Mediterranean old-growth forests: The role of forest type in the conservation of epiphytic lichens
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The present study investigated the effect of forest type on epiphytic lichen communities and selected indicator species, useful for long-term monitoring programs in Mediterranean forests. The results showed that only few species are common to many plots while others are locally rare. Epiphytic lichen diversity and communities were significantly influenced by forest type: Quercus cerris-dominated forests hosted a richer lichen flora, Fagus sylvatica-dominated forests showed the majority of rare species, while mixed forests, though poorly represented in the study area, hosted the majority of indicator species, revealing the presence of important and exclusive habitats. In particular, old established forests are characterized by both stand- and tree- continuity, while mixed forests offer a higher diversity of tree substrates. Our findings highlight the role of tree substrate variability for lichen colonisation. The presence of non-dominant tree species contributes to the variability of habitats and ecological niches. This allows the development of well preserved lichen communities compared to those of structurally less complex or even monospecific forests.
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... In the present study, we assess the hypothesis that the dispersal abilities for to the different reproductive strategies drive the species turnover and nestedness (beta diversity) depending on forest age and continuity. To address this question, we used the data from a study on epiphytic lichen diversity carried out in OG and NOG forest stands in a national park in Southern Italy [21,22]. ...
... We analyzed lichen diversity data collected within a long-term monitoring project focused on old-growth forests of The Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni National Park, in Southern Italy (see the results here: [21][22][23][24][25][26]) ...
(1) Research Highlights: The work studied the beta diversity patterns of epiphytic lichens as a function of their reproductive strategies in old-growth and non-old growth forests from the Mediterranean area. (2) Background and Objectives: The reproductive strategies of lichens can drive the dispersal and distribution of species assemblages in forest ecosystems. To further investigate this issue, we analyzed data on epiphytic lichen diversity collected from old-growth and non-old growth forest sites (36 plots) located in Cilento National Park (South Italy). Our working hypothesis was that the dispersal abilities due to the different reproductive strategies drove species beta diversity depending on forest age and continuity. We expected a high turnover for sexually reproducing species and high nestedness for vegetative ones. We also considered the relationship between forest continuity and beta diversity in terms of species rarity. (3) Materials and Methods: we used the Bray–Curtis index of dissimilarity to partition lichen diversity into two components of beta diversity for different subsets (type of forest, reproductive strategy, and species rarity). (4) Results: The two forest types shared most of the common species and did not show significant differences in alpha and gamma diversity. The turnover of specific abundance was the main component of beta diversity, and was significantly greater for sexually reproducing species as compared to vegetative ones. These latter species had also the least turnover and greater nestedness in old-growth forests. Rare species showed higher turnover than common ones. (5) Conclusions: Our results suggest that sexually reproducing lichen species always have high turnover, while vegetative species tend to form nested assemblages, especially in old-growth forests. The rarity level contributes to the species turnover in lichen communities. Contrary to what one might expect, the differences between old-growth and non-old growth forests are not strong.
... As a result, epiphytic lichen species have been recorded in beech forests across different countries in Europe. The set of studies focused on lichens thriving in beech forests is diverse and comprises taxonomic (e.g., Tretiach, 2014;Malíček et al., 2017), floristic (e.g., Gómez & Hladun, 1981;Partl, 2011;Roux et al., 2017), ecological (e.g., Aragón et al., 2012;Dymytrova et al., 2014) and applied approaches (e.g., Moning & Müller, 2009;Brunialti et al., 2013;Ruete et al., 2017). Other studies are compilations and checklists of certain regions and provide records of a high number of species. ...
Beech forests are considered one of the most emblematic ecosystems in the temperate deciduous broadleaf forest biome and host a wide variety of specialised cryptogamic organisms such as epiphytic lichens. This checklist is the first compilation focused on the epiphytic lichen diversity occurring on Fagus sylvatica L. trees along Europe. The checklist is based on a literature search encompassing 137 studies. We report 683 lichen species differently distributed across 26 European countries. The reported richness of the lichen species ranged from one in Kosovo and Netherlands to 331 species in Ukraine. All information provided in this manuscript is available online (http://biodiversos.org/epidiversity-lichens-fagus-europe/) to facilitate the accessibility and updating of the data. Thus, we aim that this checklist becomes an open and dynamic database that continuously expands not only based on new lichenological studies, but also with the information retrieved by lichenologist in the past, data published in a diverse suite of languages and herbarium records.
