Lichens and bryophytes of the alpine and subalpine zones ofKatandin, Maine, III: Bryophytes

摘要

Field studies on the east side of Mount Katandin, Maine, from 2001 to 2004, anan appraisal of published and unpublished Katandin records from previous workdocumented 203 different bryophytes (131 mosses and 72 liverworts) for subalpine coniferforest, alpine tundra and cirque walls, and krummholz in between. This work representsthe only recent investigation of a high altitude bryoflora in the mountains of thenortheastern United States. Two mosses (Hygrohypnum smithii, Pohlia tundrae) are new tthis region, and six others, including Neckera oligocarpa, are new records for Maine.Investigations of Grimmia (4 spp.), Cynodontium (2 spp.) and Kiaeria (2 spp.) clarified theapplication of taxonomic concepts for these mosses relative to previous published work. Inconjuction with parallel studies of Katandin lichens, eight habitats were specified for thestudy area. These habitats were largely the same places as those recognized for lichens. Theeight habitats differed in the number of Arctic mosses and in unique occurrences ofvarious mosses and liverworts. Mean Arctic-boreal-cool temperate values, introduced as ananalytical tool to evaluate the distributional affinities of Kathadin lichens, were calculated.for bryophytes for seven of eight habitats. The mean for each habitat class was wellpredicted by a multiple regression equation, with altitude, solar gain and snowpackpersistence, but not substratum, as independent variables. Upper and lower altitutinallimits of bryophyte species occurrence were determined. The documented presence ofKatandin alpine bryophytes in four other mountain areas in northeastern United Statesand adjacent Quebec, Canada, showed fewer of them in western areas (the highAdirondack Mountains, New York and Mt. Mansfield, Vermont), a possible outcome ofincreasing oceanic conditions eastward.