Understanding and mapping the boreal rain forest: effects of biotic and abiotic factors on arboreal lichen distribution across multiple landscape extents

了解和绘制北方雨林地图：生物和非生物因素对跨多个景观范围的树栖地衣分布的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-04011
• 负责人: Wiersma, Yolanda
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=566238
• 关键词: Understanding; mapping; boreal; rain; forest

Landscape ecology can be described as studying “what you see from an airplane window” – namely land forms, land cover, and land use. Landscape ecologists examine how spatial ecological patterns and processes are linked. Very often, landscape ecologists use data from across a fairly large region to develop models to predict and understand species distributions and habitat requirements. The proposed research uses tools and techniques from this “big picture” branch of science (landscape ecology) and applies it to a small and cryptic group of organisms: lichens. Lichens are important indicators of air quality and forest health. However, because they are small and difficult to find, scientists have very little data on their distribution across large areas. There is also very little understanding about what environmental factors affect why they are located on certain trees and in certain forest stands, but not in others. I will look at lichen distribution from big spatial scales (the island of Newfoundland) to smaller “landscapes” scales (individual trees). This research will carry out field work to sample lichen diversity on across the island of Newfoundland (which has been dubbed “the boreal rainforest” because of its high lichen diversity). Together with my HQP, we will inventory lichen diversity at three different spatial scales. The “mega-scale” will look at lichen distribution across the island to see how they are sensitive to temperature and terrain. Here we will use satellite and GIS data to look at factors influencing where lichens are found in general by comparing the mapped data to lichen survey data. The “meso-scale” will look at how lichen diversity is different between different kinds of forest patches to see how lichens might prefer certain types of trees over others. The “micro-scale will look at lichen patterns on individual trees to see if they are sensitive to changes in height, trunk diameter, or bark type. Here we will use photographs of tree trunks (akin to satellite images or air photos at a much smaller scale) to look at micro-scale patterns in lichen distribution and relate these to fine-scale differences in tree height, humidity and temperature. We will also set up instruments to collect fine-scale information about temperature and humidity to see how these affect lichen occurrence. Across all scales we will develop models that will help us to better understand what forest and micro-climate types are important for lichens, and will help us to predict where important lichen habitats occur in areas where we cannot sample. We can use the research results to monitor lichen abundance and thus get early indications of changes in air quality. Changes in lichen diversity can also indicate changes in forest health in response to climate change or other human disturbances, such as resource development.

景观生态学可以被描述为研究“从飞机窗户看到的东西”——即土地形态、土地覆盖和土地利用。景观生态学家研究空间生态模式和过程如何相互联系。通常，景观生态学家使用来自相当大区域的数据来开发模型来预测和了解物种分布和栖息地要求。拟议的研究使用了科学“大局”分支（景观生态学）中的工具和技术，并将其应用于一小群神秘的生物：地衣。地衣是空气质量和森林健康的重要指标。然而，由于它们很小并且很难找到，科学家们关于它们在大范围内的分布的数据非常少。对于哪些环境因素会影响它们为何位于某些树木和某些林分上，而不是在其他林分上，人们也知之甚少。我将从大空间尺度（纽芬兰岛）到较小的“景观”尺度（个体树木）观察地衣的分布。这项研究将开展实地工作，对纽芬兰岛各地的地衣多样性进行采样（该岛因其高度地衣多样性而被称为“北方雨林”）。我们将与我的总部一起盘点三个不同空间尺度的地衣多样性。 “大规模”将观察岛上地衣的分布，以了解它们对温度和地形的敏感程度。在这里，我们将使用卫星和地理信息系统数据，通过将地图数据与地衣调查数据进行比较，来了解影响地衣发现地点的因素。 “中观尺度”将研究不同类型森林斑块之间地衣多样性的差异，以了解地衣如何更喜欢某些类型的树木而不是其他类型的树木。 “微观尺度将观察单棵树上的地衣模式，看看它们是否对高度、树干直径或树皮类型的变化敏感。在这里，我们将使用树干照片（类似于卫星图像或小尺度的航空照片）来观察地衣分布的微观模式，并将这些模式与树高、湿度和温度的精细尺度差异联系起来。我们还将设置仪器来收集精细尺度信息 了解温度和湿度，看看它们如何影响地衣的发生。我们将在所有尺度上开发模型，帮助我们更好地了解哪些森林和微气候类型对地衣很重要，并将帮助我们预测在我们无法采样的地区，重要的地衣栖息地出现在哪里。我们可以利用研究结果来监测地衣丰度，从而获得空气质量变化的早期迹象。地衣多样性的变化也可以表明森林健康因气候变化或其他原因而发生的变化。 人类干扰，例如资源开发。