Mike,

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!  This was exactly the kind of information I was hoping for.  We may be attempting some fern introductions in remote areas.  I was considering exploring spore and gametophyte options but I had concerns for a couple of reasons (not the least of which was the potential to accidentally introduce non-native spores or gametophytes).  Your information has helped to confirm that a focus on mature sporophytes as originally planned is the best way forward.  It sounds like you did an incredible amount of work for your thesis (in fact it seems more like a PhD dissertation). 

Our conservation program at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has conducted several fern introductions ( 6 or 7 species) since 2012 or so, but we haven’t published any of that work.  Success rates a couple years out range from 0-90% survival but several have already recruited new “sporelings.”  Raccoons are the bane of our efforts.  

Thanks again

Jennifer