A Comparative Analysis of Saxicolous Lichen Diversity and Cover along an Elevation Gradient on Talus Slopes in Gunnison National Forest to Infer Possible Climate Change Effects

Abstract

Climate change in Colorado has already increased temperatures by 2 ℉ and is predicted to continue to rise. Precipitation during winter months is predicted to increase, while projected precipitation for the spring, summer and fall is still uncertain. It is important to understand how saxicolous lichen communities (those growing on or in rock) will respond to climate change as they are primary successors and many other organisms rely on their ecological services. Saxicolous lichen communities are important primary successors of barren talus rock slopes, slowly eroding rock and creating habitats for micro and eventually macro plant communities. Some other roles of lichens include; nutrient deposition, nesting material, habitat for microscopic organisms, erode rock, and forage for reindeer (Pegau 1968, Nash et al. 1995, Crossman et al. 2001, Winchester et al. 2008). Lichen communities are expected to change in species diversity, distribution and cover along an elevational gradient and with varying aspect differences. Climate warming and changes in precipitation patterns may lead to a shift in community diversity and cover, and ultimately ecosystem function. The diversity and cover of saxicolous lichens were measured along an elevational gradient on talus slopes in Gunnison National Forest, Colorado. Six sites and a total of 180 transects were analyzed for abundance and cover of lichen thalli and bare rock using the image processing program ImageJ. Talus slopes with varying aspects and elevations had significantly different compositions of lichen species. Diversity and abundance of lichens decreased with elevation and on drier south-facing slopes. This has potential negative implications for the persistence of lichen communities that colonize harsh environments already experiencing extreme conditions. It is important to look at how these lichen communities are structured to predict how they might respond to a rapidly changing climate, as many biological models do not represent these communities. This study pursued how lichen cover and diversity will change over time as climate change progresses.

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