Flooded jellyskin (Leptogium rivulare) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 10

Special Significance of the Species

Given the paucity of records (about a dozen) across both time (two centuries) and space (two continents), the lichen has evidently always been rare throughout its range. In Europe, it is listed as endangered in the Red Lists of Lichens of both Estonia and Sweden, and as regionally extinct in Finland (Randlane 1998; ArtDatabanken SoknigRodlista, Rödlistade arter i Sverige 2000; and Government of Finland 2000). In the United States and in Canada, the old collection sites do not appear to have been successfully revisited in recent times. In Ontario, it has an SH ranking, signifying an absence of any records in the last 20 years. No G or N ranking has been assigned (NHIC 2002).

Of the three localities currently known in Ontario, only one is in any way protected.

The unique habitat requirements of Leptogium rivulare make it very special, not only among other species of Leptogium, but among lichens in general. Understanding its physiological requirements and capacities with respect to periodic inundation may help to interpret the requirements and life cycles of other riparian organisms.

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