Characterization of Spores and Diversity of Pteridophyta in the Waterfall Area

Abstract

Ferns (Pteridophyta) are an important component of tropical forest ecosystems, playing a role in maintaining humidity, preventing erosion, and having ecological and economic value. The waterfall area has a microclimate that supports the growth of ferns, making it a promising site for studying biodiversity and characterizing spores. This study aims to identify the diversity of Pteridophyta species, analyze community structure, and describe spore characteristics as a basis for identification and classification. The method used was exploratory descriptive with a mixed methods approach through the establishment of transects and plots at three observation stations, measurement of environmental parameters, and observation of spores in the laboratory using a trinocular microscope. The results showed that 21 species of ferns from 8 families were found, with a Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 2.76, which is classified as moderate, indicating a relatively stable ecosystem. The species Adiantum tenerum had the highest dominance, while Pteris vitata had the lowest. Spore characterization in 12 species showed variations in shape, size, color, and aperture type, dominated by monolete and trilete. These results confirm the importance of spore characteristics as taxonomic features in Pteridophyta studies.