Macrolichen community structure in boreal forested wetlands on the island of Newfoundland, Canada

• Main Author: Padgett, Tegan Alienor Florence
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2019
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/13889/; https://research.library.mun.ca/13889/1/thesis.pdf

Forested wetlands provide important ecosystem services and vital habitat for numerous organisms. Epiphytic macrolichens are a common and abundant group of organisms in forested wetlands and, given their habitat specificity, they are of potential use as indicators of forested wetlands and spatial boundaries. However, little is known about the community structure of macrolichens in forested wetlands. To address this, I first tested for differences in macrolichen communities and habitat associations between wetlands and ecoregions. I found significant differences between forested wetland classes and ecoregions and identified potential indicator species. Second, I tested for differences in macrolichen communities among swamps, ecotones, and adjacent upland forests. I found that macrolichen community richness and diversity were highest in swamps and lowest in upland forests, and that macrolichen communities were significantly different among swamps, upland forests, and their ecotones. The results of this research highlight the potential use of macrolichens as indicators of forested wetlands and their spatial boundaries.