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

作为一名景观生态学家，我想知道为什么物种会出现在它们所在的地方。景观生态学家利用对物种发生的观察以及地理信息系统的数据(数字地图)来开发分布模型，以帮助理解这一点。这些模型的一个挑战可能是缺乏关于生物体的数据。同样，强大的科学实验需要重复实验。然而，在景观生态学中，很难有复制的景观在其上进行实验。我的目标是克服这些挑战。我将使用纽芬兰岛上的树栖(树栖)地衣作为一个模型系统(具有大量的个体)，以更好地了解是什么驱动了不同尺度上生物多样性的空间格局。纽芬兰因其高度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，使用林和树作为多个空间尺度的“风景”。这将允许验证和改进统计模型，从而有助于改进其他物种的栖息地模型。这将有助于我正在进行的研究，以深入了解北方物种的物种栖息地动态。最后，我将研究树生地衣如何作为森林生态完整性的指示器。

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.