Microhabitat variation inUsneabiomass on mountain beech in Nina Valley, New Zealand

Abstract

Microhabitat variation at a tree level results in the patchy distribution of epiphytic lichens. Our study examined how this microhabitat variation affects the biomass of all Usnea species on the main trunk of a tree up to 2 m in height. Total Usnea biomass and microhabitat data were collected from 48 mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) trees from four different sites in the Nina Valley, South Island, New Zealand. Variation in total Usnea biomass was related to tree-level microenvironmental variables using a linear mixed-effects model. Biomass was positively related to minimum bark depth and negatively to canopy cover, but was unrelated to tree diameter, distance to nearest occupied tree and the per cent cover of sooty mould and bryophytes. These results suggest that epiphytic Usnea on mountain beech trees prefer thicker, textured bark in high-light environments.

Mistletoes and epiphytic lichens contribute to litter input in Nothofagus antarctica forests

“…For example, epiphytic Usnea sp. growing on mountain beech trees (Nothofagus solandri) in New Zealand prefers thicker and textured bark in high-light environments (Denta et al, 2013). However, the response of epiphytic lichens to certain factors can vary widely with forest type and canopy openness.…”