Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Aromin, Alessandra [1], Slate, Mandy [2], Ryan, Hegstad [3], Callaway, Ragan [4].

The effects of moss-dominated soil crusts on the native forb Gaillardia aristata.

Biotic soil crusts often cover the ground surface between grasses, shrubs, and forbs in dryland systems. Soil crusts are tight knit associations of moss, lichen, algae, cyanobacteria, and heterotrophic microorganisms that differ greatly in species composition and dominance. Soil crusts have strong positive and negative ecological effects on vascular plants, but plant-crust interactions appear to vary depending on which taxa are dominant in the crust. For instance, cyanobacteria-dominated crusts, located in very dry regions, often inhibit seedlings from establishing. Conversely, lichen-dominated crusts can facilitate native species while resisting colonization of exotic invasive species until disturbed. This same pattern has been reported for moss-dominated crusts but has received little attention in the literature. Moss-dominated soil crusts are common in intermountain prairie and we found that the native forb, Gaillardia, occured on moss-dominated soil crusts more frequently than bare ground. We combined common garden and field experiments to investigate this relationship and evaluate the effects of soil-crust disturbance on G. aristata. We will present initial results from these experiments on the ecological impacts of moss-dominated soil crusts on G. aristata in intermountain grasslands.

1 - 4625 Bordeaux Blvd., Missoula, MT, 59808, USA
2 - University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
3 - University of Montana, Biological Sciences, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
4 - University Of Montana, Division Of Biological Sciences, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA

Keywords:
soil associations
Gaillardia aristata.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Bryology and Lichenology
Location: Exhibit Hall/Omni Hotel
Date: Monday, June 26th, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PBL001
Abstract ID:127
Candidate for Awards:None