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A Rock Pool Lichen Community in Northern Transvaal, South Africa: Composition and Distribution Patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

D. C. J. Wessels
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of the North, Sovenga 0727, Republic of South Africa.
B. Büdel
Affiliation:
Fachbereich Biologie/Botanik, Philipps-University, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße, D-3550 Marburg/Lahn, Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract

The distribution patterns of lichens belonging to the family Peltulaceae and procaryotic algae (cyanobacteria) were studied in a rock pool on a sandstone koppie (‘Inselberg’). situated in the mopane savanna of the northern Transvaal. The co-dominant lichen species along the wall of the pool were: Peltula clavata (Krempelh.) Wetmore, P. euploca (Ach.) Poelt ex Pisut, P. obscurans (Nyl.) Gyelnik, and P. placodizans (Zahlbr.) Wetmore. The cyanobacteria Gloeocapsa sanguinea (Ag.) Kütz. emend. Jaag, Plectonema tomasinianum Gom. ex Gom., Rivularia sp., Scytonema sp. and Tolypothrix sp. grew epilithically between the lichen thalli. Unicellular species of the genus Chroococcidiopsis Geitler or Myxosarcina Printz occurred cryptoendolithically. The distribution patterns of several lichen species are presented and statistical tests reveal distinct correlations of the habitats of some species with light levels and water supply; e.g. the olive-green P. placodizans preferred the fully exposed situation near and along the rim of the rock pool; the black species P. clavata was restricted to areas next to the water level.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1989

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