Browsing by Author "Bennett, James P."

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    1995 lichen studies in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Final report
    (1996-05) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    This study of the lichens of the Apostle Islands was in two separate parts. Part one was to survey the lichens on Long Island in all vegetational types noting the species sensitive to sulfur dioxide and the substrates on which the lichens grew. Part two was to make collections for elemental analysis on Long Island and at the three localities sampled in 1987 and compare the results of elemental analysis in 1987 with those from 1995. The lichen flora of Long Island is quite diverse with 88 species found including 14 new species records for the park. There were four species very sensitive to sulfur dioxide. All of the lichens found were in good health and with normal fertility. The new species records are mainly due to the abundance of jack pines and red oaks. The lichens studied by elemental analysis show normal ranges of all elements in 1995 with no correlation between elements and localities. In comparison of the 1995 data with the 1987 data there are several noticable changes. Some elements have increased and some have decreased. The increase of Cr and Ni should be studied further as possible indicators of anthropogenic pollution. Recommendations are made for protection of Long Island, for moving the elemental monitoring site on Raspberry Island and for periodic (5 years) restudy of the lichens by elemental analysis.
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    1997 Elemental analysis of Boundary Waters Canoe Area lichens of the Superior National Forest: Final report
    (1998-03) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    In the final report of the first study of the lichens and air quality in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Wetmore, 1987) it was recommended that a restudy of the elemental analysis of lichens be done every five years. A restudy was done in 1992 (Wetmore 1993a) and the present report is on the second restudy done in 1997. In the present study four species of lichens were collected during August, 1997 at the same localities as the previous studies. The methods used were the same as in the previous studies. Statistical analyses of data from all three years showed that species differences are highly significant but locality and year differences are of much less significance. The Isabella Lake and the Trap Lake localities have unusually high levels of some elements and that the enriched levels of Cd in Hypogymnia physodes at Basswood Lake, Isabella Lake, and Lake La Croix may be nearing damaging levels for this species. The recommendation is made that the periodic five-year restudy of elemental analysis be continued. USPS staff should attempt to determine the reasons for the high levels of some elements at Isabella Lake and Trap Lake.
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    2000 elemental analysis of lichens in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and George Washington Carver National Monument: Final report
    (2001-04) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    In the final report of the first study of the lichens and air quality in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE) (Wetmore 1988) and George Washington Carver National Monument (GWCA) (Wetmore 1992) it was recommended that a restudy of the elemental analysis of lichens be done every five years. This report is on the results of a restudy done in 2000. In August; 2000, four species of lichens were collected at three of the same localities in SLBE as the previous studies. In GWCA only one species was resampled at one locality in May, 2000. The methods used were the same as in the previous studies. Statistical analyses of data from SLBE indicated that of the 15 elements measured in both years, six were significantly different for Cladina: Cd, Cr, Mn, Na, Pb and S. Chromium, Mn and Na all increased, while the other three decreased. The analysis of the GWCA data showed that twelve elements out of 23 plus ash changed significantly between 1991 and 2000, although this is based on very small sample sizes. The recommendation is made that the periodic restudy of elemental analyses of both areas be continued but on a more frequent interval in GWCA and with more samples to determine if the changes are consistent. The five-year periodic restudy in SLBE seems to be adequate.
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    2001 Lichen studies in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: final report
    (National Park Servce, 2002-01) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
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    2002 Elemental Analysis of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Lichens of the Superior National Forest, Minnesota: Final report.
    (2003-08-04) Bennett, James P.; Wetmore, Clifford M.
    In the 1986 report on the lichens and air quality in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area it was recommended that a restudy of the elemental analyses of lichens be done every five years. A restudy was done in 1992 and 1997. The present report is on the third restudy done in 2002 using the same methods, species and localities. The most significant finding of the fourth sampling is a dramatic decrease in Ph content in the lichens, which continues to decline and not level off. There is also a consistent upward trend in alkali and alkaline earth metals which is unexplained. Sodium shows a significant decrease from west to east, suggesting a source near Lac La Croix. Isabella Lake continues to show high concentrations of some elements. Hypogymnia physodes, an important biomonitoring species in this study, continues to show elevated levels of Ca, Mg and Mn.
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    2003 Lichen Studies in St. Croix National Scenic Riverway: Final Report.
    (2004-05-20) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    During 2003 a re-study of the lichens of St. Croix National Scenic Riverway was done. In addition to collections for elemental analysis, new complete lichen collections were made at 15 localities for new species records. There are now 282 lichens found in the park and the new species list should replace the list prepared for the 1991 report. This list includes 20 new species for the park. There are eight species in the park that are on the lists of threatened or endangered lichens for Minnesota or Wisconsin. The number of lichen species increases significantly about eight species per degree of latitude from south to north. The most number of species by county were found in Burnett Co., WI. Lead has decreased significantly overall since the first sampling in 1990, but continues to be higher at Riverside than anywhere else. A local source of lead in this area remains a mystery. Cadmium has not decreased significantly over time, and continues to be elevated at Namekagon Dam. Other lichen species at this locality also have elevated Cd, confirming that there is probably an unknown local source of this element. Unlike the previous two heavy metals, Mn has increased significantly over time, and appears to be very high at Radspur.
