OMLA 2005 Spring Foray
Lucas County, Ohio (April 16)

The spring 2005 OMLA foray was hosted by Jim Toppin and Janet Traub of Lucas County. Two sites were visited during this one day foray: Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve and the “Roche de Boeuf” limestone outcrop located in Farnsworth Metropark. Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve covers approximately 170 acres in Springfield Township and includes a diverse mosaic of habitats, including wet sedge meadows, black oak savannahs, and sand barren prairies. Farnsworth Metropark runs along the western shore of the Maumee River and consists of limestone outcrops and talus slopes adjacent to the river channel. The literal translation of Roche de Boeuf is “Rock of Beef,” but it is also referred to locally as “Buffalo Rock.” This outcrop has historic significance as it is known to have been a Native American gathering place and was named by French fur traders in the 1700’s.

Roche de Boeuf

 

Lichen biomass and diversity was quite low in the areas sampled during this foray. A total of 28 species were recorded, and many of these were in depauperate condition. The only species commonly encountered at Lou Campbell SNP were those known to be tolerant of excessive nitrogen pollution (Candelaria concolor, Physcia millegrana, Physcia stellaris, and Xanthomndoza sp.). Additionally, the genus Caloplaca was common at Roche de Boeuf. Even though lichen diversity was poor, 9 new Lucas County records were recorded from these two sites.

Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve (19 species)

  1. Arthonia caesia
  2. Candelaria concolor
  3. Cladonia cristatella
  4. *Cladonia cylindrica
  5. Cladonia polycarpoides
  6. Flavoparmelia caperata
  7. *Hyperphyscia adglutinata
  8. Lepraria lobificans
  9. Melanelia subaurifera
  10. Myelochroa aurulenta
  11. Parmelia sulcata
  12. *Phaeophyscia pusilloides
  13. Phaeophyscia rubropulchra
  14. Physcia millegrana
  15. Physcia stellaris
  16. *Physciella chloantha
  17. Physconia detersa
  18. Punctelia rudecta
  19. Trapeliopsis flexuosa

 

Roche de Boeuf (17 species)

  1. Caloplaca cetrina
  2. Caloplaca feracissima
  3. Caloplaca flavovirescens
  4. Candelaria concolor
  5. Candelariella efflorescens
  6. *Lichenella nigritella (yet to be confirmed)
  7. Endocarpon pusillum
  8. Leproloma membranaceum
  9. *Phaeophyscia adiastola
  10. *Phaeophyscia cernohorskyi
  11. Phaeophyscia rubropulchra
  12. Physcia millegrana
  13. Physcia stellaris
  14. *Phaeophyscia chloantha
  15. Verrucaria nigrescens
  16. *Xanthomendoza fallax
  17. *Xanthomendoza ulophyllodes

*new county record

A total of 36 bryophyte species was recorded from Lou Campbell SNP, including 8 county records and one species new to Ohio (Pohlia bulbifera). A preliminary list of bryophytes found at Roche de Boeuf  (13 total species), included an additional 6 species new to Lucas County. A full listing of all lichen and moss species encountered during this foray can be found in the June 2005 issue of the OBELISK.

Louis W. Campbell State Nature Preserve (Preliminary List)
Liverworts

1. Calypogeia fissa*
2, Geocalyx graveolens*
3. Lophocolea heterophylla*

Mosses

1. Amblystegium serpens
2. Ambylstegium varium
3. Atrichum altecristatum*
4. Atrichum angustatum
5. Aulacomnium palustre
6. Barbula unguiculata
7. Brachythecium rivulare*
8. Brachythecium rutabulum
9. Bryhnia novae-angliae
10. Callicladium haldanianum
11. Campylium chrysophyllum
12. Campylium stellatum var. stellatum•
13. Ceratodon purpureus var. purpureus
14. Dicranella heteromalla
15. Dicranum scoparium
16. Drepanocladus aduncus var. aduncus
17. Drepanocladus aduncus var. kneiffii
18. Entodon seductrix
19. Fissidens adianthoides
20. Fissideos taxifolius
21. Helodium blandowii var. helodioides
22. Leptodictyum riparium
23. Leskea gracilescens
24. Orthotrichum obtusifolium*
25. Plagiomnium cuspidatum*
26. Platygyrium repens
27. Pohlia bulbifera**
28. Polytrichum commune var. commune
29. Polytrichum ohioense
30. Polytrichum piliferum
31. Sphagnum compactum
32. Sphagnum lescurii
33. Thuidium delicatulum

Roche de Boeuf Park, Farnsworth Metro Park (Preliminary List)
Liverworts

1. Porella platyphylla*
2. Reboulia hemisphaerica*

Mosses

1. Amblystegium serpens
2. Anomodon attenuatus
3. Anomodon rostratus
4. Bryum lisae var. cuspidatum*
5. Desmatodon porteri
6. Didymodon tophaceus*
7. Encalypta procera
8. Fissidens bryoides*
9. Hygroamblystegium tenax var. tenax*
10. Leskea gracilescens
11. Schistidium rivulare
*new county record, **new state record