Excursion
and meeting
Troms, Norway, 5-10 August 2003
Checklist from the field trips
Mycotaxon vol 96, pp. 141-46. Arve Elvebakk & Jarle W. Bjerke (2006).
The Skibotn area in North Norway - an example of very high lichen species
richness far to the north.
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The Nordic Lichen Society excursion in 2003 took place at Skibotn in Troms in northern Norway during the week 4.-10. August. Skibotn is situated 120 km by road southeast of Tromsø, and the excursion will be based at the field station of the University of Tromsø. All meals will be served and laboratory facilities, including microscopes, will be available. The price, including all meals, is expected to be c. 300-350 NOK per day, possibly less for students.
Skiboth is situated near Lyngenfjorden, famous for its scenic surroundings of high and wild mountains. From the settlement Skibotn and southeastwards toward the Finnish border is a valley, which has a climate dominated by a local rainshadow effects. This valley is thus drier than elsewhere in the area, and is dominated by pine forests. The pine forest is dissected by one major and many smaller gorges with a high habitat diversity.
The bedrock consists partly of siliceous schists/arcose sandstones and partly very loose calcareous schists, supporting exclusive calcareous pine forests, famous for their very large populations of orchids, notably Cypripedium calceolus, which is regrettably out of flower by August.
The lichen flora of the area is poorly known. A checklist will be available before the excursion and will of course be updated after the excursion. The central part of the valley has southfacing boulder slopes with a southern element of species like Pannaria conoplea, Degelia plumbea , mixed with eastern species like Parmelia fraudans and Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca. The river gorges have a practically unknown flora of many crustose lichens and specialists like Lobothallia melanaspis.
The road to Finland makes alpine habitats available close to the road, and an extensive boulder field is situated at the forest limit near the border. From the fjord, a path constructed during the 2nd World War leads to a mountain with a superb view over Lyngenfjorden. Here, the landscape is partly yellowish due to carpets of usnic acid containing macrolichens, which have been much reduced by reindeer grazing elsewhere in the mountains. It is also possible to walk directly from the field station towards the mountain Ádjet (1408 m), with a needle-like summit and a very steep crest. In this area, Umbilicaria virginis is found.
Skibotn is easily reached from Tromsø, and transport will be organized by the University of Tromsø, which also includes local transport, possibly supplied by private cars. The area is also easily available by car and bus directly from Finland, and also by train through Sweden to Narvik and then by bus.