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    Lichens and air quality in Hot Springs National Park: Final report
    (2002-04) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    This study of the lichens of Hot Springs National Park was designed 1) to collect lichens for lichen species lists, 2) to collect lichens for elemental analysis, 3) to study the health and distributions of species most sensitive to air pollution, and 4) to assess the effects of air quality on lichens. Thirty two localities were studied in the park and 1279 collections were made. Samples of four species were also collected at 12 localities for elemental analysis. The lichen flora is quite diverse for this area. There were 161 species present and one undescribed new species was found in the park. All of the lichens found were in good health and with normal fertility. The lichens studied by elemental analysis showed higher elemental levels in the southwest part of the park. There seemed to be no indications of threatening air quality problems (primarily from sulfur dioxide) to the lichen flora in the park. Recommendations are for periodic (5 year) restudy of the lichens by elemental analysis. A complete lichen restudy of the lichen flora should be done every 10-15 years. The localities where undescribed species were found should receive protection. If construction or maintenance activities are planned within these areas a lichenologist should be consulted to prevent loss of species. Further investigation of the higher levels of certain elements at some localities should be done.
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    Lichens and air quality in Three Prairie Parks, Effigy Mounds National Monument-Iowa, Homestead National Monument-Nebraska, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield-Missouri: Final Report.
    (1997-06) Wetmore, Clifford M.; Bennett, James P.
    This study of the lichens of three prairie parks being studied by the National Park Service was designed 1) to collect lichens for lichen species lists, 2) to collect lichens for elemental analysis, 3) to study the health and distributions of species most sensitive to air pollution, and 4) to assess the effects of air quality on lichens. The parks were Effigy Mounds National Monument (EFMO), Homestead National Monument (HOME), and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (WICR). Each park is treated in a separate section of this report. Eleven localities were studied in EFMO, three localities in HOME, and 10 localities in WI CR. Samples of two species were also collected at localities in each park for elemental analysis. The lichen floras are reasonably diverse for each area. There were 79 species present in EFMO, 19 species present in HOME, and 88 species present in WICR. Two undescribed new species were found in WICR and one additional new species in EFMO. All of the lichens found were in good health and with normal fertility. The lichens studied by elemental analysis showed elevated levels of soil contamination and some elevation of anthropogenic elements in HOME but all elements in EFMO and WICR were comparable to other clean areas. There seemed to be no indications of threatening air quality problems (primarily from sulfur dioxide) in these parks. Recommendations are for periodic (5 year) restudy of the lichens by elemental analysis. A complete lichen restudy of the lichen flora should be done every 10-15 years. The localities where undescribed species were found should receive protection. If construction or maintenance activities are planned within these areas a lichenologist should be consulted to prevent loss of species.
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    Lichens of Yellowstone National Park Phase II: Final Report.
    (1999-11-01) Eversman, Sharon; Bennett, James P.; Wetmore, Clifford M.; Glew, Katherine
    Three hundred sixty-four lichen species in 105 genera have been identified from 84 sites in Yellowstone National Park; 190 species are reported from the park for the first time. About 41% of the species were saxicolous, 25% were corticolous or lignicolous, 18% were terricolous, and 16% were on rotting wood, mosses, litter or other lichens. About 44% of the species were crustose, 34% were foliose, 7% were fruticose; the remaining, including Cladonia, were squamulose or "pin" lichens. Twenty-nine species were collected from 20 or more sites (common), and 174 species were identified from three or fewer sites (rare). Douglas fir burned in 1988 is being recolonized by eight species, and burned soil in a Douglas fir forest zone is being recolonized by Peltigera didactyla and P. rufescens. Forty-three species have been reported as being sensitive or intermediately sensitive to air pollutants. Bryoria fremontii and Letharia vulpina tissues were analyzed for elemental content; except for mercury, the levels of most elements were similar to those recorded in other parts of the region.
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    NPLichen: A database of lichens in the U.S. National Parks: 2005 Final Report
    (2005-03-21) Bennett, James P.; Wetmore, Clifford M.
    This report describes the history of the development of NPLichen, a database of lichens of the U.S. National Parks, followed by a description of the steps taken to upgrade the database. Since beginning this project in 1992, we have increased coverage by adding more parks, species, and references. The new version is now available as a live database on the internet. A summary of statistics on each park is provided, as well as a discussion of potential errors in the data. Finally, disclaimers on the use of the data are provided, and suggestions for updates and recommendations for future work.
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    NPLichen: A database of lichens in the U.S. National Parks: 2005 Final Report.
    (2005-03-15) Bennett, James P.; Wetmore, Clifford M.
    This report describes the history of the development of NPLichen, a database of lichens of the U.S. National Parks, followed by a description of the steps taken to upgrade the database. Since beginning this project in 1992, we have increased coverage by adding more parks, species, and references. The new version is now available as a live database on the internet. A summary of statistics on each park is provided, as well as a discussion of potential errors in the data. Finally, disclaimers on the use of the data are provided, and suggestions for updates and recommendations for future work.