... Also for lichens, within the same project, (Lõhmus and Lõhmus 2019) identified lists of indicative species (focal lichens) for guiding sustainable forest management for three types of forests: old-growth protected forests, mature production stands with reduced rotations and functioning, and retention forests. A similar approach was adopted in old-growth beech and oak forests of the Mediterranean area, both for lichens and other groups of taxa, such as vascular plants, saproxylic fungi and beetles, and bryophytes (Blasi et al. 2010;Nascimbene et al. 2010;Brunialti et al. 2013b;Lelli et al. 2019). ...
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) indicators consider the main ecological and socioeconomic functions of forests but do not currently include some key groups widely adopted to assess the effects of forest management, such as herbaceous vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, and wood-decay fungi. Moreover, they are shaped into high forests while in the Mediterranean area the oldest type of forest management is coppice. We investigated the diversity and the relationships of the above-mentioned groups of taxa in three European Forest Types (EFTs) to contribute to the selection of indicator species suitable for monitoring Mediterranean coppice forests. We find only a weak cross-taxon congruence between vascular plants and lichens on considering the whole dataset, while no significant correlations are evident within the three EFTs. Species richness was significantly different among EFTs, being Thermophilous deciduous forests the richest, both considering the groups of taxa separately and the total species richness. As for species composition, significant differences were found both for the whole dataset and also for pairwise comparisons among EFTs. We provided a dwelling-species list of the three key groups of taxa, which could be suitable for monitoring the sustainability characteristics of fragmented and low continuity forests such as coppice stands.
• Highlights
• Vascular plants, epiphytic lichens and wood-decay fungi relationship in coppice stands
• Weak cross-taxon congruence between vascular plants and lichens
• Significant differences in species richness and composition among forest types
• We provide a list of dwelling-species suitable for monitoring coppices
... Notwithstanding several studies confirmed that the diversity of lichen species is particularly sensitive to forest management (e.g., Rose 1992;Nascimbene et al. 2007;Aragón et al. 2010;Giordani et al. 2006) and that several species are mainly confined to ancient forest stands (Nilsson et al. 1995;Gustafsson et al. 1999;Brunialti et al. 2013Brunialti et al. , 2015, in the context of this project this Indicator does not show a clear trend with significant results. This can be explained mainly by the following considerations: i) coppice woods generally have limiting characteristics for lichen colonization, above all for the low continuity of tree substrates; ii) the adoption of a simplified method, taking into account only foliose and fruticose lichens, probably affects the results in terms of species richness and in the occurrence of rare species; iii) a clear predominance of bryophytes, which compete with the lichens for the substrate, is often evident in our plots. ...
2019. Report: Integrated scientific synthesis and evaluation of project results-LIFE FutureForCoppiceS-Shaping future forestry for sustainable coppices in Southern Europe: the legacy of past management trials (with Synthesis for resource managers and policy makers). Deliverable of LIFE FutureForCoppiceS project, Action B.9, 108 pp. In collaboration with the subcontractor TerraData srl environmetrics, Spin Off of the University of Siena. 3 Authors SUMMARY Extended abstract 6
... Notwithstanding several studies confirmed that the diversity of lichen species is particularly sensitive to forest management (e.g., Rose 1992;Nascimbene et al. 2007;Aragón et al. 2010;Giordani et al. 2006) and that several species are mainly confined to ancient forest stands (Nilsson et al. 1995;Gustafsson et al. 1999;Brunialti et al. 2013Brunialti et al. , 2015, in the context of this project this Indicator does not show a clear trend with significant results. This can be explained mainly by the following considerations: i) coppice woods generally have limiting characteristics for lichen colonization, above all for the low continuity of tree substrates; ii) the adoption of a simplified method, taking into account only foliose and fruticose lichens, probably affects the results in terms of species richness and in the occurrence of rare species; iii) a clear predominance of bryophytes, which compete with the lichens for the substrate, is often evident in our plots. ...
