Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests
The spatial distribution of corticolous lichens on the iconic New Zealand pōhutukawa (<i>Metrosideros excelsa</i>) tree was investigated from a survey of urban parks and forests across the city of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. Lichens were identified from ten randomly sele...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/4/170 |
| _version_ | 1797537547273895936 |
|---|---|
| author | Gladys N. Benitez Glenn D. Aguilar Dan Blanchon |
| author_facet | Gladys N. Benitez Glenn D. Aguilar Dan Blanchon |
| author_sort | Gladys N. Benitez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spatial distribution of corticolous lichens on the iconic New Zealand pōhutukawa (<i>Metrosideros excelsa</i>) tree was investigated from a survey of urban parks and forests across the city of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. Lichens were identified from ten randomly selected trees at 20 sampling sites, with 10 sites classified as coastal and another 10 as inland sites. Lichen data were correlated with distance from sea, distance from major roads, distance from native forests, mean tree DBH (diameter at breast height) and the seven-year average of measured NO<sub>2</sub> over the area. A total of 33 lichen species were found with coastal sites harboring significantly higher average lichen species per tree as well as higher site species richness. We found mild hotspots in two sites for average lichen species per tree and another two separate sites for species richness, with all hotspots at the coast. A positive correlation between lichen species richness and DBH was found. Sites in coastal locations were more similar to each other in terms of lichen community composition than they were to adjacent inland sites and some species were only found at coastal sites. The average number of lichen species per tree was negatively correlated with distance from the coast, suggesting that the characteristic lichen flora found on pōhutukawa may be reliant on coastal microclimates. There were no correlations with distance from major roads, and a slight positive correlation between NO<sub>2</sub> levels and average lichen species per tree. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:17:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c437970817364f3f8a3a8011bd5d3489 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:17:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-c437970817364f3f8a3a8011bd5d34892023-11-21T15:47:35ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-04-0113417010.3390/d13040170Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban ForestsGladys N. Benitez0Glenn D. Aguilar1Dan Blanchon2School of Environmental Sciences, Universidad Ana G Mendez, P.O. Box 3030 Gurabo, Gurabo 00778-3030, Puerto RicoSchool of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1025, New ZealandSchool of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1025, New ZealandThe spatial distribution of corticolous lichens on the iconic New Zealand pōhutukawa (<i>Metrosideros excelsa</i>) tree was investigated from a survey of urban parks and forests across the city of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. Lichens were identified from ten randomly selected trees at 20 sampling sites, with 10 sites classified as coastal and another 10 as inland sites. Lichen data were correlated with distance from sea, distance from major roads, distance from native forests, mean tree DBH (diameter at breast height) and the seven-year average of measured NO<sub>2</sub> over the area. A total of 33 lichen species were found with coastal sites harboring significantly higher average lichen species per tree as well as higher site species richness. We found mild hotspots in two sites for average lichen species per tree and another two separate sites for species richness, with all hotspots at the coast. A positive correlation between lichen species richness and DBH was found. Sites in coastal locations were more similar to each other in terms of lichen community composition than they were to adjacent inland sites and some species were only found at coastal sites. The average number of lichen species per tree was negatively correlated with distance from the coast, suggesting that the characteristic lichen flora found on pōhutukawa may be reliant on coastal microclimates. There were no correlations with distance from major roads, and a slight positive correlation between NO<sub>2</sub> levels and average lichen species per tree.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/4/170<i>Metrosideros excelsa</i>lichensNew ZealandhotspotsindicatorsAuckland |
| spellingShingle | Gladys N. Benitez Glenn D. Aguilar Dan Blanchon Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests Diversity <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> lichens New Zealand hotspots indicators Auckland |
| title | Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests |
| title_full | Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests |
| title_short | Spatial Distribution of Lichens in <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> in Northern New Zealand Urban Forests |
| title_sort | spatial distribution of lichens in i metrosideros excelsa i in northern new zealand urban forests |
| topic | <i>Metrosideros excelsa</i> lichens New Zealand hotspots indicators Auckland |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/4/170 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gladysnbenitez spatialdistributionoflichensinimetrosiderosexcelsaiinnorthernnewzealandurbanforests AT glenndaguilar spatialdistributionoflichensinimetrosiderosexcelsaiinnorthernnewzealandurbanforests AT danblanchon spatialdistributionoflichensinimetrosiderosexcelsaiinnorthernnewzealandurbanforests |