Fundamental study on habitat preferences of ferns and fern allies growing in urban hardscape environments

Abstract

To obtain basic data on the habitat preferences of ferns and fern allies growing in urban hardscape environments, such as walls, building gaps, and roadside gaps, we analyzed records of 4,473 pteridophyte communities in Kinki and Chugoku District, Japan. Jacobs’ electivity index analysis indicated that stone walls were the preferred habitat for not only species that inhabit rocks, cliffs, and tree trunks but also forests. However, some forest species (29.3%) preferred building gaps. A better understanding of the preferences of plant communities in different hardscape landscape components will allow us to develop long-term methods for conserving biodiversity in urban areas.