Lichens containing blue-green algae were measured by transects and reconnaissance in six major temperate vegetation types to estimate possible significance in annual nitrogen budgets and patch dynamics within ecosystems, and to estimate how a functional ecosystem attribute, i.e. nitrogen fixation, correlates with vegetation structure. Lichen cover was negligible in sagebrush desert, pinyon-juniper woodland, ponderosa pine forest and alpine tundra, but averaged 72 m2ha-1 in Douglas fir forest and 33 m2ha-1 in spruce-fir forest. North slopes of Douglas fir forest had the highest average cover, 130 m2ha-1. All macrolichens were terrestrial species of Peltigera with P. canina the overwhelming dominant. Based on published laboratory nitrogen [...]
