Like its native plant flora, Bermuda’s lichen flora comprises both eastern North American and Caribbean biogeographic elements. Revision of historic specimens as well as examination of our own collections is providing an update of Bermuda’s lichen flora for the first time in over 100 years, effectively doubling the number of lichens previously known from this remote, North Atlantic archipelago. A total of 208 lichenized and lichenicolous species, including seven new to science (Angiactis bermudensis, Bactrospora flavopruinosa, Chrysothrix bergeri, Diploicia christinae, Fellhanera scottii, Lithothelium bermudensis, and Toninia bermudana ined.) and the first records of foliicolous lichen species, have been documented. At least five species have been extirpated from Bermuda, and are only known from historic specimens. Four new combinations (Bacidina brittoniana, Collemopsidium farlowii, Muellerella thalamita, and Ramalina denticulata var. bermudiana) as well as other taxonomic changes are proposed that will impact lichenological work in other tropical regions. Assessment and monitoring of Bermuda's eight endemic lichen species is an important part of our work, as Bermuda's biodiversity is under threat from rapid development (approximately 16 acres of woodland is lost each year), as well as rising seas and stronger hurricanes due to climate change. Towards this end, we are updating entries in the Bermuda Species Database, which is the primary resource used by Bermuda's Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation Services, and Parks for policy-making and natural resource management. Other outcomes of this project include a specimen-based virtual flora (http://bermudalichens.myspecies.info) that will dynamically generate range maps, species checklists, and identification keys for all Bermudian lichen species.
Complete tool for submission, evaluation and publication of proceedings for scientific events.
