LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Walker, Allison

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

The littoral zone of the Bay of Fundy has an abundant array of life within the varied and extreme bounds of the ecosystem. One particular facet of this ecosystem is the community of lichens. The crustose and macro- algae, accompanied by the lichen populations, make up the primary producers and are a vital food source for other organisms. Despite harsh conditions provided by wave action, salinity, UV exposure, as well as various other abiotic and biotic pressures, lichens account for much of the substrate cover in the littoral zone. One family in particular, the Verrucariaceae, represents one of only three families of lichens present between the supralittoral and sublittoral zones of the Bay of Fundy. This family’s life habits are versatile, with endosubstratic to superficial thalli on a myriad of substrates belonging to a cosmopolitan assortment of habitats. I documented the vertical zonation and general ecology of several members of this family of lichens in the littoral zone from seven sites along Nova Scotia’s coast. Specimens were identified using DNA barcoding of the ITS and LSU regions, as well as morphology to provide novel biodiversity data for the Bay of Fundy. I found vertical zonation was notstrongly cor elated with species placement in the littoral zone in relation to mean low tide, but rather a range of biotic and abiotic factors likely affected the distribution of the few key species determining lichen community composition. All transects showed low lichen species diversity, and a moderate amount of evenness of species distribution.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3379