Deliverable of LIFE14 ENV/it/000514 FutureForCoppiceS project: Scientific synthesis and evaluation of project results (with Synthesis for resource managers and policy makers). https://www.futureforcoppices.eu/en/documents/summary-report.html
... The exceptional character of the lichen biota of typicallyformed oak-hornbeam forest results mainly from diversification of the species and the spatial structure of the forest stand. The presence of appropriate phorophytes is one of the key determinants of lichen diversity in forests (ULICZKA and ANGELSTAM 1999, LIE et al. 2009, NASCIMBENE et al. 2009, THOR et al. 2010, BRUNIALTI et al. 2013. Among the main tree species predominating in forest communities in Poland, irrespective of the spatial scale of reference, the richest biota of lichens are usually associated with oak (CIEŚLIŃSKI and TOBOLEWSKI 1988, CIEŚLIŃSKI et al. 1995, CIEŚLIŃSKI 2003, 2008. ...
The paper presents the results of lichenological research conducted in the "Pupy" Forest Nature Reserve (NE Poland). The aim of the study was to investigate the species composition of lichens and to determine the role and importance of forest plant communities to the diversity of these organisms. Field studies were carried out at seven study sites (plots), each with an area of 0.1 ha. The plots were selected within the most typical and representative forest communities of the reserve. A total of 95 lichen species were identified. The studies have shown that natural forest communities, in particular oak-linden-hornbeam forest and wet mixed spruce-oak forest are distinguished by a much higher diversity of lichens compared to secondary forest stands (pine and spruce monocultures). This is primarily attributed to the presence of age-differentiated populations of oak trees in these communities. The secondary forest stands do not provide the correct conditions for growth of many stenotopic forest lichens, despite the presence of diaspores of this species in its immediate surroundings. In order to protect the populations of valuable lichen species, associated in a particular way with oak trees, one should consider treatments aimed at securing the continuity of oak generations in the reserve.
Functional traits have become important tools for evaluating the response of epiphytic lichens to environmental changes. In this study, we evaluated which predictors related to fragmentation, habitat quality and climate were driving the richness and cover of lichen growth form, type of photobiont and reproduction traits, at both fragment and plot levels in a Temperate-Mediterranean area dominated by Quercus forests. At fragment level, patch size and summer rainfall positively contributed to richness in most of the traits, while tree diameter and slope were the most important drivers, especially for the type of reproduction and growth form at plot scale. High coverage of growth forms especially sensitive to fragmentation were indicative of high values of total species richness, while early-colonizers indicated the opposite. These results provide important information on how lichen traits respond to environmental conditions in an ecotone area where a shift towards a drier climate is more likely to occur.
With the publication of a Decree that has established a List of the Italian old-growth forests, we have analyzed, using text mining software, the state of the art of Italian research in this field. We have analyzed 188 ISI and 72 non-indexed papers or reports. The analysis has identified 165 locations of which more than 50% are on pure beech or mixed beech and silver fir stands. The analysis was focused mainly on structural characteristics and bio-indicators. The current knowledge represents reliable support for the establishment of an Italian network of old-growth forests and this green infrastructure offers important opportunities for research and collaboration between research, natural resource management, and local, regional, and state administrations.
Kukwa, M. & Ossowska, E. A. 2021. New localities of two rare Ochrolechia species: O. azorica and O. dalmatica. – Herzogia 34: 382–386. The first records of Ochrolechia azorica from Madeira and O. dalmatica from Syria are presented. Ochrolechia azorica was previously known only from the Azores and O. dalmatica from Europe (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Spain) and Asia (Turkey) in the Mediterranean region.
This is the first contribution to the cryptogamic flora (algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens) of
the “Bosco Pomieri”, an old-growth forest included in the Madonie Regional Park (N-Sicily).
This area presents a significantly high biodiversity (41 algae, 41 bryophytes, 141 fungi, and 105 lichens) and also hosts several taxa of high biogeographic value.
