TANE 30, 1984 LICHENS OF THE CHICKENS ISLANDS, NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND

by Bruce W. Hayward* and Glenys C. Hayward * New Zealand Geological Survey, P.O. Box 30368, Lower Hutt 164 Pomare Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt SUMMARY

One hundred and thirty lichen species from 54 genera are recorded from the Chickens Islands, bringing the total lichen flora for the Hen and Chickens Group to 156 species. This constitutes the most diverse lichen flora so far recorded for any northern offshore island or group of islands and reflects the diversity of habitats present, particularly the many stages of forest regeneration. The lichen communities are briefly described. The Chickens Islands support an unusually rich flora of 14 script lichens, including the first New Zealand record of Opegrapha bonplandii, the first North Island records of Phaeographina arechavaletae and Melaspilea subeffigurans and only the second recorded collections of this latter species and also of Graphis insidiosa, previously known only from an unspecified New Zealand type locality.

INTRODUCTION

The lichens recorded here were collected by one of us (B.W.H.) during the Offshore Islands Research Group trip to the Chicken Islands, New Year 1981—1982. The Chicken Islands consist of three large and many smaller islands, that lie 10 km off the east coast of Northland, about the latitude of Whangarei (Fig. 1). All but the very smallest rock stacks have archaeological evidence of use by the prehistoric Maori (Prickett 1984), and the forest clearance that these sites indicate is substantiated by the present vegetation cover. Very little of the vegetation appears to be much older than about 150 years. The most mature forest is confined to several patches on each of the three main islands (e.g. Atkinson 1968, Ritchie and Ritchie 1970, Cameron 1984) and is dominated by puriri (Vitex lucens), kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) and large pohutukawa {Metrosideros excelsa). Large areas are clothed in mature kanuka {Leptospermum ericoides) or mixed kanuka — mapou {Myrsine australis) forest. Smaller areas of kanuka scrub on several islands are presumably a result of regeneration after more recent European burning. A thick, coastal scrub dominated by taupata {Coprosma repens), karo {Pittosporum crassifolium) and stunted pohutukawa occurs on many of the exposed cliffs and around the coastal fringe of the islands.

43 Fig. 1. Map of the Chickens Islands showing major collecting localities from the representative habitats described in the text. Inset map shows location of Hen and Chickens Group, off the east coast of north Auckland. Representative collections were made from the main vegetation habitats (Fig. 1). Specimens are held in the herbarium of the Auckland Institute and Museum.

PREVIOUS WORK

Cranwell and Moore (1935) collected a number of lichens from Hen Island and the Chickens Islands and produced a combined list of 79 species, mostly identified by A. Zahlbruckner. Taxonomic revisions in the last forty years prevent direct comparison of many of these records with our own, especially in the foliose lichens. More recently Hayward and Hayward (1978) recorded lichens from nearby Hen Island. SPECIES LIST

