09.01.2013 Views

Message - 7th IAL Symposium

Message - 7th IAL Symposium

Message - 7th IAL Symposium

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

3B-2-P<br />

Lichen: from genome to ecosystem in a changing world<br />

(3B-2-P12) Submission ID: <strong>IAL</strong>0213-00001<br />

LICHEN COMMUNITIES ON TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA IN COLD RAINFORESTS:<br />

WHAT DRIVES COMPOSITION AND RICHNESS?<br />

Taurer S. 1 , Wagner V. 2 , Hauck M. 3 , Spribille T. 4<br />

1 University of Graz, Institute of Plant Sciences Graz, Graz, Austria<br />

2 College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States<br />

3 Abteilung Pflanzenoekologie und Oekosystemforschung, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany<br />

4 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States<br />

Epiphytic lichen communities in southeast Alaska are known to be among the richest of any high latitude,<br />

conifer-dominated region in the world. However, little is known of the local gradients that cause some lichen<br />

communities to be especially rich and others poor, and what causes local spikes in richness of cyanolichens.<br />

Understanding species distribution and richness concentration patterns is important since lichens are used for air<br />

quality and forest health monitoring. Epiphytic crust lichens were studied on 114 branches of Tsuga heterophylla<br />

trees at 19 different localities in low elevation boreal rainforests in the vicinity of Juneau, Alaska. Branches of<br />

equal cut-point diameter and controlled for overall collective twig mass were taken from different heights above<br />

the ground and in different light exposure situations with replication, and substrate element chemistry was determined<br />

by spectrometric analysis. Species richness was significantly correlated with a nutrient gradient (N<br />

content and C/N ratio as well as Zn content). A principal components analysis of species composition against<br />

quantified environmental gradients revealed a gradient between cyanolichen-dominated branches and those<br />

dominated by chlorolichens. This gradient was likewise primarily explained by the C/N ratio as well as tree and<br />

branch age and significant gradients in the content of Zn and other metals and cations. The results reinforce the<br />

importance of nutrient regimes and forest age structure in determining composition but suggest that cation gradients<br />

(such as Ca, Mg) ascribed importance for local enrichment of cyanolichen communities in inland regions<br />

may not explain as much variability in cold coastal rainforests.<br />

(3B-2-P13) Submission ID: <strong>IAL</strong>0284-00001<br />

MICROLICHEN COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AS A WAY TO COMPREHEND TROPICAL DRY<br />

FOREST REGENERATION<br />

Miranda-González R. 1 , Lücking R. 2 , Mora- Ardila F. 3 , Barcenas-Peña A. 1 , Herrera- Campos M. A. 1<br />

1 Botany, Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico<br />

2 Botany, Field Museum, Chicago, United States<br />

3 Botany, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas (CIEco), UNAM, Morelia, Mexico<br />

The tropical dry forest is the most extensive ecosystem in the neotropics, and at the same time, one of<br />

the most endangered ones in the world. As a result, some studies aim to understand its regenerating process.<br />

The objective of this project was to comprehend the importance that lichen communities have in the succession<br />

process. For this, we analyzed the microlichen species cover in 204 trees at 4 levels of disturbance, ranging from<br />

6 years after agricultural use to pristine areas, all on the Mexican Pacific coast. We found more than 120 lichen<br />

species. The best represented families were Arthoniaceae, Pyrenulaceae, Roccellaceae and Graphidaceae. Our<br />

analysis suggest that the lichen cover and richness recovers faster than expected, been the 18 years old forest<br />

statistically equal to the pristine areas. Nonetheless, the lichen community structure was completely different.<br />

Using an ordination analysis (NMS) we were able to distinguish the mature forest from all the levels of disturbance.<br />

We also found some lichens that can be used as indicators species of disturbance or conserved areas,<br />

mainly in the genera Pyrenula and Arthonia, as well as several new species. Using multivariate methods we<br />

analyzed the preference of species groups to some microenvironmental factors such as relative light intensity,<br />

phorophyte specificity and pH. Lastly we discuss the application of our results in conservation issues.<br />

176

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!