ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGY, GROWTH RATE, AND FRAGMENTATION OF THE ENDANGERED LICHEN SPECIES CLADONIA PERFORATA by David Warren Witmer A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida May 2014 ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGY, GROWTH RATE, AND FRAGMENTATION OF THE ENDANGERED LICHEN SPECIES CLADONIA PERFORATA by David Warren Witmer This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate's thesis advisor, Dr. Jon Moore, Department of Biology, and has been approved by the members of his supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and was accepted in partial fulfillment' of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Jon Moore, P,.D. Thesis Adviso'r 41,', -1'~ "- ,~ ~'~'I'f~T~~~ -- '-'._ / Susan Richardson, Ph.D. ~ Xing-Hai Zhang, Ph.D. Dale E. Gawlik, Ph.D. Sciences Program Russell Ivy, Ph.D. Inte' Dean, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science J(~IJ;(;~~ eborah L. Floyd,Ed.D. Interim Dean, Graduate Studies ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his sincere thanks and love to his fiancée for her support and encouragement throughout the research and manuscript preparation processes. The author is also grateful to Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management Department for permission to conduct his research on the Jupiter Ridge Natural Area. iii ABSTRACT Author: David Warren Witmer Title: Analysis of Morphology, Growth Rate, and Fragmentation of the Endangered Lichen Species Cladonia perforata Institute: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jon Moore Degree: Master of Science Year: 2014 Cladonia perforata is an endangered lichen endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Lake Wales Ridge, Southwest Florida, and the North Gulf Coast of Florida. In all but a single locality, C. perforata relies entirely on asexual reproduction through fragmentation for reproduction, dispersal, and recruitment. This study suggests a positive correlation between fragment size and survivability of fragments after one year. The average thallus grew at a rate of 10.42% per year and younger branches of a thallus grew at a quicker rate than older branches. Additionally, a review of thalli morphology suggests C. perforata has a diverse form, and becomes more bifurcated as it increases in size. iv ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGY, GROWTH RATE, AND FRAGMENTATION OF THE ENDANGERED LICHEN SPECIES CLADONIA PERFORATA LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii LIST OF EQUATIONS ..................................................................................................... ix 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 2: STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................... 4 3: MORPHOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 6 Methods and Materials .................................................................................................... 6 Results ............................................................................................................................. 7 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 10 4: GROWTH RATE ......................................................................................................... 12 Methods and Materials .................................................................................................. 12 Results ........................................................................................................................... 14 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 16 5: FRAGMENTATION .................................................................................................... 19 Methods and Materials .................................................................................................. 19 Results ........................................................................................................................... 21 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 22 APPENDIX ....................................................................................................................... 24 Morphology ................................................................................................................... 24 Growth Rate .................................................................................................................. 37 Fragmentation................................................................................................................ 53 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................. 77 v LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1 Number of Branches in Each Branch Order ..................................................... 30 Table 3.2 Number of Tributary Branches in Each Branch Order ..................................... 31 Table 3.3 Number of Source Branches in Each Branch Order ......................................... 32 Table 3.4 Wet Weight, Length, Base Diameter, Branch Orders, and Area (Thalli 1-25). 33 Table 3.4 Continued (Thalli 26-50) .................................................................................. 34 Table 3.5 Wet Weight to Dry Weight Ratio ..................................................................... 35 Table 3.6 Weight of Branch Orders and Total Thallus Weight ........................................ 36 Table 4.1 Length (Thalli 01-25)........................................................................................ 43 Table 4.1 Continued (Thalli 26-50) .................................................................................. 44 Table 4.2 Weight (Thalli 01-25) ....................................................................................... 45 Table 4.2 Continued (Thalli 26-50) .................................................................................. 46 Table 4.3 Length of 2° Branches (Thalli 1-25) ................................................................. 47 Table 4.3 Continued (Thalli 26-50) .................................................................................. 48 Table 4.4 Length of 3° Branches (Thalli 1-25) ................................................................. 49 Table 4.4 Continued (Thalli 26-50) .................................................................................. 50 Table 4.5 Length of 4° Branches (Thalli 2-32) ................................................................. 51 Table 4.5 Continued (Thalli 33-49) .................................................................................. 52 Table 5.1 Fragment Growth (Fragments 1-25) ................................................................. 56 Table 5.1 Continued (Fragments 26-50) ........................................................................... 57 Table 5.1 Continued (Fragments 51-75) ........................................................................... 58 Table 5.1 Continued (Fragments 76-100) ......................................................................... 59 Table 5.2 Fragment Growth (Fragments 101-125) ........................................................... 60 Table 5.2 Continued (Fragments 126-150) ....................................................................... 61 Table 5.2 Continued (Fragments 156-175) ....................................................................... 62 Table 5.2 Continued (Fragments 176-200) ....................................................................... 63 Table 5.3 Fragment Growth (Fragments 201-225) ........................................................... 64 Table 5.3 Continued (Fragments 226-250) ....................................................................... 65 Table 5.3 Continued (Fragments 256-275) ....................................................................... 66 Table 5.3 Continued (Fragments 276-300) ....................................................................... 67 Table 5.4 Fragment Growth (Fragments 301-325) ........................................................... 68 Table 5.4 (Continued (Fragments 326-350)...................................................................... 69 Table 5.4 (Continued (Fragments 356-375)...................................................................... 70 vi Table 5.4 Continued (Fragments 376-400) ....................................................................... 71 Table 5.5 Fragment Growth (Fragments 401-425) ........................................................... 72 Table 5.5 Continued (Fragments 426-450) ....................................................................... 73 Table 5.5 Continued (Fragments 456-475) ....................................................................... 74 Table 5.5 Continued (Fragments 476-500) ....................................................................... 75 Table