Epiphytic macrolichen communities were sampled in 117 coniferous stands in Blue River watershed of western Oregon. Stands were sampled across various stand types defined by stand structure, according to age classes of the younger tree cohort and remnant tree retention. Remnant trees were those in an older cohort that remained following a stand disturbance that initiated tree regeneration, such as a timber harvest or natural forest fire. Stands were located in upland and riparian forests of two vascular plant series (western hemlock and true fir). Presence and abundance of all epiphytic macrolichen species were sampled in a 0.4 ha circular Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) plot in the 117 stands. Epiphytic lichen biomass (oven-dried, kg/ha) was estimated for three functional groups: nitrogen-fixing cyanolichens, forage lichens, and matrix lichens in 63 of the 117 stands.
Bruce P. McCune, Shanti D. Berryman
This data was collected as part of a PhD dissertation to describe patterns in epiphytic macrolichen community composition, diversity, and biomass across various stand types in the Blue River watershed of western Oregon. The dissertation first examines the relative importance of ecological factors such as stand age, remnant tree retention, and topography to lichen communities in the landscape. It then develops models for estimating epiphytic macrolichen biomass and uses these models to assess potential impacts of forest management strategies on future lichen biomass in the watershed.