Conservation biology of cryptogam communities on erratic boulders in the Swiss Plateau and Jura Mountains

At a glance

Project leader : Daniel Hepenstrick
Project status : completed
Funding partner : Federal government (Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU), Public sector (excl. federal government) (Gemeinde Herrliberg, Gemeinde Meilen, Kanton Zürich / Amt für Landschaft und Natur), Foundation (Temperatio-Stiftung, NAKUSO-Stiftung, Wolfermann-Nägeli-Stiftung, Parrotia-Stiftung), Other (Schweizer Alpen-Club SAC)
Contact person : Daniel Hepenstrick

Description

Pleistocene erratic boulders sometimes harbour exclusive rock-dwelling cryptogams (bryophytes, ferns and lichens) and thereby contribute to the biodiversity of landscapes. This is especially the case where erratic boulders constitute the only natural rock habitats or where the chemical composition of boulders contrasts with surrounding bedrock composition. In the calcareous Swiss Plateau and Jura Mountains, about 27 bryophyte, one fern and numerous lichen species exclusively occur on siliceous erratic boulders. Despite their significance for biodiversity, glacial history and island biogeography, conservation aspects of cryptogams on Swiss siliceous erratic boulders have never been considered. Moreover, these spatially isolated communities face threats such as land use changes and rock climbing (bouldering). The present study thus aims at creating the scientific foundations for the conservation of cryptogam communities on siliceous erratic boulders. Current bryophyte and vascular plant diversities and their main ecological determinators will be analysed with general linear models in six to eight study regions with 20 to 40 siliceous erratic boulders per region. The effect of chalk used in climbing and bouldering on calcifuge rockdwelling bryophytes and ferns will be assessed in full factorial experiments in climate chambers. Conservation relevant population processes will be addressed in the fern Asplenium septentrionale and the moss Hedwigia ciliata based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) retrieved from double digest restriction associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD). The studies’ outcomes will allow developing conservation measures for cryptogam communities on erratic boulders as well as for isolated populations of rockdwelling cryptogams in general.

Further information

Projektwebseite Naturschutzbiologie der Findlingsflora

Publications

Hepenstrick, Daniel; Zemp, Niklaus; Widmer, Alex; Holderegger, Rolf,

2021.

Neither connectivity nor genetic diversity matter in the conservation of a rare fern and a moss on insular erratic boulders.

Conservation Genetics.

23(1), pp. 193-209.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-021-01414-6
Bergamini, Ariel; Boch, Steffen; Hepenstrick, Daniel; Kiebacher, Thomas; Lüth, Michael; Moser, Tobias; Müller, Niklaus; Schnyder, Norbert,

2021.

Beiträge zur bryofloristischen Erforschung der Schweiz – Folge 16.

Meylania.

67, pp. 8-21.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23419
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Bergamini, Ariel; Webster, Clare; Ginzler, Christian; Holderegger, Rolf,

2021.

Factors determining bryophyte species richness and community composition on insular siliceous erratic boulders in calcareous landscapes.

Journal of Vegetation Science.

32(6), pp. e13094.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13094
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Bergamini, Ariel; Holderegger, Rolf,

2020.

The distribution of climbing chalk on climbed boulders and its impact on rock‐dwelling fern and moss species.

Ecology and Evolution.

10(20), pp. 11362-11371.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6773
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Schmit, Françoise,

2020.

Findlinge sind wertvolle Lebensräume.

Umwelt Aargau.

(84), pp. 49-52.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21320
Bergamini, Ariel; Hepenstrick, Daniel; Hofmann, Heike; Kiebacher, Thomas; Moser, Tobias; Müller, Niklaus; Schnyder, Norbert; Stix, Senta; Urmi, Edi,

2020.

Beiträge zur bryofloristischen Erforschung der Schweiz – Folge 15.

Meylania.

65, pp. 5-17.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21319
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Schmit, Françoise,

2020.

Findlinge sind wertvolle Lebensräume.

Milan.

2020(3), pp. 26-29.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21318
Bergamini, Ariel; Büschlen, Arnold; Hepenstrick, Daniel; Kiebacher, Thomas; Meier, Markus; Schnyder, Norbert; Urmi, Edi,

2019.

Beiträge zur bryofloristischen Erforschung der Schweiz – Folge 14.

Meylania.

63, pp. 5-14.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19787
Hepenstrick, Daniel,

2018.

A simple, magnet-assisted bryophyte cross sectioning tool for beginners and for teaching in bryology.

Lindbergia.

41(1), pp. 01099.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.25227/linbg.01099
Bergamini, Ariel; Hepenstrick, Daniel; Hofmann, Heike; Kiebacher, Thomas; Meier, Markus; Niklaus, Müller; Roloff, Frauke; Schnyder, Norbert,

2018.

Beiträge zur bryofloristischen Erforschung der Schweiz – Folge 13.

Meylania.

61, pp. 5-18.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2028
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Urmi, Edi; Meier, Markus K.; Bergamini, Ariel,

2016.

Die Moosflora des silikatischen Findlings Alexanderstein in Küsnacht (ZH).

Meylania.

57, pp. 15-23.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2029
Hepenstrick, Daniel,

2014.

Der Nordische Streifenfarn auf Findlingen : eine Flaggschiffart für die Findlingsflora im Mittelland und Jura.

Unr.intern.

2014(1), pp. 24-25.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2031
Hepenstrick, Daniel,

2014.

Spannend, wertvoll und gesucht : Nordische Streifenfarne (Asplenium septentrionale) auf Findlingen.

Info Flora.

pp. 24-25.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2035

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