Thesis
A Bryoflora of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
07/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006892
Abstract
Bryophyte distributions and abundance data are grossly underrepresented in floristics studies throughout the United States. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest, in Washington State, covers 1.3 million acres and extends from Mt. Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. The purpose of this study was to inventory the bryophytes of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, located in the eastern portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Skamania County. The Indian Heaven Wilderness consists of 84.1 km2 of protected land and ranges in elevation from 823 m to 1,372 m. The area was historically used for huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) cultivation by the local Native Americans. The Indian Heaven Wilderness forested land is second-growth because of the historical burning of the land to promote huckleberry harvests. The habitats of the study area consist of rocky outcrops, open meadows, Douglas-fir-dominated forests, lakes, and streams. Based on historical records and our collecting efforts a total of 1,033 bryophyte specimens have been documented in the Indian Heaven Wilderness and vicinity. We collected 74 moss species representing 20 different families, and 62 of these species have not been previously described in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. One of the moss species collected, Gemmabryum vinosum J.R. Spence & K.M. Kellman, was not previously recorded as far north as Washington State. We collected 12 liverwort species representing 9 different families, and 2 of these species have not been previously documented in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The bryoflora of the Indian Heaven Wilderness is a start to increasing sampling efforts of bryophytes through Washington State. An increase in bryophyte distribution data will aid in rarity assessment and conservation planning.
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Details
- Title
- A Bryoflora of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington
- Creators
- Aiko Yamada
- Contributors
- Eric H Roalson (Chair)John Bishop (Committee Member)R. Dave Evans (Committee Member)Walter Fertig (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of Biological Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 92
- Identifiers
- 99901152640901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis