Download Bryophytes as a Potential Indicator for Wetland Quality

Bryophytes as a
Potential Indicator
for Wetland Quality
Bryophyte Overview
Bryophytes as an indicator
Bryophytes - NWCA
Field Trips
Present work
Future possibilities
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Hypn
Polytrichum ohioense
Tortula truncata
MOSSES (Division Bryophyta; 416 species in OH)
Eurhynchium hians
Bryoandersonia illecebra
Bazzania trilobata
(a leafy liverwort)
Conocephalum conicum
(a thallose liverwort)
LIVERWORTS (Division Marchantiophyta; 122 species in OH)
Nowellia curvifolia
(a leafy liverwort)
Cephalosia lunulifolia
(a leafy liverwort)
Hornworts (Division Anthocerotophyta; 3 species in OH)
Phaeoceros laevis
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Plagiomnium-cuspidatum-15-700x466.jpg
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Hypnum-lindb
Why Bryophytes in the OH NWCA?
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Hypnumcurvifolium-9-700x466.jpg
http://wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/c_cribrosus3.jpg
Coeffecient of Conservation (CC)–
indicates fidelity to a given habitat
The Floristic Qualitative Assessment
Index (FQAI) - expresses “quality” of given
area
𝑭𝑸𝑨𝑰 =∑ (Cci)/√(Nnative)
The Floristic Qualitative Assessment Index (FQAI) was
renamed the Bryophyte Qualitative Assessment Index (BQAI)
since there is no flower in bryophytes!
CCs for liverworts and hornworts found in study were
estimated since not published before in the “Floristic quality
assessment index (FQAI) for vascular plants and mosses for
the State of Ohio”
http://www.pwconserve.org/graphics/places/merrimacfarm/wetland_040513.jpg
http://www.pwconserve.org/graphics/places/merrimacfarm/wetland_040513.jpg
Quick Facts
• 52 species were found on one site only
(that is, 1 site out of 50)
• 80 species were found on 5 sites or less.
• 9 species were found on 20 or more sites.
• Just looking at genera, 35 genera were found on 5 sites or less.
• 8 genera were found on 20 or more sites.
• Over 100 species and over 60 genera.
• Genera are species poor.
• Mosses outnumbered liverworts by
approximately 6:1 in term of species found.
Number of bryophyte species vs. VIBI-FQ
R2= 54.50
Number of genera vs VIBI-FQ
R2= 54.90
MQAI vs VIBI
R2= 48.50
Boxplot of Bryophyte QAI vs VIBI-FQ Category
20
17.68
Bryophyte QAI
15
10.96
10
5.57
5
0
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
(N = 6)
(N = 28)
(N = 8)
VIBI-FQ Category
Initial breakpoints for using bryophytes to estimate wetland class
100
class 1: ≤9
class 2: 10-14
90
class 3: ≥ 15
80
70
V
I
B
I
60
50
|
F
Q
40
30
20
10
0
0
y = 3.1513x + 3.8391
R² = 0.4999
5
10
15
Bryophyte Quality Assessment Index (BQAI)
20
25
http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_MWS/0466/320/Brachythecium_rutabulum,I_MWS46622.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6f/c8/b1/6fc8b1519ef87d60ca07bd1e6de6553c.jpg
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/
2016/06/Sphagnum-fimbriatum-6-520x650.jpg
http://www.cisfbr.org.uk/images/Sphagnum_fimbriatum_019C.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Campylium_ste
llatum_(e,_144852-474702)_6330.JPG
http://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Campylium-stellatum-6-750x499.jpg
Phalaris arundinacea REED CANARY
GRASS = ~62% cover
Total species – 35
VIBI -FQ = 13
Species
Amblystegium varium
Brachythecium rutabulum
Bryhnia novae-angliae
Fissidens taxifolius
Leptodictyum riparium
Plagiothecium denticulatum
Rhizomnium punctatum
Rhynchostegium serrulatum
CC
2
4
3
3
2
4
5
3
Species Total = 8
MQAI for site = 9.2
Combined Cover = ~70%
Leersia oryzoides
Impatiens capensis
Pilea pumila
Salix discolor
Juncus effusus
RICE CUT GRASS
SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT
CANADIAN CLEARWEED
PUSSY WILLOW
SOFT RUSH
Total species = 52
VIBI-FQ = 40
Species
Amblystegium varium
Anthoceros laevis
Brachythecium laetum
Brachythecium rutabulum
Callicladium haldanianum
Hypnum lindbergii
Leptodictyum humile
Leptodictyum riparium
Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Plagiomnium ellipticum
Pohlia wahlenbergii
Thuidium delicatulum
CC
2
2
2
4
4
6
2
2
2
7
3
3
Species Total = 12
MQAI for site = 11.3
Combined cover = ~ 60%
Leersia oryzoides
Impatiens capensis
Salix discolor
Symplocarpus foetidus
Solidago gigantea
Carex laevivaginata
Carex lurida
RICE CUT GRASS
SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT
PUSSY WILLOW
SKUNK-CABBAGE
SMOOTH GOLDENROD
SMOOTH-SHEATHED FOX SEDGE
BOTTLEBRUSH SEDGE
Species number = 70
VIBI-FQ = 66
Species
Amblystegium serpens
Amblystegium varium
Atrichum crispulum
Aulacomnium palustre
Brachythecium acuminatum
Brachythecium campestre
Brachythecium laetum
Brachythecium rivulare
Brachythecium rutabulum
Bryhnia novae-angliae
Callicladium haldanianum
Campylium chrysophyllum
Entodon cladorrhizans
Entodon seductrix
Eurhynchium hians
Eurhynchium pulchellum
Frullania eboracensis
Funaria hygrometrica
Haplocladium microphyllum
Leptodictyum humile
Leptodictyum riparium
Lophocolea heterophylla
Orthotrichum sp.
Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Plagiomnium ellipticum
Plagiothecium cavifolium
Platygyrium repens
Pohlia sp.
Rhizomnium punctatum
Thuidium delicatulum
CC
3
2
5
3
4
5
2
5
4
3
4
3
5
2
3
3
5
1
3
2
2
2
NA
2
7
5
3
NA
5
3
Species Total = 30
MQAI for site = 18.1
Stapanian MA, Schumacher W, Gara B, Adam, JV, Viau N,
(2016) Moss and vascular plant indices in Ohio wetlands have
similar environmental predictors. Ecological Indicators
62:132-146
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/Portals/35
/wetlands/Ohio_Intensification_Final
_Report_20151014.pdf
Concluding Remarks
o Close relationship between the bryophytes and vascular plant
community.
o Developing an index of biotic integrity for this taxonomic
group could be extremely beneficial to the Ohio wetland
regulatory program, as most bryophytes are present yearround.
o Fewer temporal limitations than our current detailed
biological assessments, such as VIBI, VIBI-FQ, and the
Amphibian IBI.
o Genera count would simplify.
o Results strongly suggests that developing an assessment
methodology focusing on this taxonomic group is realistic.
o Time and resources for continual exploring
the potential utility of bryophytes as
indicators of wetland quality is limited
– depends on interest from wider wetland
community.
Bill Schumacher
Environmental Specialist
Division of Surface Water
Water Quality Standards and Technical Support
Ohio EPA
P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049
614-644-2137 - Central Office
614-836-8779 - Groveport
[email protected]