2012 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 105-109
Crypsinus hastatus (Thunb.) Copel. is a fern species that grows on dry and steep slopes. However, establishing this species on such slopes is difficult because of the difficulties pertaining to obtaining sufficient water supply by the gametophytes and because the spores are susceptible to washout by rainfall. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the presence of bryophyte communities that would facilitate the establishment of fern gametophytes. We investigated the relationship between bryophyte coverage and the presence of young sporophytes of C. hastatus. Young fern sporophytes occurred more frequently in grids with high bryophyte coverage than in those with low bryophyte coverage. This result suggests that bryophyte communities prevent spore washout caused by rainfall. Another possible reason that young fern sporophytes occurred more frequently in areas populated by bryophyte communities was that these communities may maintain wet conditions suitable for the growth and fertilization of gametophytes. Thus, the results indicate that it would be easier to establish growth of C. hastatus in areas populated by bryophyte communities than on bare ground.
