Lichens as an indicator of sea-level rise
- Author:
- Rosentreter R. & DeBolt A.
- Year:
- 2023
- Journal:
- Evansia
- Pages:
- 39(4)[2022]: 162–168
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.1639/0747-9859-39.4.162
Coastal areas around the globe are threatened with sea-level rise (SLR). Many of
these areas support coastal forests, and determining the threat is complicated by wind
patterns and sea floor and shoreline variability, beyond simple elevational concerns. Lichens
can be used as indicators of SLR at site specific locations. Developing vegetative indicators of
SLR could assist land managers, municipalities, and homeowners in evaluating the risk of
building homes, roads, and other structures in some locations. The absence of salt sensitive
lichen species can be an indicator of SLR potential. We base this on lichen distribution
patterns within two Florida state parks – one a barrier island, the other on the nearby
mainland. Rapidly colonizing lichen taxa with asexual reproductive structures are poor
indicators of SLR, because of their ability to quickly recolonize following storm events and
other disturbances. Knowledge of lichen distribution patterns in combination with
reproductive traits help facilitate the development of lichen indicator guidelines. We have
learned that Coccocarpia palmicola, Dirinaria picta, and Heterodermia albicans do not appear
to be salt-tolerant but have abundant asexual propagules and recolonize rapidly. Sites lacking
salt sensitive lichens such as Bulbothrix laevigatula, Cryptothecia rubrocincta, Leptogium
cyanescens and Parmotrema rampoddense could indicate areas that are at high risk to SLR at
a fine scale. Such areas should be avoided for the construction of homes, roads, and other
structures. Lichens make good indicator species and could help guide management of coastal
areas in Florida and much of the U.S. southeast Coastal Plain.
Key words. Florida, coastal lichens, salt sensitive, climate change, reproductive traits.
- Id:
- 34938
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Saturday, 07 January 2023 21:44