Coprophilous fungi as paleo indicators for moose presence after introduction to Newfoundland ...
To study the non-native moose (Alces alces) population on Newfoundland, successfully introduced in 1904, a paleolimnological approach was used: coprophilous fungal spores were isolated in two 210Pb-dated lake sediment cores to compare with historical abundance numbers for moose. We predicted that, a...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland
2024
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.48336/qka6-y559 https://research.library.mun.ca/16376/ |
| Summary: | To study the non-native moose (Alces alces) population on Newfoundland, successfully introduced in 1904, a paleolimnological approach was used: coprophilous fungal spores were isolated in two 210Pb-dated lake sediment cores to compare with historical abundance numbers for moose. We predicted that, as commonly practiced with megafauna, coprophilous spores would correspond with abundance data. Cores from two ponds were sectioned at 0.25 cm intervals resulting in ~3-4 years in each slice of sediment from ~1850 to 2021. The counts were numerically treated for each spore type and the spore total by two different methods in 24 samples from each core: 1) as a percent of the tracer Lycopodium present and 2) as an accumulation rate. Coprophilous spores counted in this study include Podospora, Sordaria, Sporomiella, Arnium, Coniochaeta, Ascodesmis, and Delitschia. Results corresponded between moose abundance and spores for Little Crow Pond, but were less promising for Pitcher Pond, possibly due to dating error. Our ... |
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