Environmental Effects Monitoring for Epiphytic Lichens at Long Harbour, Lockyear's Waters and Southeast Placentia
Prepared by
Ian Goudie, Ph.D.
LGL Limited
Prepared for
Vale Inco Newfoundland and Labrador Limited
Suite 700, Baine Johnston Centre
10 Fort William Place
St. John’s, NL
For copy of complete monitoring reports please email erioderma_seaside@hotmail.com
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environmental Effects Monitoring for Epiphytic Lichens Spring-Fall 2008
In spring 2008, LGL Limited environmental research associates established a scientific monitoring protocol of the boreal felt lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) for the Vale Inco Newfoundland and Labrador Limited nickel processing facility at Long Harbour, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. This enigmatic lichen is ‘at risk’ and listed under federal and provincial legislation. There is very limited scientific information related to conservation of rare species of lichens. In general, the commitment to protection of biodiversity requires a better understanding of the demography and landscape dynamics of these species. The monitoring studies in eastern Newfoundland reported here are contributing new demographic, landscape, and habitat information for enigmatic species. Lobaria scrobiculata for comparative purposes. ©. Projected rates of population growth were negative for the Lockyer’s Waters area reflecting a continued pattern of decline of the boreal felt lichen averaging about -18.0% per year there since initial studies by the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group in 1997. Results for the Vale Inco study area at Long Harbour are preliminary but nevertheless indicate a positive projected population growth (+6.3 %) that can be attributed to higher survival rates of some of the apothecia-bearing (reproductively active) cohorts monitored there compared to the control at Lockyer’s Waters. Recruitment levels at Long Harbour were very low, and comparable to those documented in the control area. Similar to past analyses, the rate of growth of the population is proportionately most sensitive to changes in survival of the necrotic regenerating cohort. In other words, conservation strategies that promote high survival of these reproductively-active adults are likely to promote population viability.
As part of its sustainable development, Vale Inco has committed to monitoring the viability of this species in the project area. Virtually nothing is known of the population dynamics of the BFL. A more thorough understanding of the demography of this species is vital to developing conservation strategies. The environmental effects monitoring (EEM) follows a scientific protocol established under guidance of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lichen specialist group, and its overall aim is to monitor vital demographic rates, namely mortality and survival, over the winter and summer six-month intervals by comparing the study area at Long Harbour to a control area at Lockyer’s Waters, near Avondale, and by also including the pollution-intolerant textured lungwort
Data for Lockyer’s Waters were collected from the fall 2007 to the spring 2008, and spring 2008 to fall 2008 and analysed using the statistical software Matlab
Phorophytes supporting the textured lungwort were relatively common in the Long Harbour study area and of thirty-four trees bearing seventy-five thalli that were labelled in spring 2008, thirty-nine thalli on twenty-two phorophytes were reassessed in fall 2008. In fall 2008, a further ten phorophytes with nineteen thalli were added to the data base during the EEM, and an additional fifteen sites supporting textured lungwort were tagged during the EPP. No mortality was detected in thalli of the textured lungwort that were monitored for the spring 2008 to fall 2008 surveys, and a preliminary transition matrix was constructed but not further analysed as sample sizes were relatively small.
