Correlating habitat dynamism with foliar anatomical modulations: A study with Phymatosorus scolopendria (Burm. F.) ching

Abstract

There is a dearth in ecological details on Cryptogamia when compared to available literature on higher plants. Hence, we investigated the extent of variation in altitude, light intensity and sunlight duration existing in four contrasting habitats dominated by Phymatosorus scolopendria in relation to fern foliar anatomical dynamics using standard anatomical procedures and ecological protocol. The species consistently possessed diacytic and anisocytic stomata  across the habitats  whereas anomocytic stomata were also found in the shrub epiphytes. Similarly, unicellular  trichomes were consistently  present in epiphytic plant forms while oil droplets were consistent throughout except in  the tree epiphytes. Also, the stomatal  index and number of stomata differed significantly (P<0.05) and were highest in  the epiphytes growing on the tree barks  (17.337±3.00; 14.33±1.154) but least in the erect forms (12.875±1.10;  8.67±0.577) respectively. The lithophytes recorded  highest number of epidermal cells (76.67±15.280) whereas the erect  forms recorded the least (46.33±4.041). Altitude varied  between 8.23 to 10.36 m; light intensity ranged between 1045 to  13088 lux while sunlight duration ranged from 2 to 8  hours/day. Correlation analysis revealed significant (P<0.05 and  P<0.01) coefficients. Specifically, altitude indicated strong  positive association with light intensity (r= 0.987* ) and  sunlight duration (r= 0.990**) while light intensity correlated strongly  with sunlight duration (r= 0.958). The stomatal  types were strongly associated with altitude (r=0.679), light intensity (r=  0.769) and sunlight duration (0.570) while  stomatal index correlated inversely with altitude (r= - 0.505) and sunlight duration  (r= - 0.553). Implicitly, shady habitats  with short durations of low light intensity induced higher stomatal development and  density while prolonged sunlight  duration and increasing light intensity retained low stomatal density in this plant. This  pattern indicates a close  association between species anatomical progression in relation to prevailing environmental  conditions. This  information reveals aspects of plant survival mechanism in different environmental scenarios and may aid  future  conservation efforts.