Comparison of cryptogam responses to a gradient of atmoshperic deposition in Acadia National Park, Maine

Cleavitt, Nat; National Park Service, Acadia National Park

From letter: 'In this annual report, I describe progress and results from current work on the effects of regional deposition to bryophytes and lichens in spruce-fir stands of the Park. Thus far, the Fellowship has contributed to lichenology in North America by enabling the documentation of two lichen species not previously reported from the continent and to lichenology in Maine and New England be contributing new records for rare and/or only historically known species. Bryology in the Park currently lags behind information available on the lichen flora and therefore the bryophyte documentation is critical at the Park scale. Currently, it is not known whether the bryophyte documentation has yielded any important State records or recent collections as I am still in the field (in Acadia) and away from literature resources available at Cornell University.' Intro: 'By utilizing study sites based in Acadia National Park, we are ; 1) examining the effects of atmospheric deposition on ecosystem integrity (using macrolichens and bryophytes as proxies) and 2) documenting the current diversity and abundance for lichens and bryophytes (both under-documented groups in North America). In designing the study, we were able to build upon the deposition data of Weathers et al. (in revision) for the Park. In the Northeast, we have comparably good documentation of the biological effects of these deposition patterns. Many sources of atmospheric emissions, especially personal vehicles, are directly correlated to human population density and these sources of deposition are projected to remain chronically elevated over time and even increase in much of the world. Therefore, a larger aim of the project was the development of methods useful for quantitatively detecting deposition effects at the level of individuals, populations and communities. Methods developed during this project could then be replicated outside of Acadia as a means of monitoring the long-term health of forests both inside and outside of National Parks.' GPS coordinates, site descriptions, species lists, and species specific data are provided for the five paired sites selected out of the 307 throughfall collector sites of Weathers et al. /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /ACADIA NATIONAL PARK/MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Western Mt./Hadlock Bk./Amphitheatre/Pemetic Mt./