Diversidad de helechos y licófitas de la Reserva Natural Punta Lara, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Punta Lara Natural Reserve shelters the relict of the Southernmost riparian forest inthe world, where the flora is threatened by the anthropic expansion and by the introduction of exotic species. In this area the ferns and lycophytes grow in particular environments as marshland, grassland and marginal forest. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diversityof ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Punta Lara Natural Reserve. Field trips were conducted from 2006 to 2009 and local herbaria and specificbibliography were also revised. As a result of our study twenty four taxa of ferns andlycophytes were recognized. Their habit was mainly terrestrial (70%), fewer aquatic(17%) and epiphytic (13%). Five native taxa were scarcely recorded whereas two nativespecies previously documented were not found. We assume that the main threats onferns and lycophytes populations in Punta Lara Reserve are: removal forcomercialization, invasion by exotic species and climatic fluctuations (drought periods). Keys for taxa identification are given and strategies for the conservation of threatened taxa are proposed.