Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Pasiche Lisboa, Carlos Jose [1], Doering, Jennifer [2], Booth, Tom [1], Belland, Rene [3], Piercey-Normore, Michele [2].

The dispersal dynamics of lichen and moss asexual propagules in boreal forests of northern Manitoba, Canada.

Lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) have a high species diversity in Boreal forests that are maintained by the dispersal dynamics in the forests. Dispersal dynamics occur when the dispersal mechanisms (wind, water, and animal) move different quantities and sizes of fragments and sexually or asexually produced lichen and bryophyte propagules through the forests. However, the dispersal dynamics of lichen and bryophyte propagules relative to the habitat (forest stand type), microhabitat (logs and trees), and sides of the trees (aspect: N, S, E, W) in Boreal forests is unknown. The goal of this study is to understand the dispersal dynamics of lichen and bryophyte asexual propagules in Boreal forests around the northeast end of Payuk lake, Manitoba, Canada. Petri dishes were used as traps to capture the lichen and bryophyte asexual propagules (number and size) dispersed to the aspects of 10 trees, microhabitats (10 trees and 20 traps on logs), and through three stands in each forest type (white spruce, poplar, and balsam fir) during different seasons throughout the year (2015-2016). A nested Kruskal-Wallis test was used to detect significant differences in the number and size of asexual propagules captured in each season, habitat, microhabitat, and tree aspect. The number of propagules captured were influenced by the season, habitat, and aspect, the season and habitat, as well as the habitat and microhabitat with more propagules being captured in the late fall than in late spring. Higher numbers of propagules were captured in balsam fir forests, than in white spruce forests, and the lowest number of propagules captured were in poplar forests. More propagules were captured on the trees than on the logs. Although the number of propagules captured in the forest was affected by the season, habitat, and aspect, overall, the tree aspect did not seem to influence the number of propagules captured. Larger propagules were captured during the late fall than during the late spring. Between forest stands captured propagules were the largest in size in white spruce forests and smaller in balsam fir forests; the smallest propagules were captured in poplar forests. In these forests, the microhabitat and tree aspect had no influence on the size of the propagules captured. The dispersal dynamics of Boreal forests show that different quantities and sizes of asexual propagules are dispersed from different forest types in each season, suggesting a differential establishment and maintenance of species in the forests.

1 - University of Manitoba, Biological Science, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
2 - University of Manitoba, Biological Science, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
3 - University of Alberta, Renewable Resources, 775 General Services, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada

Keywords:
boreal forest
lichen dispersal
moss dispersal
dispersal of asexual propagules
diversity maintanence
forests dispersal dynamics.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 32, Bryology and Lichenology (ABLS) II
Location: 103/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Time: 2:30 PM
Number: 32003
Abstract ID:854
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award