DISCUSSION -18.3% for 1997 to 2005 which is remarkably similar to the average annual decline of -17.8% detected by the scientific protocol for 2005 to 2008. Without some positive change in these vital rates, the population at Lockyer’s Waters is likely to go extinct over the next few decades Despite the long term declines documented at Lockyer’s Waters over the past decade and a half, the site remains one of the largest documented concentrations of BFL in eastern Newfoundland (370 thalli on 328 phorophytes documented in fall 2008). Continued monitoring at the site will help to elucidate variability in vital rates (stochasticity) in the population, and will provide a solid foundation on which to support further scientific research to clarify the life cycle. Recently, the Department of Biology of Memorial University of Newfoundland hired a research coordinator to help direct research on the BFL. It is hoped that some of these anticipated proposed studies will be linked into this larger demographic study currently being implemented by LGL Limited. The research strategy for the BFL has identified as a top priority the need to elucidate the life cycle and its relationship to the forest ecology (Goudie 2008). Moose ( Alces alces) browsing have reduced or eliminated regenerating stages of balsam fir in many areas of the forest landscape. Scheidegger (1996) noted that BFL appears to require the presence of all growth phases of balsam fir. The juvenile stages in the life cycle of BFL may require a full range of structural diversity in the forest stands in order to establish (Ringius 1997). Goward (1991) has argued for the importance of distinguishing between tree age and forest age because the age of the forest is measured by the duration of continuous full or partial canopy and is likely a vital component optimizing the biodiversity of epiphytic lichens. Specific to Lockyer’s Waters, Maass (2003) suggested the population losses reported by McHugh (2004) may at least be accounted for by severe moose and rabbit (Lepus americanus) browsing during the past twenty years or so (both are introduced herbivores), which reduced the numbers of healthy trees nearby in the age class between 25 and 40 years that would have been most suitable for colonization by Frullania tamarisci, the liverwort thought to play a key role in the lichenisation with its photobiont Scytonema sp. (Maass and Yetman 2002). Goudie and Conway (2005) demonstrated that there was proportionately higher disappearances of BFL from over-mature and dead trees indicating that this lichen is linked with the dynamics of the forest stand. All thalli of BFL located are in over-mature decadent stands likely linked to the increased diffuse light available for photosynthesis. The current hypothesis is that BFL disperses relatively small distances, and therefore population viability is dependent on suitable mature balsam fir stands within a few hundred metres. Ringius (1997) and others have suggested that the lack of regeneration of balsam fir attributed to severe moose browsing may be eliminating the necessary forest succession stages on the landscape for dispersal of this enigmatic species. It’s occurrence on other tree species, including white spruce (Picea glauca), white birch (Betula papyrifera) and red maple (Acer rubrum) is considered incidental (Maass 2003). 4.2 Long Harbour The spring 2008 to fall 2008 interval represented the first period of study of the BFL at the Long Harbour study area following the defined scientific monitoring protocol. As such, it is premature to provide any substantial interpretations. Very low levels of recruitment at this study site have been documented but there are higher apparent rates of survival in the apothecia-bearing cohorts relative to those at Lockyer’s Waters. This latter factor likely explains the projected positive population growth ( In contrast to Lockyer’s Waters, a relatively large population of the textured lungwort was detected in the field in the Long Harbour study area. This provided the opportunity to incorporate this well-studied species into the monitoring protocol there. The lichens associated with sites supporting Executive Summary Erioderma Monitoring Report Spring 2007-Fall 2007 Erioderma pedicellatum) is globally rare and considered an indicator of environmental quality. From fall of 2005 to fall of 2007, the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group completed monitoring of the boreal felt lichen in the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study areas. It was apparent that recruitment was not sufficient to offset adult mortality. The results indicated that while juveniles were recruiting into the existing stands at a low rate (e.g. 0.039 of summer population), the rate of survival of these recruits was very low. The low frequency of casual detection of juveniles may, in part, be explained by this finding. The majority of mortality is occurring in the recruits or Juvenile1 class (26.3%) relative to the Juvenile2 class (7.0%) for Lockyer’s Waters. This supports that once juveniles (recruits) survive a six month period, their likelihood of