I examined the impact of the exotic, invasive plant Old World climbing fern,
Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Brown, on tree island plant and ant communities in the
northern Everglades. I selected 15 tree islands representing four groups: non-Lygodium
islands, islands with low levels of Lygodium, islands with high levels of Lygodium, and
disturbed islands impacted by people. I used a variety of diversity indices to compare
plant and ant data among habitats. The ant communities studied included native and
exotic species typical of south Florida. Tree island plant communities were consistent
with descriptions from previous studies. Plant species richness decreased with the level
of L. microphyllum in the ground and midstory layers. Abundance of native plants
decreased with level of L. microphyllum in the ground, midstory, and overstory layers.
Lygodium microphyllum did not affect ant communities suggesting that although it
negatively impacts plant communities it can provide habitat for ants.