The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa PI: Nishanta Rajakaruna (College of the Atlantic, ME); co-PIs: Alan Fryday (MSU); Stefan Siebert (North-West University, South Africa), An international collaboration involving ecologists, lichenologists and geologists from The USA and South Africa funded by the National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee. National Geographic Society: Research and Exploration Committee to compare lichen diversity on ultramafic and non-ultramafic rocks across along a rainfall gradient. to compare the lichen biotas of different rocks types. to sample the lichen biota of the inland regions of Northern Cape Province – an area not previously visited by lichenologists. Objectives : CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM

We were based at North West University in Potchefstroom, c. 100 km SW of Johannesburg, although our main field sites were near Barberton in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga. We also sampled sites in Limpopo Province and on the Ghaap Plateau in Northern Cape Province. In February 2016, we investigated the lichen diversity of ultramafic (serpentinite) and non- ultramafic (dolomite, granite, quartzite, etc.) rocks in South Africa. National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa Introduction

National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee Mpumalanga At multiple sites, at both high and low altitude, we recorded the percentage lichen cover on ultramafic and non-ultramafic rocks. Percentage cover of each species in a 25 2 quadrat was estimated and a sample collected for later identification. We also collected rock specimens from each site for X-ray diffraction analysis to determine mineral content. Climatic data was available for all our sites, which indicated that altitude was a good surrogate for total precipitation. We have yet to analyze our data, but it was clear that lichen were much more abundant at higher altitudes. CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa

National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee Limpopo We visited Limpopo, the province to the north of Mpumalanga, because it has a wider variety of rock types. We sampled quartzite and sandstone and found some spectacular lichens. CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa

National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee Northern Cape Northern Cape was very different from Mpumalanga. The land was parched, with bare rocks and scrub and very few lichens were evident. Now we understood why lichenologists hadn’t been here before. However, consultation with local people (after they understood what we were looking for) reveled some fabulous sites. We sampled four different rock types (dolomite, ironstone, limestone and quartzite) and discovered lichens that had not been previously reported from mainland Africa and others that were extremely rare. CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa

We hypothesize that more lichen species will be restricted to chemically harsh substrates (i.e., serpentinite) in more productive, high rainfall regions due to higher levels of competition by vascular plants and bryophytes on less harsh substrates We expect to see an increase in metal-tolerant, rare, and endemic lichens on serpentine rocks and soils with increasing rainfall due to their competitive exclusion from chemically less extreme rocks, which may harbor higher densities of common species. National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee Results We have yet to analyze our data, In fact, our collections are still in South Africa awaiting shipment to the US. The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM

National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee Conclusion We anticipate that are research will have a number of benefits: to inform conservation efforts by showing the edaphic diversity that needs to be protected to The lichen biota of South Africa is very poorly understood with very little research having been carried out in the past 60 years. As part of this project, Alan Fryday gave a seminar emphasizing the importance of lichens and a lichen identification workshop at the National Herbarium in Pretoria, and another seminar at Buffleskloof NR in Mpumalunga. to provide insights on how changing rainfall patterns, brought on by climate change, may affect South Africa's lichen biota. conserve South Africa's lichen diversity, and CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa

Ian Medieros, Stefen Siebert, Nate Pope, Arnold Frisby, Nishi Rajakaruna, Alan Fryday National Geographic Society, Research and Exploration Committee and not forgetting… the bakkie CURRENT RESEARCH FROM THE MSU HERBARIUM The role of substrate chemistry and climate on lichen diversity in South Africa The team…