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Inventory of Cryptogams of Olympic National Park
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Dr. Andrea Woodward, USGS, FRESC, OFS; Martin Hutten and Karen Hutten, NPS Contract 
Non-vascular cryptogams (mosses, liverworts and lichens) are an important component of Olympic Peninsula ecosystems. Despite the small size of individual cryptogams, their combined biomass is a significant portion of total biomass and annual production in temperate rainforests. Their ability to hold large quantities of water, high nitrogen content of cyanobacteria-associated lichens, and their pervasiveness mean that cryptogams play key ecologic roles in hydrologic and nutrient cycling, and shelter for animals. Cryptogams have a role in long-term ecological monitoring because they are sensitive to precipitation chemistry and air quality. They require management attention because they are illegally harvested for sale to the floral industry, and because some species may require protection due to their rarity. Additionally, mosses, lichens and liverworts are included in the list of Survey and Manage species identified in the Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan to which the National Park Service is a party.
Despite their ecological, aesthetic, and management importance, little has been known of the biodiversity, abundance, and distribution of cryptogams in Olympic National Park. One reason is that a high level of expertise is required to identify cryptogams. Their small size, often chemical or microscopic distinguishing features, and their enormous diversity pose a serious challenge. The northwestern United States is estimated to have 900 mosses, 1200 lichens, and 250 liverworts compared with approximately 900 native vascular plant species in Olympic National Park. Although experts have created partial species lists for the park, attempts at a comprehensive inventory have not been made. 
To address this need, Canon USA, USGS and Olympic National Park funded a habitat-based inventory of the cryptogams of Olympic National Park. Andrea Woodward (USGS) designed the inventory and Martin Hutten (private contractor) led the fieldwork. Classes of vegetation and habitat types located along transects crossing major elevation and climatic gradients were searched systematically and opportunistically. Over 10,000 specimens were collected, identified and archived, also with Martin’s leadership. Although this inventory is unlikely to produce the complete species list for the park or the peninsula, it is a good basis for further work and has produced some interesting findings. By-products of this project are a field guide to the cryptogams of the Olympic Peninsula and two reports evaluating the damage caused during two illegal moss harvesting incidents in the Park.
All fieldwork is finished; completion of all sample identification is expected by June, 2003. A web site containing inventory results is nearly complete, and publications are in process.
Hutten, Martin, Karen Hutten, and Andrea Woodward. 2001. 101 Common Mosses, Liverworts and Lichens of the Olympic Peninsula. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Hutten, Martin. 1999. Staircase moss harvest. A report to Olympic National Park.
Hutten, Martin A. B. 2001. Commercial moss harvest incident report, Sol Duc Corridor, Olympic National Park. A report to Olympic National Park.
Additional information on ONP Cryptogam Inventory: http://fresc.usgs.gov/products/moss
Inventory of non-vascular cryptogams of OLYM: http://ocid.nacse.org/nbii/crypto/
Canon, USA
Olympic National Park
Northwest Interpretive Association
Development of the field guide was supported by a generous grant from Canon, USA , Inc. Support also came from USGS, Olympic National Park and the Northwest Interpretive Association. Volunteers Jeanette and Paul Stehr-Green, Kelli Weed, Anita Woodnut, and Lisa McMillian dedicated hundreds of hours to this project. Martin Hutten and James Walton conducted most of the fieldwork. Steve Hahn, Karen Hutten, Lisa Nesbit, Krista Rome, and Kelli Weed also helped with field- and office work. Bruce McCune, Dan Norris, Judith Harpel, and Wilfred Schofield helped identify difficult specimens.
Andrea Woodward
Phone: 206-526-6282 x332
E-mail: andrea_woodward@usgs.gov
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