Epiphytic Macrolichen Community Composition Database—epiphytic lichen synusiae in forested areas of the US

Abstract

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program's Lichen Communities Indicator is used for tracking epiphytic macrolichen diversity and is applied for monitoring air quality and climate change effects on forest health in the United States. Started in 1994, the Epiphytic Macrolichen Community Composition Database (GIVD ID NA-US-012) now has over 8,000 surveys of lichen community composition, some of which are re-visits that may be used for tracking change over time. Plots are located on the FIA Program's permanent nation-wide Phase 3 grid and are re-visited every 5-10 years (periodicity varies by region). Recent data uses include development of critical loads for nitrogen and identification of lichen species expected to be sensitive to climate change.

Keywords

air quality, climate change, critical load, forest health, macrolichen, nitrogen, pollution

Citation

Jovan, Sarah. 2012. Epiphytic Macrolichen Community Composition Database—epiphytic lichen synusiae in forested areas of the US. In: Dengler, J., Oldeland, J., Jansen, F., Chytrý, M., Ewald, J., Finckh, M., Glöckler, F., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Peet, R.K., Schaminée, J.H.J. [Eds.]. Vegetation databases for the 21st century. Biodiversity & Ecology 4: 439–439.