Water regulation dynamics of lichens as functional traits could predict future climate change scenarios in an elevational gradient from Central Argentina

DOMINGUEZ, RAÚL DÍAZ; STANTON, DANIEL; PERALTA, MARIANA; RODRIGUEZ, JUAN MANUEL

BRYOLOGIST

AMER BRYOLOGICAL LICHENOLOGICAL SOC INC

Año: 2022 vol. 125 p. 468 - 478

0007-2745

Mountain top environments are particularly vulnerable to climate change effects, given that biological organisms in these systems live at specific temperature conditions. The poikilohydric nature of lichens emphasizes variables like water holding capacity (WHC) and the hydrophobicity of the thallus to understand the species occupational patterns in altitudinal gradients and microsites. WHC and hydrophobicity were measured in 3 saxicolous species with 2 different morphologies in an elevational mountain gradient of Central Argentina: Usnea amblyoclada, Parmotrema reticulatum and Parmotrema warmingii. We measured WHC in three elevations corresponding to the distribution range of the species, and 3 microsite conditions: north (equatorial-facing)/south (polar-facing) aspect with high steep inclination >70° and rock outcrops with low steep inclination