Habitat: Substrate: 1. marine, maritime b. bark 2. open clifftop 1. leaf 3. puriri-kohekohe-pohutukawa forest r. rock 4.kanuka — mapou forest s. soil 5. kanuka scrub 6. taupata-karopohutukawa scrub * Recorded from Hen Island by Hayward and Hayward (1978). t Recorded from the Hen and Chickens by Cranwell and Moore (1935). 44 Arthopyrenia spp. *f lr,3b,4b Aspicilia sp. 2r Buellia cf. alboatrum lr B. cf. litoralus Zahlbr. lr A punctata (Hoffm.) Mass. 3b 5. stellulata (Tayl.) Mudd.*f lr,2r 5. subdisciformis var. meiospora (Nyl.) Stirt.t 2r fi. cf. subdisciformis Vain. lr Bacidia sp.* 3r Brigantiaea chrysosticta (Hook.f. & Tayl.) Hafellner & Bellemeire 3b,4b Caloplaca circumlutosa Zahlbr. lr C. cribrosa lr C. holocarpa (Hoffm.) Wade* lr,2r Candelariella sp. 2r Chiodecton sp. 4b Cladia aggregatra (Sw.) Nyl. *f lr,2rs,5s Cladina leptoclada (Des.Abb.)D. Galloway *f 5s Cladonia cf. balfouri Cromb. 5b C. borbonica Nyl.* 4b C. carassensis Vain. 5s C. chlorophaea (Floerke) Spreng. 5s C. coniocraea (Floerke) Sandst. 5bs C. pityrea (Floerke) Fr.* 4b C scabriuscula Sandst. * 3s C. squamosa (Scop.) Hoffm. 5s C. subcariosa (Nyl.) Vain. * 5s C. subulata (L.) Wigg. * 5bs C. tur^ida (Ehr.) Hoffm. 5s Cladonia spp. 5s Coccocarpia erthroxyli (Spreng.) Swinsc. & Krog. 4b,5b C. palmicola (Spreng.) Arvidas & D. Galloway 3b,4b Collema laeve Hook.f. & Tayl. 4b,5b C. cf. laeve Hook.f. & Tayl. lr Collema sp. 3b,4b,5bs Clathroporina exocha (Nyl.)Mull.Arg. * 3b Diploicia canescens (Dicks.) Mass. lr Dirinaria picta (Sw.) Clem. & Schaer. lr,2r Erioderma sorediatum D.Galloway & P.M.Jorg. 4b Graphis librata Knight* t 4b G. inquinata (Knight & Mitt.) Hook.f. * 4b G. insidiosa (Knight & Mitt.) Hook.f. 4b Graphina novaezelandiae (Knight) G.Hayward lr,3r G. subvelata (Stirtn.) Zahlbr.* 6b Heterodermia dendritica (Pers.) Poelt.* lr,2r H. japonica (Sato) Swinsc. & Krog. * 2r,4b,5b H. obscurata (Nyl.) Trevisan 4b if. speciosa (Wulfen) Trevisan * lr,2r,5b,6b Heterodermia sp. 48,0b Lecanora campestris (Schaer.) Hue lr Lecanora spp. * 3b,5b Lecidea cf. cerinocarpa Knight 4b Lecidea spp.* 3b,4b Leioderma sp. lr,2r,3b,4b,5b Leptogium azureum (Sw.) Mont. * 4b L. brebissonii Mont. 4b,5b

45 L. cyanescens (Ach.) Kremp. 4b Leptogium spp. lr,2b,3b,4b,6b Lichina confinis (O.F. Mull.) C.Ag. * lr Megalospora gompholoma gompholoma (Mull. Arg.) Sipman. * 3b,4b M. knightii Sipman 4b Melaspilea subeffigurans (Nyl.) Mull.Arg. 4b Menegazzia circumsorediata R. Sant. * 3b,4b Neofuscelia pulla (Ach.) Essl. * lr N. verrucella (Essl.) Essl. * lr Ochrolechia parella (L.) Mass. * f lr Opegrapha agelaeoides Nyl. * 3b,4b O. bonplandii (Fee) Mull. Arg. 3b 0. diaphorhiza Nyl. lr,3r O. intertexta Knight * 2b,6b O. spodopolia Nyl. * lr Pannaria fulvescens Nyl. * 4b,5b P. granulifera Mull. Arg. 3b,4b P. cf. granulifera Mull. Arg. 5b erumpens Kurok. lr,2r cetratum (Ach.) Hale * lr,2r,3b,4b P. crinitum (Ach.) Choisy * lr,2br,3b,4b P. mellissii (Dodge) Hale lr P. perlatum (Huds.) Choisy * lr,2r,3b,5b,6b P. reticulatum (Tayl.) Choisy * lr,2r,4b,6b P. subtinctorum (Zahlbr.) Hale 2b,4b Pertusaria lavata Mull.Arg. lr,2r P. sorodes Stirt. 4b Pertusaria spp. * lr,4b Phaeographina arechavaletae Mull. Arg. 3b,4b,6b Phaeographis australiensis Mull. Arg. * 6b P. inusta (Ach.) Mull. Arg. 3b Physcia albicans (Pers.) Thomson * 4b P. caesia (Hoffm.) Hampe * lr,2r,3b,6b P. cf. tribacioides Nyl. lr,6b Phyllopsora corallina 4b Pseudocyphellaria aurata (Sm.) Vain. * t 3b,4b,5bs,6b P. carpoloma (Delise) Vain. * t 3b,4b,5b P. crocata (L.) Vain. * lr,2r,5bs P. dissimilis (Nyl.) D. Galloway & James * f 3r P. episticta (Nyl.) Vain. 3b,4b,5b P. flavicans (Hook.f.& Tayl.) Vain. * 3b,4b P. cf. intricata (Del.) Vain. * 4b,5bs P. montagnei (Bab.) D. Galloway & James * 3b,4b,5b Pseudoparmelia soredians (Nyl.) Hale lr,2r Psoroma allorhizum (Nyl.) Nyl. * 4b P. athroophyllum Stirt. * 4b Pyrenula sp. f 3b, 4b Ramalina celastri (Spreng.) Krog. & Swinscow * t lr,2br R. myrioclada Mull. Arg. lr,2br R. peruviana Ach. 2b,4b Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) D.C. lr Stereocaulon ramulosum (Sw.) Rausch. * f lr,2r,5s Sticta fuliginosa (Dicks.) Arn. * t 5b S. squamata D. Galloway 4b,5b S. subcaperata Nyl. f 5b

