Resumen:
Tropical forests have been subjected to increasing deforestation, leading to severe habitat loss and
fragmentation of the landscape. Studies of various plant groups-indicate alteration in species diversity and
assemblage composition in response to these impacts. How theses impacts affect ferns and lycophytes,
however, is less well known. In this study we evaluate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on
ferns and lycophytes in lowland non-inundated forests in Ecuadorian Amazonia. We obtained assemblage
information from thirteen plots located in gradients of habitat loss and fragmentation (as measured by
the landscape fragmentation index: fragindex) and used community and diversity indices to evaluate
species responses. We found 3,824 individuals of 55 species. The plot with the highest fragindex value
(more than 20% of habitat loss and fragmentation) had the lowest diversity, but the highest diversity
was found in plots with fragindex values from 12% to 21% of habitat loss and fragmentation rather than
in the landscapes without deforestation. Although community composition varied along the fragindex
gradient, species turnover was not significantly related to this index. These results suggest that changes
in the landscape caused by deforestation alter the availability of habitats, consequently affecting the
distribution patterns of ferns and lycophytes.
