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Extreme high lichen growth rates detected in recently deglaciated areas in Tierra del Fuego

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Abstract

The goals of this study were to accurately determine the annual growth rate of two key lichen species for lichenometric studies in Tierra del Fuego and to provide more information on recent glacial evolution in the southernmost mountain range of South America. The study site was located on recent moraines deposited in front of a terminus of Pia Glacier in the East Arm of Pia Bay, a fjord of the Beagle Channel. Lichenometric measurements were made of the maximum and minimum axes on the five largest thalli of Rhizocarpon geographicum and Placopsis perrugosa at selected localities in the recently deglaciated area. Average growth rates were estimated from dated surfaces to be 0.63 mm year−1 for R. geographicum and of 9.0 mm year−1 for P. perrugosa. However, maximum growth rate of individual thalli of P. perrugosa could be as high as about 20 mm year−1 increase in diameter directly measured from comparison between pictures taken over a 2-year interval. Both species had an almost linear increase in diameter size with the age of the rock surfaces and the distance from the glacier. The rapid colonization and growth of the lichens is mirrored by the higher plants with ecesis for Nothofagus trees being estimated at 4 years and height growth elongation at 30 cm year−1.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Ricardo Rozzi and Dr. Francisca Massardo for their continuous help, fruitful discussions, and excellent organization of the field work. We are also indebted to the institutions Fundación Omora and Universidad de Magallanes for their efficient logistic support and scientific supervision. Special acknowledgement is due to Captain Cana, Captain Mansilla and the crew of the vessel “Don Pelegrín” for their skillful in the navigation of the highly demanding southern channels and for their kind hospitality on board. This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science (grants CGL2006-12179, POL2006-08405 and CTM2009-12838-C04-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Leopoldo G. Sancho, T. G. Allan Green, Mercedes Vivas & Ana Pintado

  2. Geografía Física, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    David Palacios

  3. Biological Sciences, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand

    T. G. Allan Green

Authors
  1. Leopoldo G. Sancho
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  2. David Palacios
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  3. T. G. Allan Green
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  4. Mercedes Vivas
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  5. Ana Pintado
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Correspondence to Leopoldo G. Sancho.

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Sancho, L.G., Palacios, D., Green, T.G.A. et al. Extreme high lichen growth rates detected in recently deglaciated areas in Tierra del Fuego. Polar Biol 34, 813–822 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0935-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0935-4

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