Surrogates for macrofungi and mosses in reservation planning.
2009
Our knowledge of cryptogam taxonomy and species distributions is currently too poor to directly
plan for their conservation. We used inventory data from four distinct vegetation types, near Hobart Tasmania,
to address the proposition that vegetation type, vascular plant taxon composition, and environmental
variables can act as surrogates for mosses and macrofungi in reservation planning. The four vegetation types
proved distinct in their taxon composition for all macrofungi, mosses, and vascular plants. We tested the
strength of the relationships between the composition of cryptogam taxonomic groups and vascular plant
composition and between the environmental variables and canopy cover. Taxon composition of woody vascular
plants and vascular plants was the best predictor of the taxon composition of mosses and macrofungi.
Combinations of environmental variables and canopy cover were also strong predictors of the taxon composition
of mosses and macrofungi. We used an optimization routine for vascular plant taxa and woody
plant species and determined the representation of cryptogam taxa in these selections. We identified sites
with approximately 10% and 30% of the greatest proportions of vascular plants and woody vascular plants
and calculated representation of mosses and macrofungi at these sites. We compared the results of these site
selections with random site selections and random selections stratified by vegetation type. Random selection of
sites by vegetation type generally captured more cryptogams than site selection by vascular plants at the 10%
level. Vascular plant and woody plant taxon composition, vegetation type, and environmental and structural
characteristics, all showed promise as surrogates for capturing common cryptogams in reserve systems.
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