02543nas a2200277   4500008004100000245013700041210006900178300001200247490000800259520171300267653001101980653001501991653003002006653001702036653002002053653001302073653001202086653001002098653001302108653001902121100001902140700001902159700001802178700001902196856005002215       2009                        eng d00aLichens and Bryophytes of the Alpine and Subalpine Zones of  Katahdin, Maine, I: Overview, Ecology, Climate and Conservation Aspects0 aLichens and Bryophytes of the Alpine and Subalpine Zones of Kata  a651-6720 v1123 a<p>Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine at 1606 m, has about 13 km<sup>2</sup> (1300 ha) of alpine and subalpine tundra and krummholz on a summit plateau and in upper cirque basins. Lichens and bryophytes have been collected above tree line since the mid-19<sup>th</sup> century, but the cryptogam biota of the mountain has remained incompletely documented. For 16 days during 2001–2004 we inventoried lichens and bryophytes of the subalpine and alpine zones of Katahdin (above 884 m), visiting open alpine tundra, alpine cliffs in glacial cirques, seeps, fellfields, krummholz and subalpine forests. We relocated most species represented by historic collections and added many more to the documented biota, including significant range extensions and species new to North America or northeastern United States. The floristic results are presented in two associated papers. Here we (1) summarize previous studies of the botany, ecology and geology of Katahdin; (2) compare quadrats from a <em>Diapensia</em> heath in exposed alpine tundra on the Table Land with a snow bed community just below the Table Land, where a marked difference in the bryophyte and lichen assemblages may reflect cryptogam-vascular plant interactions and/or site-specific differences; and (3) summarize unpublished weather data collected at the Chimney Pond Ranger Station (ca. 890 m). Katahdin and Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, have similar recent temperature and precipitation records on the basis of the available data. Katahdin shares some vegetation components and climate features with mountain ranges in the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand and the Scottish Highlands that have been studied for lichens and/or bryophytes.</p>
10aalpine10abryophytes10aChimney Pond weather data10aconservation10aDiapensia heath10aKatahdin10alichens10aMaine10asnow bed10aspecies rarity1 aDibble, A., C.1 aMiller, N., G.1 aHinds, J., W.1 aFryday, A., M.  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-112.4.651