Site factors determining epiphytic lichen distribution in a dieback-affected spruce-fir forest on Whiteface Mountain, New York: stemflow chemistry

Abstract

Runge, M. (2002). Site factors determining epiphytic lichen distribution in a dieback-affected spruce-fir forest on Whiteface Mountain, New York: stemflow chemistry. Retrieved from http://repository.upenn.edu/ees_papers/1Site factors determining epiphytic lichen distribution in a dieback-affected spruce-fir forest on Whiteface Mountain, New York: stemflow chemistry AbstractEpiphytic lichen diversity in a dieback-affected forest of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) on Whiteface Mountain, New York, U.S.A., was higher on dead compared with living trees and on fir compared with spruce. Diversity differed more between living and dead spruce than between living and dead fir. Cover of all lichen species that occurred on more than 50% of the sample trees, except for two species, decreased with increasing mean concentration of NO Cover of all lichen species that occurred on more than 50% of the sample trees, except for two species, decreased with increasing mean concentration of NO 3 -in stemflow. Concentrations of NO 3 -were higher on living spruce compared with dead spruce and with living and dead fir. The negative correlations between lichen cover and NO 3 -concentration may reflect either a decrease of lichen abundance caused by toxic effects of higher NO 3 -concentrations or a removal of NO 3 -from stemflow by epiphytic lichens. Experimental exposure of Hypogymnia physodes to NaNO 3 reduced chlorophyll concentrations. This result, together with estimations of lichen and needle biomass, indicates that a dependence of lichen cover on NO 3 -concentrations in stemflow may be the cause for the negative correlations. The sulphur concentration in stemflow did not affect lichen abundance on Whiteface Mountain. The manganese concentration in stemflow may have an effect on single species.Key words: forest dieback, manganese, nitrate assimilation, nitrate toxicity, precipitation chemistry, sulphur.Résumé : Dans une forêt d'épinette (Picea rubens Sarg.) et de sapin (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) de la Whiteface Mountain, New York, E.U., affectée par un dépérissement, la diversité des lichens épiphytes est plus importante sur les arbres morts que sur les arbres vivants, et sur le sapin que sur l'épinette. La diversité est plus marquée entre les épinet-tes vivantes et mortes qu'entre les sapins vivants et morts. La couverture par l'ensemble des espèces de lichen qui se retrouvent sur de 50 % des arbres échantillonnés, sauf pour deux espèces, diminue avec l'augmentation moyenne de la teneur en NO 3 -dans le lessivat de l'arbre. Les teneurs en NO 3 --sont plus élevées sur l'épinette vivante que sur l'épinette morte, et sur le sapin vivant que sur le sapin mort. Les corrélations négatives entre la couverture lichénique et la teneur en NO 3 -pourraient refléter soit une diminution de l'abondance des lichens causée par les effets toxiques des hautes teneurs en NO 3 -ou soit une élimination du NO 3 -du lessivat de l'arbre par les lichens épiphytes. Une exposition expérimentale de l'Hypogymnia phys...

The significance of precipitation and substrate chemistry for epiphytic lichen diversity in spruce-fir forests of the Salish Mountains, northwestern Montana

“…In this part of Montana, average pH of incident precipitation was 5.3 in 2001 (National Atmospheric Deposition Program, unpubl.) compared to pH 4.4 measured by Schmull et al (2002) in the Adirondacks and pH 3.9 measured by Hauck and Runge (2002) in the Harz Mountains. The objective was to test in this low-polluted area (Auclair et al, 1990) the following hypotheses: (1) that element concentrations in stemflow and bark play no significant role as a site factor for epiphytic lichens, and (2) that element concentrations of soil-borne elements are significant for epiphytic lichen abundance.…”

“…Comparable studies of relationships between epiphytic lichen vegetation and element concentrations from other Picea abies forests are not available. However, Schmull et al (2002) and Schmull and Hauck (2003a) conducted a similar study in the Adirondacks, upstate New York, in a Picea rubens-Abies balsamea forest. Here, atmospheric pollution was lower than in the Harz Mountains, and epiphytic lichen distribution was apparently less influenced by chemical site factors.…”

Atmospheric Science Research at Whiteface Mountain, NY: Site Description and History

“…The harsh climate and short growing season are major factors that determine the species composition and life cycles of these organisms. Many scientists and ecologists have used Whiteface as a living laboratory to study the relationships between the mountain environment and the plants and animals that are able to survive in such harsh conditions (e.g., Reilly, 1963;Scott et al, 1984;Lovett and Kisman, 1990;Schmull et al, 2002).…”

Recent literature on bryophytes—110(3)

“…Habitaten durchgeführt (Paulsch et al 2001, Gálvez et al, 2003 (Barkman 1958, Frahm 1990, Frahm & Gradstein 1991, Lücking 1994, Lücking 1995, Wolf 1994, Rhoades 1995, Nakanishi 1999, Lakatos et al 2001, Hauck & Meißner 2002, Köhler 2002, Schmull 2002, Acebey et al 2003 a. Schattenepiphyten aus dem Unterwuchs als gefährdet (Hyvönen et al 1987, Gradstein et al 1992a, Sillett et al 1995, Pinheiro da Costa 1999, Acebey et al 2003 (Frahm 1990, Asta & Legrand 1998 Tab. 3-6.…”