Micro to mega-landscapes: scaling arboreal lichen pattern and processes in the boreal rainforest

作为一个景观生态学家，我想知道为什么物种会在它们所在的地方被发现。景观生态学家使用观察物种的出现与地理信息系统数据（数字地图）开发分布模型，以帮助这种理解。这些模型的一个挑战可能是缺乏关于生物体的数据。同样，强有力的科学实验需要重复实验。然而，在景观生态学中，很难有可复制的景观来进行实验。我的目标是克服这些挑战。我将使用纽芬兰岛上的树栖（树居）地衣作为模型系统（具有大量个体），以更好地了解是什么驱动了跨尺度的生物多样性空间格局。纽芬兰因其丰富的地衣多样性而被称为“北方雨林”。我将克服缺乏复制的挑战，在多个空间尺度上使用林分和树木作为“景观”。这将有助于验证和改进统计模型，从而有助于改进其他物种的生境模型。这将有助于我正在进行的研究，以获得深入了解物种栖息地动态的北方物种。最后，我将调查树栖地衣如何可以作为森林生态完整性的指标。

As a landscape ecologist, I want to know why species are found where they are. Landscape ecologists use observations about species occurrences together with GIS data (digital maps) to develop distribution models to aid with this understanding. A challenge with these models can be lack of data on organisms. As well, robust scientific experimentation requires experiments to be replicated. However, in landscape ecology it is very difficult to have replicate landscapes on which to experiment. My goal is to overcome these challenges. I will use arboreal (tree-dwelling) lichens on the island of Newfoundland as a model system (with high numbers of individuals) to better understand what drives spatial patterns of biodiversity across scales. Newfoundland is known as the “boreal rainforest” because of its high lichen diversity. I will overcome the challenge of lack of replication using stands and trees as “landscapes” at multiple spatial scales. This will allow for validation and improvement of statistical models and thereby help to improve habitat models for other species. This will contribute to my on-going research to gain insights into species-habitat dynamics for boreal species. Finally, I will investigate how arboreal lichens can be used as an indicator for forest ecological integrity.