The role of palm tree Attalea maripa (Aubl.) Mart. in the fixation of fern communities in edge areas

Edge areas of forest fragments are the most exposed to external disturbances. This study aimed to evaluate the palm tree Attalea maripa (Aubl.) Mart. role in conserving the community of ferns from disturbed areas of the Ecological Reserve of the Bacurizal Forest, Salvaterra-PA. A total of 15 excursions were held between July and November 2017 to collect ferns in all living forophytes of A. maripa in disturbed areas. The phorophytes were divided into three ecological zones (base, trunk and sheath) where the ferns were located. The total variables of forophyte height, diameter at breast height; shaft height and sheath insertion height. We found 91 phorophytes of A. maripa with ferns, among which 266 specimens distributed in four species belonging to four families. Phlebodium decumanum (Willd.) J.Sm. (Polypodiaceae) was the most representative fern species with 110 specimens, followed by Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott (Lomariopsidaceae) (91), Vittaria lineata (L.) Sm (Pteridaceae) (59), and Lygodium venustum Sw. (Lygodiaceae) (six). The highest representativeness of fern specimens in the ecological zone of the sheath (77%) it is probably related to the environmental conditions found in this area, which presents low temperatures and higher humidity that favor the establishment and development of ferns. There was no significant correlation between the number of fern specimens with the total height of the phorophyte, diameter at breast height, shaft height and sheath insertion height. A. maripa proved to be an important component for the fern establishment in disturbed environments, especially in the ecological area of the sheath by microclimatic conditions favorable to the colonization of ferns.