The development of habitat restoration techniques for restoring critical woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter habitat will play an important role in meeting the management thresholds in woodland caribou recovery plans. The goal is to restore disturbed environments within critical winter habitat for the declining woodland caribou. Woodland caribou are diet specialists, utilizing lichen-rich habitat for forage during winter months. Cladonia sub-genus Cladina is the most frequently eaten species during this time. Herein, we provide: 1) A review of previously used methods for transplanting Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and their feasibility in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat; 2) A stepby-step protocol on how to carry out a terrestrial lichen transplant program (using Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and C. uncialis); and, 3) An evaluation of our protocol through the establishment of a case study in northern British Columbia. Our results indicate that transplanting C. sub-genus Cladina fragments is the most efficient technique for transplanting terrestrial lichen communities, but transplanting lichen 'patches' or 'mats' may also be effective.Key words: Cladonia, Cladina, reindeer lichen, restoration, winter habitat
RÉSUMÉLa mise au point de techniques de réhabilitation pour restaurer l'habitat vital d'hiver essentiel du caribou forestier (Rangifer tarandus caribou) jouera un rôle important pour l'atteinte des seuils d'aménagement dans les plans de rétablissement du caribou forestier. Il s'agit en fait de restaurer les environnements perturbés dans les domaines vitaux pour la caribou forestier dont la population est en déclin. Le caribou forestier a une diète spécifique et compter sur les habitats riches en lichen pour s'alimenter durant les mois d'hiver. C' est principalement la Cladonia du sous-genre Cladina dont il se nourrit durant cette période. Dans cet article, nous proposons: 1) Une analyse des méthodes utilisée précédemment pour transplanter la Cladonia du sous-genre Cladina et leur potentiel pour restaurer l'habitat d'hivernement du caribou forestier; 2) Un protocole détaillé pour réaliser un programme terrestre de transplantation (avec la Cladonia du sous-genre Cladina et C. uncialis); et, 3) Une évaluation de notre protocole au moyen d'une étude de cas que nous avons réalisée dans le nord de la Colombie-Britannique. Nos résultats indiquent que la façon la plus efficace pour transplanter des communautés de lichens terrestres consiste à transplanter des fragments de C. sous-genre Cladina, mais qu' on peut aussi la transplanter sous forme de « talles » (patches) ou de « plaques »' (mats). For personal use only.
Mots
Cladonia subgenus Cladina (the reindeer lichens) can be a dominant part of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. They are particularly abundant in arctic-alpine and boreal regions, where they are a primary food source for woodland caribou/reindeer in winter months. Determining the growth rates of reindeer lichen is important for understanding and managing lichen regeneration following disturbances such as timber harvesting, mining, grazing, and wildfire. Regeneration and rehabilitation rates can be calculated with greater accuracy when growth rates are well understood. We provide a summary of 17 studies from 6 countries that determined the linear growth rates of three reindeer lichen groups, Cladonia arbuscula/mitis (mean = 4.7 mm/yr.), C. rangiferina/ C. stygia (mean = 5.1 mm/yr.), and C. stellaris (mean = 4.8 mm/yr.). We use linear growth rates as a proxy for over-all growth and biomass. Variables found to influence lichen growth rates are also discussed, which include light, moisture, temperature, air pollution, acid rain, precipitation, snow accumulation, substrate, age of individuals, and type of disturbance. These results can assist land managers in developing more accurate strategies for restoring lichens in disturbed areas.
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