46 Strigula elegans (Fee) Mull. Arg. * 31 Teloschistes chrysophthalmus (L.) Th.Fr. * f 2br,6b Thelotrema lepadinum. (Ach.) Ach. 3b,4b Usnea arida Mot. * t 5b U. cf. flexilis Start. 2b,5b U. inermis Mot. 2b,4b,5b U. cf. neocaledonica Mot. 2b,4b [/. cf. xanthopoga Stirt. 4b Usnea spp. * 2b,3b,6b Verrucaria maura Wahlbr. f lr Xanthoparmelia furcata (MulLArg.) Hale * lr,2r X. isidiigera (MulLArg.) Gyelnik. * lr,2r X. scabrosa (Tayl.) Hale * lr Xanthoria elegans (Link.) Th.Fr. * f lr,2r X. parietina (L.) Th.Fr. * f lr,2r,6b

Additional lichens recorded on Hen Island, but not on the Chickens (updated from Hayward and Hayward 1978).

Catillaria melaclina (Nyl.) Zahlbr. Catillaria sp. Cladonia capitellata (Tayl.) Bab. C. didyma (Fee) Vain. C. floerkeana (Fr.) Floerke C. gracilis (L.) Willd. Coccocarpia pellita MulLArg. Collema cf. subflaccidum Degel. Heterodermia leucomela (L.) Mass. Lecidea cf. meiospora Nyl. Opegrapha stellata Knight Pannaria immixta Nyl. Parmeliella nigrocincta Mull. Arg. Peltigera dolichorhiza (Nyl.) Nyl. Pel tula euploca (Ach.) Wetm. Pseudocyphellaria coriacea (Hook.f. & Tayl.) D. Galloway & James P. coronata (MulLArg.) Malme P. delisea (Fee) D. Galloway & James P. granulata (Hook, f.) Malme P. neglecta (Mull. Arg.) Magn. P. cf. obvoluta (Ach.) Malme P. psilophylla (MulLArg.) Psoroma sphinctrinum Nyl. Sticta latifrons Rich. Teloschistes flavicans (Sw.) Norm. Usnea albescens Stirt. FLORISTIC DIVERSITY

In this paper we record 130 species of lichens in 54 genera from the Chickens Islands. This diversity is similar to that on Hen Island (126 species, 49 genera), which has a very similar range of habitats, but this diversity is somewhat greater than that recorded from a number of other similar-sized, northern island groups, e.g. Cavalli Islands - 85

47 species, 39 genera; eastern Bay of Islands Group - 111 species, 43 genera (Hayward and Hayward 1978,1979,1980). When the list of lichens from the Chickens Islands is combined with that from Hen Island, it results in a flora of 156 species from 58 genera for the Hen and Chickens Group or approximately 50% of the lichen taxa that have been recorded from northern offshore islands and about 33% of the taxa known to occur north of Auckland in New Zealand. For example on the Hen and Chickens we have recorded 17 of the 23 species of Lobariaceae so far recorded from northern islands, 14 of the 26 species of and 14 of the 19 species of Graphidaceae and Opegraphidaceae.

