Date of Award
1982
Degree Name
Biological Sciences
College
College of Science
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Thomas E. Weaks
Second Advisor
Donald Tarter
Third Advisor
Stanley Ash
Abstract
The distribution of corticolous lichens was studied along Big Seven Mile Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River using step-wise discriminant analysis. The populations appear to respond to complex interacting gradients of humidity, periodic inundation and the abrasive action of water transported debris. Hacroepiphytic coverage and species richness increased with height of the tree bole. Of all species observed, Arthonia caesia (Flot.)Korb and Physcia acinulata Mul. Arg. possessed the highest tolerance to periodic inundation. In addition, these species were found to have the highest resistance to scouring by water-borne debris. Candelaria concolor (Dicks.) B. Stein, Parmelia hypotropa Nyl. and Physcia tribacoides Nyl. were least tolerant to inundation.
Three state records were established: A. caesia, Catillaria nigroclavata (Nyl.) Schul.• and Lecidea erythro phaea Floke were previously unreported from West Virginia.
Subject
Lichens - West Virginia
Subject
Plants, Effect of floods on - West Virginia
Recommended Citation
Beckelhimer, Stephen Leslie, "The Effects of periodic inundation on Corticolous lichens along Big Seven Mile Creek, Cabell County, West Virginia" (1982). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 148.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/148
