Frosted glass-whiskers (Sclerophora peronella) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 16

Biographical Summary of the Report Writer

Steve Selva is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at theUniversityof Maine at Fort Kent. Having grown up in California, he received his baccalaureate degree in biology and botany from Humboldt State University in 1972, then went on to Iowa State University where he earned both a master’s and a PhD degree in systematic botany.

Since arriving in Maine in 1976, Dr. Selva has been engaged in research using lichens to assess the ecological continuity of northern hardwoods and coniferous forests in northern New England and Maritime Canada. These studies have shown that, not only do epiphytic lichen floras become richer over time--with older stands harbouring more rare species--but that the total number and presence of particular calicioid lichens and fungi collected at a site is, itself, an indicator of continuity. Given his familiarity with the calicioid lichens and fungi (Selva 1988, 1994, 1996, 1998b; Selva and Tibell 1999), and his familiarity with the literature and the works of colleagues studying the group in other parts of the world, Dr. Selva has brought these qualifications to bear during the preparation of this report.

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