Vertical Zonation of Some Crustose Lichens (Verrucariaceae) in Bay of Fundy Littoral Zones of Nova Scotia

Cole A. Vail¹ and Allison K. Walker^1,*

¹Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 28, Issue 3 (2021): 311–326

Abstract
Despite harsh conditions provided by wave action, salinity, UV exposure, and other pressures, lichens provide most of the substrate cover in the rocky littoral zone. We documented the vertical zonation and general ecology of several littoral members of the lichenized ascomycete family Verrucariaceae from 7 sites along Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy coast. We identified lichens morphologically and confirmed species using ITS rDNA barcoding to provide novel biodiversity data. We documented 8 lichens in Nova Scotia littoral zones, with all transects showing low lichen diversity and moderate evenness. Vertical zonation was not strongly correlated with mean low tide; a variety of biotic and abiotic factors likely affected the distribution of the few species determining lichen community composition in this region.

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