Dr. Fahselt's links: Dr. Dianne Fahselt
Lichen Biology
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Position: Professor Emerita Office: Staging Room 240 Phone: 519 661-2111 ext 82640 Fax: 519 661-3935 Emails: |
Research:
Lichens dominate vast tracts of Arctic Canada and are also important in the Boreal Forest Region. Yet little is known about some of the most basic aspects of lichen biology: inter- and intra- populational variability, reproduction, and genetic organization of the thallus, or the relationship between these and secondary chemistry or stresses such as heavy metal contaminants, visible light and UV irradiance. Dr. D. Fahselt, students and colleagues, have investigated lichens through first-hand field observation, laboratory analysis of photosynthetic pigments, extracellular phenolic products, multiple enzyme forms, SEM of anatomical features, EDX-microanalysis and X-ray mapping, with experiments in situ as well as under controlled conditions.
Conservation of natural habitat for lichens and other vegetational elements has been another aspect of D. Fahselt’s work. She documents the effectiveness of transplantation as a means of preserving natural vegetational features, because this technique is commonly recommended by developers as a way to save vegetation standing in the way of development. She is also collaborating with P.F. Maycock and T.J. Carleton to assess effects of logging in deciduous evergreen forest in Ontario and to quantitatively characterize undisturbed vegetation in the province.