LICHEN COMMUNITIES AND HABITATS

Marine and maritime The three common, intertidal lichens of northern New Zealand (Arthopyrenia sp., Lichina confinis, Verrucaria maura) are locally abundant on rocky shores of the Chickens Islands. In common with other areas, the rocks of low cliffs between high water mark and coastal scrub or forest, support a rich lichen flora. Particularly common on fully exposed surfaces are the yellow and orange Xanthoria parietina and X. elegans, the yellowy-green Xanthoparmelia isidiigera and grey-green Parmotrema mellissii, P. perlatum, P. reticulatum, Heterodermia dendritica and H. speciosa. Locally abundant on less exposed, partly shaded rock surfaces are the tufted Ramalina celastri and R. myrioclada, the olive-green Neofuscelia pulla and N. verrucella and the grey Leioderma sp. and Leptogium sp. Among the crustose lichens the most common include Ochrolechia parella, Pertusaria lavata and Buellia spp. A number of less common species on the maritime rocks of the Chickens Islands have only rarely been recorded from other northern offshore islands, e.g. Caloplaca circumlutosa, C. cribrosa, Diploicia canescens, Graphina novaezelandiae and Parmelia erumpens.

Open cliff tops Rocks on the open tops of high cliffs are usually densely clothed in foliose lichens. Those most abundant are the grey-green Parmotrema perlatum, P. reticulatum and Heterodermia dendritica and the yellow- green Xanthoparmelia furcata and X. isidiigera. On weathered rocks and rocky soil, the fruticose lichens Cladia aggregata and Stereocaulon ramulosum flourish. Clifftop pohutukawas are often adorned with pendulous lichens of the genus Usnea, together with Ramalina celastri and R. peruviana. Also common are the foliose Parmotrema crinitum and P. subtinctorum.

48 Puriri-kohekohe-pohutukawa forest Where puriri and kohekohe are dominant, the canopy is dense and light penetration beneath is low. Consequently there are few, if any, lichens found in these stands. Often the only lichen growing on bark is the semi — crustose, grey-green Clathroporina exocha, sometimes accompanied by species of Collema and Leptogium. In some places, such as along the course of a stream, the canopy is less dense and the lichens listed above are present together with Pseudocyphellaria dissimilis, Graphina novaezelandiae, Opegrapha diaphorhiza and Bacidia. Where pohutukawa are common, the canopy is often more open and a diverse lichen flora is found on bark. It is dominated by species of the foliose genera Pseudocyphellaria and Parmotrema, together with a rich sprinkling of crustose lichens and is little different from the flora of kanuka — mapou forest.

Kanuka — mapou forest The kanuka — mapou mixed forest was found to support the most abundant and most diverse lichen flora on the Chickens Islands. At least 50 species of lichen are recorded here from the bark of kanuka or mapou. The most abundant species are the bright green, foliose lichens Pseudocyphellaria carpoloma and P. montagnei Also commonly present are foliose species of Parmotrema (P. cetratum, P. crinitum, P. reticulatum, P. subtinctorum), Psoroma (P. athroophyllum, P. allorhizum), Leptogium (L. brebissonii, L. azureum, L. cyanescens), Pseudocyphellaria (P. aurata, P. episticta, P. flavicans, P. cf. intricata) and Sticta squamata, as well as numerous crustose species of the genera Brigantiaea, Chiodecton, Graphis, Lecidea, Megalospora, Opegrapha, Pertusaria and Pyrenula,

Kanuka scrub The thickest clumps of kanuka scrub seldom have any lichen flora at all, but where they are less dense and often more windswept and older their bark may support a smattering of foliose lichens. The most abundant of these are Pseudocyphellaria aurata, P. carpoloma, P. episticta, Sticta fuliginosa, Leioderma sp., and Collema sp. Other species commonly encountered include Pannaria fulvescens, Parmotrema perlatum, Pseudocyphellaria crocata, P. cf. intricata, and Sticta subcaperata. As is usual, the best developed soil-inhabiting lichen community occurs beneath the less dense kanuka scrub. The dominant is reindeer lichen Cladina leptoclada with common Cladia aggregata and numerous species of Cladonia. In places, foliose lichens grow over the twig-covered ground and prominent are Pseudocyphellaria aurata, P. crocata, P. cf. intricata, Collema, Heterodermia and Leioderma.

