ABSTRACT Thirty-five tree species, ...

ABSTRACT

Thirty-five tree species, set forthed by 240 individuals, were climbed during couple three-week periods in June, July and August of calendar years 2000 and 2001 in the Great fumy Mountains National Park. The double draw as by a rope climbing technique was used because the climbers could advance to higher of the same heights in the tree canopy. Maximum-sized mature tree in antiquated growth park areas were sampled up to 40 m Bark samples were cultur in moist chamber refinements Ninety-five myxomycete species were obtained from the tree canopy chiefly from the following tree species: Fraxinus americana (white ash), Quercus alba (white oak), Liriodendron tulipifera (yellow poplar), Acer rubrum (r maple), and Pinus strobus (white pine). We report here 52 recent records from the tree canopy, 7 from region sites, bringing to 212 the number of myxomycete species known from the Park. Comatricha penicillata is recorded for the first time outside of the pattern locality in Japan. This is the first upper tree canopy list of myxomycete species from the Park. The Myxomycetes show the only group of cryptogams with species single known from the tree canopy.

INTRODUCTION

The Great fumid Mountains National Park (GSMNP) comprises more than 210566 ha and is a resort for one of the richest and chiefly diverse biota in the temperate regions of the world. It has the largest remaining tracts of antiquated growth forest in the eastern United States, estimated at 40000 ha, which has outcomeed in its designation as a National Park, June 15 1934 an International Biosphere set by October 26, 1976, and a World Heritage Site, December 6 1983 The park forms the boundary between eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.

A of the present day research initiative, the all Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), below the rubric of a non-profit organization Discover Life in America (web site at www.discoverlife.org) depicts a research effort to inventory all life forms in the park. The initial sampling plan exhibited by the ATBI established 20 one-hectare research plots located in major habitats from end to end the park. Site selection was based onward major forest/vegetation types, elevation, and relative accessibility. No previous consideration had collected myxomycetes from the tree canopy. The high canopy of the of advanced age growth forest allowed collection from many heights, occasionally across 40 m. The GSMNP is dwelling to five forest types; spruce-fir, northern hardwood, inlet hardwood, hemlock, and pine-oak forests (Whittaker 1956)

Hagelstein (1940) published an abbreviated list of Myxomycetes garner uped during the 1939 Mycological Society of America foray. A undivided list of 64 species was published by the agency of Linder (1941). Weiden (1951) added 21 species to the park records. A preliminary list of 30 of the present day myxomycete records for the park was published in Inoculum by dint of Counts et al. (2000). These myxomycetes were gathered in brace separate forays from June 19 to July 6 and July 31 to August 17 2000 mainly from the tree canopy. not long ago Stephenson et al. (2001) added 75 fresh myxomycete records, but 15 of these species were duplicates published earlier on Counts et al. (2000).

Study area

The GSMNP was fix uponed for this study because of its favorable climatic conditions, variety of habitats, and high plant and fungal diversity. Moderate temperatures, ranging from 4[degrees] to 23[degrees]C at lower elevations, and an average yearly rainfall ranging from 140 to 216 cm (Shanks 1954) make the park an highly deserving environment for myxomycetes.

METHODS

Field Methods

Individual tree were preferableed from geographically different areas of the park, on the contrary due to access and climbing restraints, random selection was not practical. Acceptable tree surpassed 21 meters in height and allowed sampling from the estate continuously to near the top. Tree selection was frequently limited by climbing hazards in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as poison ivy [Toxicodendron radicans (L) Kuntze] dead branches, or overall limb structure

Canopy bark samples were assembleed using the double-rope climbing technique. In this technique, a thin plastic slick-line tied to a weighted fling bag was thrown or marksman using a large slingshot, athwart the highest possible substantial branch. formerly the bag and line were lowered to the real property a climbing rope was tied to the slick-line, which was used to pluck it over the branch or tree fork One end of the climbing restrain was tied to the climbing saddle, as well as the period of a short length of fasten called the split tail. The other conclusion of the split tail was tied into a friction knot around the standing cessation of the climbing rope. When the climber ventureed down on the standing expiration he/she was pulled upward as the pull slid around the branch. The friction knot was advanced with each contest holding the climber's position and leaving the two hands free to sample from the bark. The double-rope technique also allows the climber to advance the fasten to higher branches, often reaching to near the top of the tree (Jepson 2000)

Samples were taken at roughly three-meter increments as the climber advanced upward. Bark was scraped or pried from the bole using a large knife, taking care not to damage the underlying living tissues of the tree Efforts were made to sample from all sides of the body All samples were collected from living parts of the tree and placed in paper bags (approximately 1000 cm^sup 3^) onward which height and tree number were recorded. stock diameters at breast height (DBH = 15 m) were measured for each tree and voucher specimens of leaves were gathered for their positive identification. Each climber used an elevation line marked on the farther side in 0.3 m increments to determine tree height measurements. Tree were tagged with numbers, and Global Positioning plan (GPS) readings were taken for each climbing site location. In addition, a site description including greatest in number recent rain and current weather conditions was recorded.