Heuristic model for identifying the habitats of Erioderma pedicellatum and other rare cyanolichens in Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

Erioderma pedicellatum and fifteen other rare cyanolichens in Atlantic coastal forests in Nova Scotia are at risk from human activities. A heuristic expert habitat model was developed for use in a GIS to help identify polygons with habitat for these at-risk cyanolichens. Of 13,852 polygons identified by the model, 183 were surveyed for rare cyanolichens. One hundred and one of surveyed polygons had at least one species of rare cyanolichen. Habitat data were collected from twenty sites which had Erioderma pedicellatum. The habitat model can be used to identify important lichen areas for conservation and research. Copyright ©2008 by The American Bryological and Lichenological Society, Inc.