survival increases considerably. λ = 0.6629 indicating that the projected population there is declining at a rate of 0.3371 substantially more than the 0.0913 measured in 2005 to 2006. We noted that the decline was more dramatic in spring 2007 to fall 2007 (0.2307) than fall 2006 to spring 2007 (0.1539). This coincided with a cool wet summer. λ). This supported that relative changes in the transition rates of thalli classed as Necrotic Loose and Necrotic Regenerating were by far the most important demographics influencing population viability of the boreal felt lichen in the Lockyer’s Waters study area. In general, balsam fir is not successfully regenerating in most parts of the study area due to excessive browsing by moose (Alces alces). We hypothesize that this is limiting habitat quality and availability for recruitment of the boreal felt lichen in the study areas. The population in Lockyer’s Waters was projected for another year, that is, fall 2006 to fall 2007. The growth rate (Lambda) was derived from the eigenvector as Sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the relative influence of each cohort transition on the population growth rate ( Erioderma pedicellatum) in eastern Newfoundland as numbers in the relatively large sample at Lockyer’s Waters (n = 344) declined by approximately 13.9% over the summer period of spring 2007 to fall 2007. We confirmed that a very low rate of juvenile recruitment was occurring in the monitored populations (e.g. ~3.6 % of the summer population in Lockyer’s Waters). The results did not corroborate the 2005 to 2006 findings that recruitment was lower, and mortality higher, in winter. The higher mortality registered in spring 2007 to fall 2007 (0.139) compared to fall 2006 to spring 2007 (0.098) may have been related to the delayed spring and cool summer temperatures as adults demonstrated lower survival rates in summer. Also both the winter (n = 13) and the summer (n = 13) intervals demonstrated identical recruitment in fall 2006 to fall 2007, in contrast to fall 2005 to fall 2006 when recruitment was much higher in summer (11 and 21, respectively). Nevertheless, it is now clear that the Juvenile1 cohort, hence the recruits, are the cohort most vulnerable to mortality. λ) are the survival of the Necrotic Loose and Necrotic Regenerating cohorts. It is apparent that these cohorts may be relatively stable in that there is proportionately less transition to other life stages. However, an assessment of the stable age distribution indicates that fewer juvenile and adults, and more Necrotic Loose and Necrotic Regenerating cohorts would be expected in the population if stabilized by these calculated demographic rates. An interpretation is that the population attained its current distribution of cohorts on the landscape under a different set of demographic rates. Erioderma Monitoring Report Spring 2007-Fall 2007 - 13 - Alces alces). We hypothesize that this is limiting habitat quality and availability for recruitment of the BFL in the study areas. 4.0 Discussion Our findings confirm a continuing declining trend for the globally-rare Boreal Felt Lichen ( The BFL population is declining rapidly at both study areas. The sample sizes for the Southeast Placentia area are small. Overall, these life stage data corroborated previous declines evident in data estimating numbers of thalli in Lockyer’s Waters in 1997, 2002, 2003 compared to 2005 (Goudie and Conway 2005), and more recently for 2005 to 2006 (Goudie and Conway 2007a). The preliminary population model presented here provides further support that the primary life cycle transitions influencing population growth (Lambda- Population viability is being influenced least by juveniles, and these data continue to support that recruitment in the forest landscape may not be the issue limiting population viability in the BFL, and the population is sustained by longevity of adult thalli. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the single most important action promoting conservation is the retention of stands containing thalli (Sillett et al. 2000). This is an important finding for management and conservation of BFL because it suggests that identification and retention of "potential habitat" on the landscape may be of limited value if stands currently supporting this rare lichen are lost to commercial harvesting, fire, air pollution or other causes. Sustainability of populations of the BFL in the Avalon boreal forest maybe compromised by the lack of regenerating forests of balsam fir within areas where mature thalli occur (Ringius 1997). Currently, virtually all located juvenile and adult BFL occur on mostly over-mature balsam fir. In natural cycling stands we would expect balsam fir to be regenerating in the understory of over-mature stands as trees reach senescence and die. The prolific natural regeneration of balsam fir in the absence of moose creates a continuum of ‘wave forests’ within the existing stands hosting the BFL, likely creating the microclimatic and substrate conditions for continued colonization and regeneration of this lichen within landscape units. In general, balsam