Colombia has a record of 1,450 native fern species, of which 110 are endemic, representing a remarkable 15% of the global diversity. In this context, a group of biologists conducted an important expedition in the ProAves Reinita Cielo Azul Reserve and the Serranía de los Yariguíes to explore the richness of these plants in this region.
Ferns are vascular plants that do not produce flowers or seeds; they reproduce through spores. Despite their ecological importance, they have been little collected and studied, leaving much still to be researched regarding their biodiversity and potential.
During 11 days of fieldwork, the team collected 407 specimens, distributed across 27 families and 151 different species. Among the most notable findings, the following was identified:
Pterozonium brevifrons
A specimen from the Pterozonium brevifrons, ugenus, a particularly significant finding as it represents the first record of this species in the department of Santander. Furthermore, it is a rare species in the country, previously only known from collections in the department of Caquetá.
This study not only expands scientific knowledge about the fern biodiversity in Colombia, but it also emphasizes the importance of conserving unique ecosystems like those in the ProAves Reinita Cielo Azul Reserve and the Serranía de los Yariguíes.
The obtained records demonstrate that these areas are essential for the preservation of species that, in many cases, are endemic or have very limited distributions.
The expedition reinforces ProAves’ and its allies’ commitment to scientific research, highlighting research as an essential pillar for biodiversity conservation in Colombia.
