Lichens of Yellowstone National Park Phase II: Final Report.

Abstract

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.