Forest Response to the US 1990 Clean Air Act: The Southern Spruce-Fir Ecosystem

Banks, Stephen Andrew

doi:10.4236/ajps.2014.53050

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

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“…The spider's habitat is considered one of the most endangered forested ecosystems in the United States (Noss et al 1995) due to industrial logging, atmospheric acid deposition, anthropogenic climate change, and introduced forest pests such as Adelges piceae Ratzeberg (Balsam Woolly Adelgid [BWA]) (Dull et al 1988, Eagar and Adams 1992, Koo et al 2015, Korstian 1937, Walter et al 2017, White et al 2014). However, some forest recovery from acid deposition occurred after the passing of the 1980 Clean Air Act (Banks 2013, Kaylor et al 2017, Mathias and Thomas 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Surveying for the Federally Endangered Spruce-Fir Moss Spider (Microhexura montivaga Crosby & Bishop) on its Bryophyte Habitat

Diggins

Ford

2021

Southeastern Naturalist

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Microhexura montivaga (Spruce-fir Moss Spider) is a federally endangered arachnid endemic to high-elevation montane conifer forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The spider is cryptic and difficult to monitor because this species lives in the interface between the bryophyte mat and the rock surface. Since temporary removal of the bryophyte mat is necessary to monitor the spider, surveyors may negatively impact the spider's habitat during monitoring. To help inform survey protocol for this endangered species, we studied reattachment rates of bryophyte mats to rock surfaces after their removal. In 2017, we surveyed sixty 10 cm x 10 cm plots, assigning a plot to either control or treatment (i.e., application of water post-reattachment). We monitored plots for 1 year post-survey to determine reattachment rates. The majority of plots (70%) reestablished after 1 year, whereas 15% did not reattach or showed substantial prolonged (e.g., ~1 year) desiccation and 15% completely fell off or had 100% prolonged desiccation and were chlorotic. We found that mat depth and overstory canopy cover had no effect on mat reestablishment, although bryophyte type did. We found no difference between treatment and control plots, suggesting that no treatment is needed for mats to reestablish under the conditions described. Rock slope significantly influenced reestablishment rates, highlighting that surveying bryophyte mats on slopes >80% may diminish or destroy habitat. Further research is needed to determine long-term monitoring effects on the spider and its habitat, especially in relation to disturbance regimes and ecological restoration of Picea rubens (Red Spruce).

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