Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Malone, Amanda [1], Tripp, Erin A [2].

Resurvey and Checklist of Hepatics in Colorado’s Comanche National Grasslands.

Documenting biodiversity is the first step to studying ecology, evolution, and changing biological distributions through time. This type of study remains critical as habitats and species disappear. In an effort to contribute to endeavors such as the Early Land Plants Today project, this research documents hepatic biodiversity at a local scale. The area surveyed, The Greater Comanche Grasslands, sits beside the Purgatoire Watershed on the east and lies in between the Chihuahuan Desert and the Rocky Mountains ecosystems. In addition to high plains grassland habitats there are hundreds of miles of isolated canyons in the reserve; the topographical relief, unique hydrology and geology signals a series of evolutionarily interesting niches. This resurvey found hepatics in the locations taken from herbarium records that date back to the late 1940’s. Certain species such as Asterella gracilis and Conocephalum conicum were not found upon the resurvey. Plagiochasma wrightii and P. rupestre were frequent finds. The xeric adapted Mannia pilosa was also uncovered. Riccia sorocarpa was a Southern Colorado record. The arid adaptations of these species might contribute to their persistence in this area. This study and resurvey hopefully added to understanding bryophyte biodiversity in Colorado and high plains grasslands as a whole.

1 - University of Colorado Boulder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 505 27th Way, Apt. 511 , Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
2 - University Of Colorado Boulder, C105, Ramaley Hall, Campus Box 334, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

Keywords:
hepatic
grasslands
Liverworts
Bryophyte
Colorado
resurvey
Comanche National Grasslands.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Bryology and Lichenological Section/ABLS Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PBR005
Abstract ID:914
Candidate for Awards:None