El diámetro del tronco (DAP) y la especie forófita: factores claves que marcan la composición de helechos película (Hymenophyllum, Hymenophyllaceae) en un fragmento de bosque templado de Chile.

Background and aims: Filmy ferns (Hymenophyllum) are notable for their reliance on moist microsites for survival, though the determinants of their assemblage in the habitat remain partially undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate how five habitat variables – stem orientation (N-S-E-W), forophyte species, presence of climbers, diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy cover – affect the composition of film fern communities in a temperate forest fragment. M&M: 120 trees were sampled along a transect through the centre of the forest, assessing the presence/absence of ferns up to 2.3 m above the stem. Data analysis was performed using PERMANOVA with 10,000 permutations followed by multiple comparisons to detect differences in fern composition between forophyte species. Results: A significant influence of both tree DBH (pseudo-F = 21.617; p < 0.001) and forophyte species identity (pseudo-F = 4.123; p < 0.001) was detected. Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences (pseudo-T, p < 0.05) in fern assemblages associated with forophyte species groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that certain physical and biotic characteristics of the forophyte are crucial for the structuring of film fern communities, other environmental factors initially considered may not be as important or their effect may be masked by homogeneity of sampling conditions, insufficient sample size or effect of anthropogenic disturbances.