Impacts of disturbances and moose herbivory on elemental composition and species richness of cryptogams in the eastern boreal forest

Disturbances are crucial components of forest renewal in boreal forests. These events generate canopy openings, thereby altering ecosystem processes such as elemental cycling, and species richness between disturbed and undisturbed forested patches. Through a continuing cycle of forest loss and regeneration, disturbances increase spatial and temporal heterogeneity across landscapes. However, forests in some areas on the island of Newfoundland, Canada are experiencing regenerative suppression caused by high densities of non-native moose. In this study, I analyzed spatial variation of total percent carbon and nitrogen, as well as species richness of lichens and mosses between canopy gaps, gap edges, and adjacent closed canopy forests. I also investigated variability between disturbance type (fire, logged, and insect) to account for site legacy effects. I observed negligible variation in arboreal macrolichen species richness and cryptogam carbon and nitrogen contents between gaps and closed canopy forests but found higher ground macrolichen species richness in gaps. Additionally, I found the highest carbon content and greatest species richness for both groups of macrolichens in fire plots, and highest nitrogen content in logged plots. My findings can help natural resource managers take information on cryptogams into account in during land use planning.