EDI Staging Environment
In this study, I tested the hypothesis that crescentic gouges – conspicuous, crescent-shaped troughs on recently glaciated granite domes – are important microsites of alpine and subalpine biomat development and plant establishment, and thus can be used to augment montane ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts. To test my hypothesis, in September 2021, I quantified biotic percent cover in crescentic gouges and measured gouge proximity to upslope, established biomat and plant assemblages (i.e., presumed propagule sources), proximity to established hiking trails (i.e., distance from disturbance), and gouge sizes at four mid-elevation granite balds in NH, VT, and ME, USA. I used distance-based linear regression modeling (DISTLMv.5) to evaluate the effects of these predictor variables on biotic cover in the gouges. At all sites, all three predictor variables (proximity to upslope, well-developed assemblage, proximity to hiking trail, and gouge size) together explained a statistically significant proportion of the variation in total biotic cover in crescentic gouges. At one site (Speckled Mountain, ME), all three predictors explained 71% of the variation in biotic cover; the proportion of variance explained at other sites was lower but still statistically significant. When I evaluated the effects of predictor variables individually, each significantly affected biotic cover in crescentic gouges at all sites. My data suggest that crescentic gouges, particularly larger gouges not overlain by pine canopy, support strong biomat and plant colonization, and thus should be considered in alpine and subalpine plant conservation and restoration initiatives. Cordoning off crescentic gouges at mid-elevation sites would be a novel, inexpensive, and relatively straightforward way to augment existing alpine and subalpine conservation and restoration efforts.
EDI is a collaboration between the University of New Mexico and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Center for Limnology:
