Nest Fern Research Paper

Maximal nutrition: the Birds Nest Fern has developed a bucket or nest in the centre,where its spongy root system is located. Rain water falls and is directly caught and soaked up by the root system. The long leathery fronds radiate from this centre nest and act not only as funnels to deliver further caught rain water but also their leathery texture discourages moisture loss from the plant. The long, wide leaves of the Birds Nest Fern also assist the plant by catching dead falling leaves, often from its host tree, but also other rainforest litter and acting as a shelf to hold these leaves as they begin to rot. This litter is then funnelled to the ‘nest’ or held there until the leaf dies and curls back on itself, again ultimately delivering the litter to the root system.

Maximising Light: The ground and sub canopy levels of the rainforest where the Birds Nest Fern is found, have …show more content…
The Birds Nest Fern is often attached to the thick high trees, protecting them from animals and human impact damage. With the plants adaptations to maximise moisture the plant recovers well from damage and protects itself well against diseases.

Another adaptation within the rainforest is the Lilly Pilly. This plant has adapted in the opposite way to limit the high rainfall within the forest by developing a leaf with a drip tip, allowing for water to run off the end of the leaves. The larger trees have a buttressed trunk adapting to manage the lack of available nutrients. Also with the low levels of sunlight they have adapted to increase the uptake of available light levels, with horizontal leaves to collect as much sunlight as possible, essential for photosynthesis. Another adaptation of the Lilly Pilly is to combat the low light levels within the rainforest, with bright coloured flowers and strong scent attracting bees and birds to without relying on vision assist with