Coryphopteris marquesensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Coryphopteris marquesensis faces severe threats from habitat degradation caused by invasive plant species that alter the understory composition of its native forest environment. The species' extremely limited range on the Marquesas Islands makes it particularly vulnerable to stochastic events and human disturbances. Feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, trample and destroy the delicate forest floor habitats where this fern establishes, while also facilitating the spread of invasive weeds that compete for resources.
Habitat
This endemic fern inhabits the understory of montane rainforests in the Marquesas Islands, typically growing in shaded, humid conditions on forest floors and rocky substrates. It requires the specific microclimate conditions found in intact native forest ecosystems at higher elevations.