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Boreal felt lichen [ Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M. Jorg. (1972)] occurs on mainland Nova Scotia as well as Cape Breton, growing almost entirely on balsam fir [ Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] in wet coastal forests. A Geographical Information System (GIS) based predictive model for E. pedicellatum habitat in Nova Scotia has facilitated surveys and guided conservation. We used this model to examine the relationship between presence of E. pedicellatum and forest structure (tree DBH, height, age, and crown closure, inter-tree distance, basal area of live and dead trees, and percent cover of shrubs, herbs, Sphagnum spp., and other mosses), and site conditions (topographic position, slope, aspect, and drainage) as well as the presence of lichen indicator species. Erioderma pedicellatum sites had significantly older trees, higher density of live trees, lower crown closure, lower basal area of live Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb., lower basal area of live trees, higher basal area of dead trees, higher Sphagnum spp. cover, and lower shrub cover than unoccupied habitat. Erioderma pedicellatum sites were significantly less well drained and occurred on steeper slopes with a north or east aspect. Four macrolichens ( Coccocarpia palmicola, Platismatia norvegica, Lobaria scrobiculata, and Sphaerophorus globosus) occurred at a significantly higher frequency at E. pedicellatum sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the photobiont diversity of the boreal felt lichen, Erioderma pedicellatum. Previously sampled genetic data from Newfoundland were reanalyzed and new sequence data (16S rDNA, rbcLX) of the boreal felt lichen from Alaska (USA), Kamchatka (Russia), and North Trøndelag (Norway) were generated. The highest genetic diversity of the photobiont is found in Alaska and Kamchatka, indicating that these may be the primary sources of the species in the Northern Hemisphere. In Newfoundland, the photobiont of E. pedicellatum was screened on leaves of the symbiotic liverwort Frullania asagrayana and it was found to occur on trees where no other lichens were present, demonstrating that the geographical distribution, and possibly also the ecological requirement of the photobiont of E. pedicellatum, is wider than that of the lichen phenotype. Finally, a postulated association between the occurrence of the vegetatively reproducing Coccocarpia palmicola and the occurrence of the compatible photobiont of E. pedicellatum on the same tree could not be established. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstracts of papers presented at the 50th Meeting of the Canadian Botanical Association are presented which include one on understanding the source of methane emissions from plants, nitrogen transporters expression in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive tomato plants, and population structure of the boreal felt lichen in ribbed moraine landscape of Eastern Newfoundland.

The boreal felt lichen ( Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M. Jørg.) is globally critically endangered, being threatened by forestry operations, habitat disturbance, and air pollution. To determine if loss of habitat due to forestry activities has occurred in Nova Scotia, a predictive habitat model was built using historical data from 1988. Satellite data were used for the period between 1987 and 2005 to determine the amount of suitable habitat harvested during this period. Available habitat was modeled through time from 1988 to 2005 in which area harvested was subtracted and regeneration was added in 3- to 5-year time steps. The predicted suitable boreal felt lichen habitat area was then modeled from 2005 to 2055 using the same harvesting assumptions and modeling process, but using 10-year time steps. The results of the model indicated that there has been a loss of 2311 ha (11.5%) in the amount of predicted suitable boreal felt lichen habitat between 1988 and 2005. A forward-projected drop is predicted between 2005 and 2055 that will amount to 4499 ha (25.4%), assuming no change in forest harvesting. Protection of unoccupied habitat surrounding existing boreal felt is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial forestry can negatively affect biodiversity, and rare or endangered species are particularly vulnerable. Boreal felt lichen ( Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M.Jørg.) is a globally critically endangered species, and its population in Nova Scotia has been reduced through harvesting of its host tree balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). We hypothesized that forest harvesting adjacent to and within the landscape of boreal felt lichen could increase the risk of mortality by negatively affecting microclimate of its habitat. Autologistic regression models were used to measure probability of mortality (death or disappearance) with harvesting history at the stand and landscape scales. Erioderma pedicellatum mortality and 17-year tree harvesting history derived from satellite data were used in the model. Modeling at the stand scale suggested that the probability of E. pedicellatum mortality increased as the area of tree harvesting increased. At the landscape scale, the model suggested that probability of E. pedicellatum mortality increased as the area of harvest within 500 m increased. Adjacent tree harvesting may increase solar radiation, wind, and temperature, which could have a negative effect on E. pedicellatum survival. We recommend maintaining uncut buffer zones around E. pedicellatum and limiting the size of harvest blocks and amount of harvesting in the landscape over a given time period to help conserve this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive grazing by gastropods was found on endangered Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) at Sixth Lake, Nova Scotia, in 2004. At least 80% of arboreal gastropods observed at the site were the introduced species Anon subfuscus. Subsequent surveys at five other locations in Nova Scotia showed 90% of arboreal gastropod individuals observed were introduced species. Potential impact on native lichen species, and in particular on rare and endangered species, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]