Epiphytic macrolichen communities were compared among forest stand types in the Blue River watershed. These stand types were used to project forest management strategies as defined by the Blue River Landscape Administrative Study. Stand types were defined by stand structure, which was classified by the age of the younger cohort and the percent retention of the older cohort trees. Topographic position (upland and riparian) and vascular plant association (Tsuga heterophylla and Abies) also classified stand types. Ordination analysis revealed that the strongest differences in lichen community composition were related to an elevation gradient, which correlated to the vascular plant association. Species richness and live basal area were also important gradients in differentiating lichen communities. Sites with high species richness tended to have high basal area of live trees. Results suggested that most lichen communities with abundant cyanolichens were sampled in sites of low elevations, older age, and in riparian areas (specifically those with perennial streams). Lichen biomass was estimated for three functional groups: cyanolichens, forage lichens, and green-algal foliose lichens. Relationships between lichen communtiy composition and biomass data were determined, and will be used to develop a model for estimating lichen biomass in different lichen communities. We acknowledge the support of the USDA National Forest Service, Willamette National Forest.

Key words: biomass, epiphytes, lichens, stand types