fir is not successfully regenerating in most parts of the study area due to excessive browsing by moose ( Erioderma Progress Report Spring 2006 - vi - Erioderma pedicellatum) was continued in the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study areas. Populations declined significantly over the winter period at a rate of 13.5% and 33.3%, respectively. Rates of declines varied markedly with cohorts, and it was evident that juvenile survival was extremely poor over the winter period in the Lockyer’s Waters study area whereas mortality was high across all cohorts at the Southeast Placentia study area. There was a low level of recruitment observed (n = 11 or 4.2%, n = 1 or 1.7%, respectively), and we were unsuccessful at locating new thalli elsewhere in the general landscape area of our sites. We successfully located some phorophytes that had been previously monitored but not detected in 2005. These are now included in the samples for the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study areas (total thalli: n = 316, n = 65, respectively). There was some support that adult thalli grew significantly larger in the Lockyer’s Waters study area over the winter period but the morphometrics of other cohorts did not change. There was no change in numbers of apothecia per thalli although there was more variability evident in spring 2006. The monitoring program implemented by the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group through funding from Voisey’s Bay Nickel Inc. has successfully applied an in depth scientific protocol to monitor the demographics of populations of this globally-rare lichen. Insights from this study will help to ascertain the causes for declines in local populations. Erioderma Progress Report Spring 2006 Discussion The winter of 2005 to 2006 was the first interval in the monitoring program for the Boreal Felt Lichen ( Our findings in spring 2006 confirmed a very dramatic decline in the populations of Monitoring of these populations will continue in fall 2006. It is speculated that growth, reproductive output and recruitment of the population should be greater for the intervening summer period. Erioderma Monitoring Report Fall 2006-Spring 2007 - v Erioderma pedicellatum) (BFL) is globally rare and considered an indicator of environmental quality. In fall of 2006, the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group completed the first full year of monitoring of the BFL in the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study areas. It was evident that recruitment and growth were highest in summer. We confirmed a significant juvenile component in the monitored populations. The results indicated that while the juveniles are establishing within the existing stands, the rate of survival is very low, especially during winter. Commencing in 2007, we were able to discriminate the Juvenile1 and Juvenile2 cohorts, and confirmed that the majority of mortality is occurring in the Juvenile1 class (26.3%) relative to the Juvenile2 class (7.0%) for Lockyer’s Waters where our sample sizes were sufficient. This supports that once juveniles survive a year, their likelihood of survival increases considerably. -0.0913 and -0.167 per year, respectively. The analyses of the demographic data for the fall 2006 to spring 2007 winter period are consistent with these findings, namely that recruitment is not sufficient to offset mortality in the forest landscape being studied, and populations demonstrated an overall mortality rate of 10% for the six-month period. Erioderma mollissimum in the Southeast Placentia study area of eastern Newfoundland. The boreal felt lichen ( A preliminary population model presented for BFL for fall 2005 to fall 2006 yielded the growth rate in Lockyer’s Waters at (Lamda) £ = 0.9087, and Southeast Placentia £ = 0.8334, indicating that those populations are declining at a rate of We re-confirmed the presence of two thalli considered to be DISCUSSION Erioderma pedicellatum) in eastern Newfoundland as numbers in the relatively large sample at Lockyer’s Waters declined by approximately 10% over the winter period of fall 2006 to spring 2007. We further confirmed juvenile recruitment was occurring in the monitored populations (e.g. ~3.6 % of the spring population in Lockyer’s Waters). The results further supported that recruitment was lower, and mortality higher, in winter. et al. 2000). This is an important finding for management and conservation of BFL because it suggests that identification and retention of "potential habitat" on the landscape may be of limited value if stands currently supporting this rare lichen are lost to commercial harvesting, fire, air pollution or other causes. Alces alces). This may be limiting habitat quality and availability for recruitment of the BFL in the study areas (Ringius 1997). 