howe Island: effects of fern size, fern isolation and plant dispersal abilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2015

Amanda Taylor  and
Kevin Burns
Amanda Taylor*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
Kevin Burns
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
*
1Corresponding author: [email protected]
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Abstract:

The importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in structuring ecological communities is an enduring debate. Although this debate is nearly a century old, the extent to which communities are structured by species interactions or chance events is a central issue in ecology. We examined the assemblages of plants living inside 119 birds’ nest ferns (Asplenium goudeyi), which are endemic to Lord Howe Island. Specifically, we investigated whether patterns of species richness and community composition were influenced by fern size, fern isolation and plant dispersal abilities. Fern size and fern isolation significantly predicted plant community richness. At the community level, plant composition patterns did not deviate from randomized expectations. Individual species occurrences increased with increasing community richness, and no species exclusions were observed. Wind-dispersed taxa, which accounted for 29% of all species, were well represented in isolated ferns. Comparatively, poorer dispersers were confined to ferns nearest the forest at the base of the cliffs. We suggest that dispersal plays a key role in structuring plant communities living within birds’ nest ferns, and that species interactions are less important. Our study emphasizes the importance of epiphytes with a nest-like growth form as habitat for plants in a harsh environment.

Keywords

Birds’ nest ferncommunity compositiondispersalisolationLord Howe Island
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , September 2015 , pp. 413 - 421
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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