Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Lowman, Margaret

Keywords

Lichens, Canopy Diversity, Myakka, Epiphytes, Water Tolerance, Quercus

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Lichens are an understudied organism in Florida, especially on the southwest coast. The goal of this thesis was to collect data on lichens at Myakka River State Park, a large area of preserved land, and to explore areas of lichenology that deserve more research. The first experiment tested the tolerance to submergence in water of six species over a 6 day period. There were significant health differences between low trunk and canopy lichens, with low trunk lichens having a higher vigor under conditions of submergence. Second, I surveyed vertical distribution of lichen diversity, and the total cover of lichens. The results found no correlation between total lichen cover and height in the tree, and no correlation between lichen cover between sides of the tree. Crustose lichens accounted for 85% of cover, and foliose 15%. Foliose lichens cover increased significantly with height (ANOVA F(2,6)= 26.29, p= 0.0011) while crustose did not (ANOVA F(2,6)= 2.56, p= 0.16). Third, the diversity of macrolichens between Myakka River State Park and Ocala National Forest was compared. Lichen diversity was very similar between parks, but Myakka has a higher diversity of tropical lichens.

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