The staghorn fern ( Platycerium bifurcatum , Cav. Polypodiaceae) is an epiphyte that lives in cooperative colonies whose members work together to build a communal water and nutrient store. Previous research has shown that staghorn colonies are sometimes invaded by Zealandia pustulata (G.Forst. Polypodiaceae), a related species that causes sharp declines in the density and reproductive output of P. bifurcatum colonies. Here, we...

The lastreopsid ferns currently comprise four genera, with two of them, Lastreopsis and Parapolystichum , poorly delimited morphologically. Attribution of species to Lastreopsis or Parapolystichum has principally been by phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA sequences. The last of the Australasian species of Lastreopsis to have its phylogenetic placement investigated is Lastreopsis nephrodioides , endemic to Lord Howe Islan...

The two species of the palm genus Howea (Arecaceae) from Lord Howe Island, a minute volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, are now regarded as one of the most compelling examples of sympatric speciation, although this view is still disputed by some authors. Population genetic and ecological data are necessary to provide a more coherent and comprehensive understanding of this emerging model system. Here, we analyse data on abundanc...