Comparing Local, State, and Global Lichen Distribution Patterns at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA), Florida

Abstract

Fifty-five lichen species have been identified from the 120-acre Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA), located in southeast Florida. The ONA habitat is comprised of sand pine scrub, oak scrub, and coastal hammock. While our emphasis was on documenting macrolichens, several microlichens were identified. Relative abundance ratings were assigned to each lichen species based on its frequency in the ONA and in Florida. The rating of “rare” for the ONA does not necessarily imply that the species is rare in Florida, but it would be considered rare at the ONA, in most cases because of the area's small size. The sole exception is for the federally endangered Cladonia perforata, which is rare throughout its range. For each species, we used the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria to determine the number of known sites from Florida compared to their regional and global geographic distribution. Global distribution patterns are generalized, but no attempt at a global abundance ranking was made. Biogeographic patterns are presented for each species, as well as ecological and climate change considerations regarding management actions on this relatively small nature preserve.