Another week in the rainforest and I keep my eye on the trees. Observing lichens and trying, in vain, to identify patterns or structural differences among the potentially thousands that cover nearly every surface. This is harder than I thought but I think I have found a way to break my observations into over arching categories that may be indices of forest succession and even forest health. To add to the complexity of my proposed project of assessing lichen coverage I am honored with the task of adding another potential indicator of forest succession and health by joining forces with another student in the program, Savanna Bryson.
Zingiber spectabile, an invasive ginger plant also known as the beehive ginger for its peculiarly shaped inflorescence, may be a gauge of forest health as its abundance may represent a novel community out competing native species for space and essential nutrients. Connecting lichens to ginger seems to be a far reach, and it is. But, this is not the aim of the study. The ultimate aim of this study is to identify characteristics that define forest health and succession.
Lichen coverage occurring on a native tree species and occurrences of and Zingiber spectabile will be studied separately as they occur across different forest types in Las Cruces Biological Station: primary, secondary and abandoned pastures. Through each habitat type, my partner and I will collect data systematically using transects in which we will collect data in quadrants along said transects. Information about the native tree species such as diameter at breast height and % lichen coverage will be used to determine any patterns that occur through the aging of the rainforest. Inflorescences will be counted on each ginger species falling within our quadrant to determine their abundance and their potential to spread further. Other variables to be recorded include microclimate (relative humidity and temperature), canopy cover, and distance from the population source where the ginger is planted within the botanical garden.
Compromising on the scope of our projects has lead to a new and interesting mission of identifying characteristics of successional forests. These characteristics may help determine forest age and health, which may lead to new practices in restoration or management.