Ferns and Lycophytes of Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve, La Vega, Dominican Republic

Hispaniola is the highest and most botanically diverse island of the Antilles, with approximately 660 species of ferns and lycophytes. We present a list of the ferns and lycophytes of the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve spanning cloud forest, palm forest, and riparian forest in the mountain range with the highest diversity of ferns in the Antillean global biodiversity hotspot. Patterns of association between fern species composition and a set of environmental variables derived from geomorphological data were explored in these three habitat types. A general survey of ferns and lycophytes was also conducted in the reserve, including within a fourth vegetation type, pine forest, which was not included in quantitative analyses due to a greater degree of anthropogenic disturbance at this site. We report 83 species belonging to 19 families and 48 genera, with 68 native, five endemic, two introduced, and six unknown and potentially undescribed taxa. The data provided in this study can be used as a basis for monitoring future changes in the fern and lycophyte flora of the EVSR, as well as contributing to the floristic knowledge of Hispaniola.