The tardigrade and associated micrometazoa of the textured lungwort lichen, Lobariascrobiculata, in eastern Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract

Thirty-eight samples of the textured lungwort lichen, Lobariascrobiculata, were collected from tree trunks in two sites on the Avalon Peninsula of the Island of Newfoundland, Canada. These samples yielded 340 tardigrade specimens the most numerous species being Hysibiusconvergens, Claxtoniamerokensi ,Echiniscuswendti, Macrobiotuscf.hufelandi and Milnesium sp. Several species reckoned to be rare on the island as a result of previous studies of ground growing lichens and mosses were exceptionally common in Lobariascrobiculata demonstrating the importance of tree trunks as an environment supporting tardigrades. Rotifers and nematodes were also recovered but were not asnumerous as tardigrades. L. scrobiculata is often co-located with the rare boreal felt lichen Eriodermapedicellatum, also a foliose lichen, and it is hoped that the information from this present study can also be applied in the conservation of this rare lichen .