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On Succession in A Saxicolous Lichen Community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

M. E. J. Woolhouse ,
R. Harmsen  and
L. Fahrig
M. E. J. Woolhouse
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston K7L 3N6, Canada
R. Harmsen
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston K7L 3N6, Canada
L. Fahrig
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston K7L 3N6, Canada
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Abstract

The lichen flora was sampled at each of the five sites on a near-vertical gneiss rock face. The sites were ranked according to the degree ofweathering of the rock surface and were taken to represent different stages in a succession. The succession shows an increase in species richness and diversity over time, although the proportion of the rock face unoccupied by lichens increases at the oldest site. The succession will be driven by allogenic processes, physical weathering of the rock, facilitation, especially the effects of lichens on surface erosion, and by inhibition, through competition for space. At the oldest site mortality of lichen thalli becomes important, continually opening up new areas for recolonization and maintaining community diversity. The succession may be described by four phases: (1) colonization, (2) growth,(3) competition and (4) senescence.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 1985 , pp. 167 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1985

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