A Lichen Species List for Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, with Comments on Several New and Noteworthy Records

Stehn, Sarah E.; Walton, James; Nelson, Peter R.; Hampton-Miller, Celia J.; Roland, Carl A.

doi:10.1639/0747-9859-32.4.195

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…While a similar large‐scale dynamic may be at work for macrolichens and mosses, the biogeography of the species observed here is incompletely documented (Stehn et al. , ), making a similar evaluation of a historical/biogeographical hypothesis difficult. However, the consistent, cross‐scale increase in richness with elevation across functional groups suggests that species pool sizes resident in alpine regions of Denali may also be larger for macrolichens and mosses, irrespective of whether the pattern is explained primarily by historical or current ecological factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Species richness of multiple functional groups peaks in alpine tundra in subarctic Alaska

2017

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Abstract. Climate warming has initiated changes to vegetation across subarctic North America with potential to dramatically alter the distribution of biodiversity of vascular plants, mosses, and macrolichens. However, landscape-scale studies of the patterns and drivers of species richness in this region are scarce, raising the possibility that dramatic changes to biodiversity could occur undetected over a wide area with serious consequences for ecosystem integrity and conservation. We used a hierarchical, systematic design to compile a uniquely large and comprehensive diversity dataset for our study area in subarctic North America. We utilized a unified sampling frame at the landscape scale to record diversity of vascular plants, mosses, and macrolichens as the three primary components of vegetation species richness. We applied Bayesian hierarchical modeling techniques to identify site attributes associated with richness of the three functional groups. We also examined whether richness of groups was positively or negatively intercorrelated across multiple spatial scales. Our goal was to quantify the fundamental relationships of species richness with site attributes across this landscape to better understand the possible responses of species richness to habitat changes forecast to occur in the subarctic as a result of a warming climate and other stressors. Moss, vascular plant, and terricolous macrolichen species richness were strongly inter-correlated, due to an underlying marked positive association of each with increasing elevation into the alpine zone across multiple spatial scales. Our results further reveal varying influences of factors such as soil pH, disturbance, and plant canopy cover on diversity in these physiologically different functional groups. Taken together, the patterns revealed by our work provide a new framework to consider how predicted habitat changes wrought by warming climates in interior Alaska may affect fundamental diversity patterns of primary producers in the future, with important implications for ecosystem function and conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Species richness of multiple functional groups peaks in alpine tundra in subarctic Alaska

2017

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“…The most comprehensive studies of lichen diversity near Kenai Fjords National Park are McCune et al (2018) from Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, Spribille et al (2010) from Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, and forthcoming studies from Glacier Bay National Park (Spribille et al 2020). North and east of the study area Stehn et al (2015) compiled a list of lichens of the Denali National Park region. In addition, Thomson (1984Thomson ( , 1997 included numerous records from the Kenai Peninsula, with some dots on his maps appearing near Seward.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity and ecology of lichens of Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

McCune¹,

Arup²,

Breuss³

et al. 2020

Plant and Fungal Systematics

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We inventoried lichens in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, USA We assembled the known information on occurrence and ecology of lichens in this park by combining field, herbarium, and literature studies. Our results provide baseline data on lichen occurrence that may be used in resource condition assessments, vulnerability assessments, long-term ecological monitoring, and resource management. We report a total of 616 taxa of lichenized fungi from the Park, plus an additional five subspecies and three varieties, all of which are new additions to the National Park Service database for this park unit. An additional five species of nonlichenized lichenicolous fungi are reported here. Eight non-lichenized fungi that are traditionally treated with lichens are also included, most of these associated with bark of particular host species. Four taxa new to North America are reported here (Arctomia delicatula var. acutior, Aspicilia dudinensis, Myriospora myochroa, and Ochrolechia bahusiensis), along with 44 species new to Alaska. Numerous species have been confirmed using ITS barcoding sequences. Also several records assigned to the genus level are reported, many of those are likely new species.

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