A habitat analysis and influence of scale in lichen communities on granitic rock
- Author:
- Rutherford R.D. & Rebertus A.
- Year:
- 2022
- Journal:
- Bryologist
- Pages:
- 125(1): 43–60
- Url:
- DOI: 10.1639/0007-2745-125.1.043
Environmental factors in saxicolous lichen communities are scale dependent, yet the influence
of scale is not often specifically addressed in ecological studies. This study examined three scales [micro
(cm), meso (meters–10s of meters), macro (km)] in granite rock communities and compared species
assemblages and disturbance regimes in Lake Superior shoreline and inland habitats. Percent cover of
lichens and environmental variables were measured in 1280 20320-cm plots across 16 sites (8 lakeshore
and 8 inland). A perMANOVA analysis showed that the composition of lakeshore and inland lichen
communities was significantly different (F¼17.2, df¼1,4, P ,0.001). Adjacent lakeshore sites were more
similar (F¼8.550; df¼1, 26; p¼0.007) to each other than they were to sites further away, while inland sites
were not (F¼0.545; df¼1, 26; p¼0.467). Variation in disturbance is likely more important in determining
inter-site variation in inland areas. Mesoscale environmental variables such as solar radiation, height
above Lake Superior, and an aspect/slope index were better predictors of species assemblages than
microscale variables. However, individual species differed greatly in their associations with specific
habitat variables. A host of microhabitats were discovered, with some lichens specializing on rock
overhangs, quartz veins, cracks, subtle variations in rock texture, and mafic intrusions within granite.
Keywords: Saxicolous lichen communities, macro-scale, meso-scale, micro-scale, micro-slope, microaspect,
aspect/slope index, Huron Mountains, Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- Id:
- 34108
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Saturday, 22 January 2022 12:49