Abstract Detail

Ecological Section

Blake-Mahmud, Jennifer [1], STRUWE, LENA [2].

Community assembly dynamics over small spatio-temporal scales: an example from fence posts in Costa Rica.

Community assembly is the study of how plant communities form, interact, and persist over time. Using epiphytic lichen communities on wooden fence posts (age 0.5 - 15 years) in a cloud forest of Costa Rica (elev. ~2500 meters), I examined the colonization of epiphytes within this early successional stage. I found that lichen community diversity increases with age of fence posts and that only a small number of the 27 epiphytic morphospecies found on the fence posts were responsible for a majority of the difference in percent abundance cover. Furthermore, the growth and community dynamics differed drastically based on the direction of the side of the post (east/west/north/south), with some sides undergoing the species replacement characteristic of classical succession, while other sides did not. Because of lichens' importance in large scale succession, as habitats for microinvertebrates, and as indicators in pollution monitoring, understanding how these communities assemble, persist, and evolve is an important topic in community ecology worldwide.

1 - Rutgers University, Ecology, Evolution, And Natural Resources, 237 Foran Hall, 59 Dudley Rd, Cook Campus, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-8551, USA
2 - Rutgers University, ROOM 237 FORAN HALL, 237 Foran Hall, 59 Dudley Road, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, 08901, USA

Keywords:
epiphytes
lichens
colonization
succession
Costa Rica
community assembly.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC014
Abstract ID:693
Candidate for Awards:Ecological Section Best Graduate Student Poster