Sticta Carolinensis, Carolina Moon Lichen

Home , Sticta

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2020: T175710250A175710707 Scope(s): Global Language: English

Sticta carolinensis, Carolina Moon Lichen

Assessment by: Lendemer, J.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Lendemer, J. 2020. Sticta carolinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T175710250A175710707. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020- 3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en

Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.

Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ Taxonomy

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Fungi Ascomycota Lecanoromycetes Peltigerales Lobariaceae

Scientific Name: Sticta carolinensis T. McDonald

Common Name(s): • English: Carolina Moon Lichen Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published: 2020

Date Assessed: August 1, 2020

Justification: This species has an area of occupancy in the range of 432-532 km2, a severely fragmented population, and there are continuing declines in habitat quality observed and projected across its range. Tentatively, the higher estimate for the area of occupancy is used here, as this incorporates additional potential sites that have so far been unsampled. Thus, it is listed as Vulnerable under criterion B2ab(i,ii,iii,v). However, if further sites do not end up being found then the species could then warrant listing as Endangered. Geographic Range

Range Description: Sticta carolinensis is endemic to south-eastern North America where it occurs from the southern Appalachian Mountains to the Coastal Plain (McDonald et al. 2003).

Country Occurrence: Native, Extant (resident): United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 2 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en Population The population was likely naturally fragmented historically, occurring at sites in mature forest stands and spatially restricted habitat types. Where it occurs, the species is often locally abundant, occurring as 1-5 clustered functional individuals. The current population size is estimated at 690-1,380 individuals based on a conservative estimate of 5-10 functional individuals per site, and the known occurrence at 138 sites. We suspect that the population declined historically (during the last 3 generations; 90 years, based on a 30 year generation time) due to extensive of logging, habitat loss, and land use change throughout its range (Yarnell 1998, Martinuzzi et al. 2015). These activities have led the present extant population to become highly fragmented, as the species is restricted to mature forest stands in suitable habitat and these areas have become very limited in extent and are no longer contiguous (e.g. Ervin 2016). We suspect that the already fragmented and reduced population is currently decreasing due to numerous ongoing and projected trends in anthropogenic and climate change impacts that would directly affect this species (Keyser et al. 2014, Klepzig et al. 2014, Cartwright and Wolfe 2016). Current Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information) Sticta carolinensis primarily occurs on the bark of mature hardwood trees, although it also occasionally is found on shaded non-calcareous rock outcrops. It is restricted to high quality, mature forest stands and is typically associated with humid habitats such as riparian corridors and swamps.

Systems: Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information) There are two primary pressures on this species, habitat fragmentation and loss (historical and ongoing) and impacts from air pollution and climate change (historical, ongoing and projected). The species occurs primarily in existing public land, some of which is large in overall area and some of which is protected from resource extraction and other impacts. However, the species naturally occurs in isolated locations where suitable habitat exists within large areas that are not suitable (i.e. mature forest stands with high humidity are spatially restricted within a matrix of younger forests, forests without appropriate tree hosts, drier habitats as well as more generally within a highly fragmented matrix anthropogenic land uses). These naturally dispersed locations were degraded and fragmented historically (last 90 years) due to extensive logging, building of roads, alteration of riparian corridors by dams, ditching/draining of swamps, air pollution, agriculture and urbanisation. All of these continue to be impacts to the species across its range, although threats vary depending on the individual site. Within the last 30-40 years, fragmentation has continued (Anderson et al. 2013, Klepzig et al. 2014) as the region has undergone rapid population growth. Available data indicate that the species is highly localised where it occurs. Furthermore, the region is currently experiencing climate change impacts (increased fire frequency and severity, droughts, sea level rise) and extensive alteration of forest communities due to invasive species, while increasing fires are also impacting habitat quality.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information) Many areas where the species is known are within existing public lands, however locations outside of federally designated wilderness and National Parks could be subjected to resource extraction, habitat

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 3 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en alteration or further fragmentation in the future. As such, additional protection of sites on both public and private lands is needed. Invasive species management is also needed to prevent or slow further large-scale alteration of forest stand structure and local environmental conditions. The species is not presently listed as threatened or endangered in any formal conservation framework, hence inclusion in existing policy and management frameworks is needed at both the national and regional levels. Additionally, increased education about the species and its threatened status is needed, as well as further research and conservation planning. Credits

Assessor(s): Lendemer, J.

Reviewer(s): McMullin, T.

Facilitator(s) and Allen, J. & Scott, T. Compiler(s):

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 4 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en Bibliography Anderson, M., Prince, J., Ray, D., Sutton, M. and Watland, A. 2013. Southern Blue Ridge: An Analysis of Matrix Forests. The Nature Conservancy.

Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. and Scott, B. 2011. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. In: V. Smith and L. Penev (eds) e- Infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. Zookeys 150: 117–126.

Cartwright, J.M. and Wolfe, W.J. 2016. Insular ecosystems of the southeastern United States—A regional synthesis to support biodiversity conservation in a changing climate. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1828: 162.

Ervin, J.S. 2016. Master's Project: Describing Forest Structure in Southern Blue Ridge Cove Forests: A LiDAR-Based Analysis. Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont.

IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 10 December 2020).

Keyser, T., Malone, J., Cotton, C. and Lewis, J. 2014. Outlook for Appalachian-Cumberland Forests: A Subregional Report from the Southern Forest Futures Project. General Technical Report, Southern Research Station (SRS-18). U.S. Department of Agriculture; Forest Service (USDA-FS), Asheville, NC.

Klepzig, K., Shelfer, R. and Choice, Z. 2014. Outlook for Coastal Plain forests: a subregional report from the Southern Forest Futures Project. U.S. Forest Service.

Martinuzzi S., Withey J.C., Pidgeon A.M., Plantinga, A.J., McKerrow, A.J., Williams, S.G., Helmers, D.P. and Radeloff, V.C. 2015. Future land-use scenarios and the loss of wildlife habitats in the southeastern United States. Ecological Applications 25(1): 160-171.

McDonald, T., Miadlikowska, J. and Lutzoni, F. 2003. The lichen genus Sticta in the Great Smoky Mountains: a phylogenetic study of morphological, chemical, and molecular data. The Bryologist 106(1): 61-79.

Yarnell, S.L. 1998. The Southern Appalachians: A History of the Landscape. General Technical Report, Southern Research Station (SRS-18). U.S. Department of Agriculture; Forest Service (USDA-FS), Asheville, NC.

Citation Lendemer, J. 2020. Sticta carolinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T175710250A175710707. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020- 3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en

Disclaimer To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources For Supplementary Material, and for Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

Habitats (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major Season Suitability Habitat Importance? 1. Forest -> 1.4. Forest - Temperate Resident Suitable Yes

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.4. Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Resident Suitable - Fens, Peatlands

Plant Growth Forms (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Plant Growth Form M. Fungus

LC. Lichen

Threats (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score 1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1. Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium Housing & urban areas 90%) declines impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.2. Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium Commercial & industrial areas 90%) declines impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.3. Ongoing Whole (>90%) Negligible declines Medium Tourism & recreation areas impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.3. Agro-industry 90%) declines impact: 6 farming Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.2. Wood & pulp Ongoing Majority (50- Negligible declines Low impact: 5 plantations -> 2.2.2. Agro-industry plantations 90%) Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 6 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en 4. Transportation & service corridors -> 4.1. Roads & Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium railroads 90%) declines impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 4. Transportation & service corridors -> 4.2. Utility & Ongoing Majority (50- Negligible declines Low impact: 5 service lines 90%)

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing Majority (50- Negligible declines Low impact: 5 harvesting -> 5.3.3. Unintentional effects: 90%) (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing Majority (50- Negligible declines Low impact: 5 harvesting -> 5.3.4. Unintentional effects: (large 90%) scale) [harvest] Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire Ongoing Whole (>90%) Rapid declines High impact: 8 suppression -> 7.1.1. Increase in fire frequency/intensity

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.2. Dams & water Ongoing Minority (50%) Negligible declines Low impact: 4 management/use -> 7.2.9. Small dams Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 7. Natural system modifications -> 7.2. Dams & water Ongoing Minority (50%) Negligible declines Low impact: 4 management/use -> 7.2.10. Large dams Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 7. Natural system modifications -> 7.3. Other Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium ecosystem modifications 90%) declines impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases -> 8.1.1. Unspecified species Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Raffaelea lauricola) Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Agrilus planipennis) Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 7 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Dendroctonus frontalis) Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing Majority (50- Slow, significant Medium 9.3.1. Nutrient loads 90%) declines impact: 6 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing Majority (50- Negligible declines Low impact: 5 9.3.3. Herbicides and pesticides 90%) Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality 9. Pollution -> 9.5. Air-borne pollutants -> 9.5.1. Acid Ongoing - - Low impact: 3 rain Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 9. Pollution -> 9.5. Air-borne pollutants -> 9.5.4. Type Ongoing Whole (>90%) Slow, significant Medium Unknown/Unrecorded declines impact: 7 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects 11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.1. Habitat Ongoing - - Low impact: 3 shifting & alteration Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.2. Ongoing - - Low impact: 3 Droughts Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation 11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.4. Storms Ongoing - - Low impact: 3 & flooding Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Conservation Actions in Place (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Action in Place In-place land/water protection

Percentage of population protected by PAs: 31-40

Occurs in at least one protected area: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 8 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en Conservation Action Needed 1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

4. Education & awareness -> 4.1. Formal education

4. Education & awareness -> 4.2. Training

4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.2. National level

5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.3. Sub-national level

5. Law & policy -> 5.2. Policies and regulations

Research Needed (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed 1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology

2. Conservation Planning -> 2.1. Species Action/Recovery Plan

2. Conservation Planning -> 2.2. Area-based Management Plan

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

3. Monitoring -> 3.4. Habitat trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (km²): 432-532

Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 917961

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No

Population Number of mature individuals: 690-1,380

Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes

Population severely fragmented: Yes

Habitats and Ecology Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes

Generation Length (years): 30

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sticta carolinensis – published in 2020. 10 https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175710250A175710707.en The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2020: T175710250A175710707 Scope(s): Global Language: English

The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™