4.0 D Our findings confirm a continuing declining trend for the globally-rare Boreal Felt Lichen ( The BFL population is declining rapidly at both study areas although more precipitously in the Southeast Placentia study area. The sample sizes for the latter are small. This corroborates previous declines evident in data estimating numbers of thalli in Lockyer’s Waters in 1997, 2002, 2003 compared to 2005 (Goudie and Conway 2005). The preliminary population model presented by Goudie and Conway (2007) supported that the primary factor influencing population growth is the survival of the Necrotic Loose cohort, and this was independently the case for both the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study areas. It is apparent that this cohort is the most numerous, and it is relatively stable in that there is proportionately less transition to other classes. Population viability is not being influenced by juveniles, and these data supported that recruitment in the forest landscape may not be the issue limiting population viability in the BFL, and the population is sustained by longevity of apothecia-bearing thalli. This supports that the single most important action promoting conservation is the retention of stands containing thalli (Sillett Balsam fir is not successfully regenerating in most parts of the study area due to excessive browsing by moose ( Erioderma Baseline Report Fall 2005 Erioderma pedicellatum (BFL) is a conspicuous lichen discovered in the 19th century, and today it is known from only two restricted areas in the world, namely Norway and Atlantic Canada. Newfoundland remains the last stronghold of this species as it is still known from a diversity of sites there, although many populations disappeared since the first reports of this species in the 1970’s, and populations currently being monitored (namely: Lockyer’s Waters) are in rapid decline. The major threats to this species include the destruction of old-growth, highly oceanic coniferous forests, changes in dynamics of these moist boreal forests, and air pollutants. Alces alces) browsing. With this baseline of scientific information and methodology reported here, the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group can implement its research protocol of BFL in the Lockyer’s Waters and Southeast Placentia study over the coming years. This report details the baseline data and information for implementing a standardized scientific protocol to collect demographic data on the different life stages of BFL, measure growth rates, and the development of fruit bodies (apothecia) in order to test hypotheses about the lifecycle of this species. It is critical to fully understand the life cycle and population dynamics of this lichen in the forest landscape in order to ascertain factors limiting its ability to sustain viable populations. These dynamics are currently unknown for this rare lichen. The methodological approach was developed in consultation with Dr. Christoph Scheidegger of the IUCN Lichen Specialist Group. Detailed site data and morphometrics are reported for 260 thalli on 93 phorophytes in the Lockyer’s Waters study area and 60 thalli on 27 phorophytes in the Southeast Placentia study area. Phorophytyes were almost entirely balsam fir and tended to be mature to overmature trees often occupying unproductive sites, although there was very little productive mature and overmature stands within which we could search for thalli. Most productive balsam fir sites we visited are not regenerating due to excessive moose (Alces alces). 4.0 D In 2005, the Newfoundland Lichen Education and Research Group demonstrated that the population of BFL in the Lockyer’s Waters study area of the Avondale River watershed of eastern Newfoundland declined precipitously since monitoring began in 1997, and recommended continued research and precautionary management in the Avalon boreal forest, i.e., err on the side of caution (Goudie and Conway 2005). Phorophytyes were almost entirely balsam fir in our study areas, and tended to be mature to over-mature trees often occupying unproductive sites, although there were few productive mature and over-mature stands within which we could search for thalli. Such sites were either logged or wind blown, and not regenerating because of excessive browsing by moose ( Juvenile thalli of BFL were rarely observed compared to what we anticipated from a viable population. This finding is of concern, even with the additional locations with BFL located in the last year, because the strongly skewed age structure of the population in Lockyer’s Waters would require very high rates of survival in order to maintain population viability. It is not yet fully understood whether the establishment of an offspring of BFL on a younger tree is predominantly within the collapsing stand, on the rapidly regenerating following tree generation, or whether it is in an adjacent stand of an early successional stage (Ringius 1997). At present the circumstantial evidence that a successful reproduction is outside the collapsing stand might be supported because most thalli were detected in mature to over-mature stands, and there were very few classified in the Juvenile1 cohort (< 3.0 cm). It is even possible that these juveniles were derived from regeneration following the death of necrotic adults. Further research on these life stages of BFL are urgently needed and will be addressed in this project.
Insects