49 Taupata-karo-pohutukawa scrub This low, wind-blown, 'petrel scrub' usually supports a low diversity flora dominated by yellowish-green Xanthoria parietina, small Physcia caesia, Heterodermia speciosa, Parmotrema perlatum and on the outer twigs the crustose Opegrapha intertexta and tufted Teloschistes chrysophthalmus and Ramalina celastri.

SCRIPT LICHENS

An unusually rich flora of 14 species of script lichens (families Graphidaceae and Opegraphaceae) are recorded from the Chickens Islands. This is over half of the total currently known New Zealand flora of 26 species. Seven of these Chickens' species (Graphis inquinata, G. librata, Graphina subvelata, Opegrapha agelaeoides, O. intertexta, Phaeographis australiensis, P. inusta) are common throughout northern New Zealand, and have been recorded many times, probably because they grow on bark and are easily collected. Three rock-inhabiting species (Graphina novaezelandiae, Opegrapha diaphorhiza, O spodopolia) are probably also common in northern New Zealand but have been recorded only occasionally (Hayward 1977). The remaining 4 species are important new records or extensions of range. These Chickens Islands' specimens are the first North Island records of Melaspilea subeffigurans (previously known only from its type locality near Dunedin) and Phaeographina arechavaletae (previously recorded from Kaikoura and inland Canterbury). This is the first accurately located record from New Zealand of Graphis insidiosa, previously known only from an unspecified locality in New Zealand. This is the first record of Opegrapha bonplandii from New Zealand, although we have since identified it from Hen Island collections (recorded as Graphis sp. in Hayward and Hayward 1978).

DISCUSSION

The marine, maritime, open cliff top, kanuka scrub and 'petrel scrub' lichen floras on the Chickens Islands are very similar to those found elsewhere around northern New Zealand and on the northern offshore islands. Only a small number of tax a (e.g. Baeomyces spp., Cladonia capitellata, Peltigera dolichorhiza) that are common elsewhere in these habitats have not been recorded here on the Chickens Islands. The lichen floras of the mixed kanuka — mapou forest and puriri- kohekohe-pohutukawa forest are moderately diverse for northern offshore islands and contain several taxa (e.g. Brigantiaea chrysosticta, Megalospora knightii Pseudocyphellaria dissimilis, P. montagnei, Sticta subcaperata) more characteristic of mixed broadleaf - podocarp forest of inland situations. They lack, however, many other

50 characteristically inland or slightly higher altitude lichens of broadleaf • podocarp forest on nearby North Auckland, Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands (e.g. Catillaria kelica, Coccotrema cucurbitula, Coenogonium implexum, Menegazzia nothofagi, Phaeographis exaltata, Pseudocyphellaria cinnamomea, P. delisea, P. variabilis, Sphaerophorus spp. and Sticta latifrons).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank all members of the O.I.R.G. trip to the Chickens Islands for their assistance. We are grateful to (Smithsonian Institution) for identifying several species and Anthony Wright (Auckland Museum) for reading the manuscript and suggesting improvements.

REFERENCES

Atkinson, I.A.E. 1968: An ecological reconnaissance of Coppermine Island, Hen and Chickens Group. New Zealand Journal of Botany 6:285-294. Cameron, E.K. 1984: Vascular plants of the three largest Chickens (Marotiri) Islands: Lady Alice, Whatapuke, Coppermine; north-east New Zealand. Tane 30:53-75. Cranwell, L.M. & Moore, L..B. 1935: Botanical notes on the Hen and Chickens Islands. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 1(6): 301-318. Hayward, B.W. & Hayward, G.C. 1978. Lichens of Hen Island, northern New Zealand. Tane 24:119-130. Hayward, B.W. & Hayward, G.C. 1979: Lichens of the Cavalli Islands, northern New Zealand. Tane 25:109-118. Hayward, B.W. & Hayward, G.C. 1980: Lichens of the eastern Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand. Tane 26:115-126. Hayward, G.C. 1977: of the lichen families Graphidaceae and Opegraphaceae in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 15(3): 565-584. Prickett, N.J. 1984: An archaeological survey of the Chickens Islands (Marotiri), New Zealand. Tane 30:177-197. Ritchie, M.A. & Ritchie, I.M. 1970: An ecological survey of Whatupuke Island, Hen and Chickens Group. Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society 17:57-65.

51