Lichens

Preliminary descriptions of saxicolous lichen communities in North Carolina Piedmont rocky river ecosystems

lepidopteran — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 22:19:17 +0000

Preliminary descriptions of saxicolous lichen communities in North Carolina Piedmont rocky river ecosystems lepidopteran Tue, 08/20/2024 - 18:19

Abstract: The lichen biota of eastern North America is fairly well-documented with most taxa reported from terrestrial ecosystems. While some taxa are described as living near water bodies potentially subjected to inundation, no amphibious lichen communities have been described. To address this gap in our understanding of the region’s lichen ecology, thirteen rocky river sites in two river basins of central North Carolina, U.S.A. were explored for amphibious and riparian lichen biotas during periods of low water level, restricted to saxicolous species subjected to inundation, however infrequent. Specimens of encountered taxa were collected and their heights above water level were measured during field visits. Three communities were discerned from field observations in increasing height from low water level, here termed: Mesic Fluvial, Xeric Fluvial and Riparian. These communities are described in terms of species number and composition, height above water, functional traits and taxonomic class composition, as well as characteristic species both in open riverscour and shaded rocky riverbank habitats. From measured heights, two trimlines are described separating the three communities: Fluvial Trimline, often co-occurring with a band of deposited silt, and Riparian Trimline. With the use of nearby stream gage height data, percent inundation for the 2023 water year was estimated for the three communities as 3–10 months for Mesic Fluvial, 0.5–4 months per year for Xeric Fluvial, and < 1–3 months for Riparian lichens. Environmental variables were explored for relationships with the three communities, finding the most significant positive relationships between Mesic Fluvial species richness and several stream physical and water chemistry variables. Recommendations for future stream lichen surveys are offered.

https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-127.3.325

/sites/default/files/publications/2024%20-%20NC%20Piedmt%20River%20Lichen%20Communities.pdf

Gary Perlmutter, Scott LaGreca

2024

Gary B. Perlmutter and Scott A. LaGreca. "Preliminary descriptions of saxicolous lichen communities in North Carolina Piedmont rocky river ecosystems." The Bryologist, 127(3) : 325-341. https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-127.3.325.

Lichens

Noteworthy Collections of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi from Piedmont Rocky River Ecosystems in Central North Carolina, USA

lepidopteran — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:32:52 +0000

Noteworthy Collections of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi from Piedmont Rocky River Ecosystems in Central North Carolina, USA lepidopteran Fri, 06/28/2024 - 22:32

Abstract: From recent surveys of Piedmont rocky river habitats, 22 noteworthy species of lichens and two lichenicolous fungi are presented, including 18 species new to North Carolina, three new to eastern North America, three new to North America and three potentially new to science. Most taxa here reported include amphibious lichens and lichens that otherwise are found in exposed, arid environments.

https://doi.org/10.1639/0747-9859-41.2.47

Gary Perlmutter, Scott LaGreca

2024

Gary B. Perlmutter and Scott A. LaGreca "Noteworthy Collections of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi from Piedmont Rocky River Ecosystems in Central North Carolina, USA," Evansia 41(2), 47-56, (27 June 2024). https://doi.org/10.1639/0747-9859-41.2.47

Lichens

Placement of Arthonia rubrocincta in Coniocarpon (lichenized Ascomycota: Arthoniaceae), with an extended range for the species in southeastern North America and the Caribbean

lepidopteran — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 04:41:54 +0000

Placement of Arthonia rubrocincta in Coniocarpon (lichenized Ascomycota: Arthoniaceae), with an extended range for the species in southeastern North America and the Caribbean lepidopteran Mon, 02/12/2024 - 23:41

Arthonia rubrocincta morphologically and anatomically fits the generic concept of Coniocarpon and is here transferred to the latter genus as Coniocarpon rubrocinctum. Specimens from southeastern United States and Bahamas were studied and the range of the species is found to extend north into North Carolina, USA and southeast to the Bahamas. Thatch palm (Coccothrinax argentata) is reported as a new phorophyte. An emended description based on examined material is presented for the species.

/sites/default/files/publications/2023%20-%20Coniocarpon%20rubrocinctum.pdf

Gary Perlmutter, Ricardo Miranda-Gonzalez & Frank Bungartz

2023

Perlmutter, G., Miranda-Gonzalez, R., & Bungartz, F. (2023). Placement of Arthonia rubrocincta in coniocarpon (Lichenized Ascomycota: Arthoniaceae), with an extended range for the species in southeastern North America and the Caribbean. Phytotaxa, 589(3), 278–282. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.589.3.6

Lichens

Highway pollution effects on microhabitat community structure of corticolous lichens

lepidopteran — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 08:11:06 +0000

Highway pollution effects on microhabitat community structure of corticolous lichens lepidopteran Sun, 02/12/2023 - 03:11

We studied lichen communities on bole and base tree trunk segments along forest edge-to-interior gradients on opposite sides of a major highway and a control site in central North Carolina, U.S.A., to investigate if these two communities differ and if so, do they differ in response to highway pollution.

https://bioone.org/journals/the-bryologist/volume-121/issue-1/0007-2745-121.1.0…

Gary B. Perlmutter, Gary B. Blank, Thomas R. Wentworth, Margaret D. Lowman, Howard S. Neufeld, Eimy Rivas Plata

2018

Gary B. Perlmutter, Gary B. Blank, Thomas R. Wentworth, Margaret D. Lowman, Howard S. Neufeld, and Eimy Rivas Plata "Highway pollution effects on microhabitat community structure of corticolous lichens," The Bryologist 121(1), 1-13, (8 January 2018). https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.001

Lichens

Lichens and Allied Fungi of Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, North Carolina, USA

lepidopteran — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:22:51 +0000

Lichens and Allied Fungi of Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, North Carolina, USA lepidopteran Thu, 02/09/2023 - 03:22

Abstract: One hundred five species of lichenized and allied fungi are reported from recent and historical collections made in the Mitchell Mill State Natural Area in northeastern Wake County, North Carolina, USA. Mitchell Mill is unique among granitic flatrock communities in the southeastern United States by having riparian elements from the Little River, which flows directly over the flatrock, supporting semi-aquatic lichen communities along creek edges represented by species in Dermatocarpon, Verrucaria, and Lichinales. Recently described or renamed species Cladonia ignatii, Lecanora provertula and Phyllopsora isidiosa were found in recent collections. Compared to historical records, 38 taxa including five of six species of large cyanolichen were not found in recent visits, indicating a loss of diversity over the past 100 years, likely due to human activities.

https://bioone.org/journals/evansia/volume-39/issue-1/0747-9859-39.1.43/Lichens…

Gary Perlmutter

2022

Gary B. Perlmutter "Lichens and Allied Fungi of Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, North Carolina, USA," Evansia 39(1), 43-53, (6 April 2022). https://doi.org/10.1639/0747-9859-39.1.43