Understanding within-stand variation in diversity of epiphytes will provide an improved basis for producing timber while conserving biological diversity. Two 80-ha, 50–year–old managed stands of conifers were surveyed to locate 0.4 ha putative “diversity” plots, the areas appearing most diverse in lichen epiphytes. These plots were generally located in areas made heterogeneous by canopy gaps, wolf trees (trees with large-diameter lower branches), and old-growth remnant trees. “Matrix” plots, in contrast, were chosen at random from the remaining, more homogenous forest. Diversity plots hosted from 25% to 40% more epiphytic lichen species than matrix plots in both stands. The strongest within-stand gradients in species composition were correlated with percentage of plot occupied by gaps and wolf trees. Percentage of the plot in gaps was correlated with species richness (r = 0.79). In the more structurally diverse stand, diversity and abundance of nitrogen-fixing “cyanolichens” were correlated with percentage of the plot occupied by gaps (0.5 Document Type: Research Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1997.95492.x Affiliations: Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-2902, U.S.A. Publication date: February 1, 1997 (document).ready(function() { var shortdescription = (".originaldescription").text().replace(/\\&/g, '&').replace(/\\, '<').replace(/\\>/g, '>').replace(/\\t/g, ' ').replace(/\\n/g, ''); if (shortdescription.length > 350){ shortdescription = "" + shortdescription.substring(0,250) + "... more"; } (".shortdescription a").click(function() { (".originaldescription").slideDown(); return false; }); }); Related content In this: publication By this: publisher In this Subject: Ecology By this author: Neitlich, Peter N. ; McCune, Bruce GA_googleFillSlot("Horizontal_banner_bottom");
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The "New Forestry" practice of green-tree retention is becoming an important management tool for publicly owned lands, yet few data exist to demonstrate that this tool can succeed at enhancing biodiversity. We addressed this issue by using a retrospective approach to compare canopy lichen litter in adjacent, paired stands of rotation age (55-120 yr): one with and one without old-growth (>300 yr) remnant trees. We sampled three functional groups of lichens in 17 stands in western Oregon: alectorioid lichens, cyanolichens and green-algal foliose lichens. Thirteen stands were low elevation (520-850 m) and four were mid-elevation (1220-1340 m). Biomass of cyanolichen and green-algal foliose lichen litter was greater in low-elevation sites, whereas alectotioid lichen litter biomass was greater in mid-elevation sites. Cyanolichens were absent from all mid-elevation sites Biomass of alectorioid lichen and cyanolichen litter was greater in low-elevation sites with remnant trees than in those without remnant trees by 86% and 233%, respectively. The biomass of green-algal foliose lichen litter was 80% greater in mid-elevation sites without remnant trees than in those with remnant trees. Total lichen litter biomass was slightly, but not significantly, greater in stands with remnant trees at both low elevations (by 23%; ∼370 kg/ha standing biomass in remnant stands) and mid elevations (by 12%; ∼470 kg/ha standing biomass). Cyanolichen litter biomass was positively related to the number of remnant trees present; alectorioid and green-algal lichen litter biomass were negatively correlated with the density of trees in the regeneration cohort. Because retaining live remnant trees will differentially affect these three functional groups of macrolichens, managers must be clear as to their objectives before using green-tree retention as a tool to enhance biodiversity.
The lichen communities of nine mixed-hardwood sites in the southeastern Missouri Ozarks were characterized from sampling of the ground layer, tree-bases, midboles, and canopy branches. Of the 181 lichen taxa documented, the majority were crustose (55%) or foliose (32%) lichens. Only a quarter (26%) of all species occurred across all four microhabitats, with the majority of dominant taxa demonstrating apparent preferences for a single (38%) or multiple (27%) microhabitat, a given host tree species (17%), or a particular ground substrate (12%). High diversity of ground substrates and a large amount of presumed litterfall in the ground layer were of particular note. Relative species composition and abundance of lichen communities differed in stands with overstories dominated by red oak species as opposed to white oak species, but showed only suggestive variation with aspect class, geology, bedrock, landform, and soil type. Lichen diversity measures were also weakly associated with the presence of individual white or red oak species in the overstory, but no clear patterns appeared with respect to white or red oak subgroups. Stratification by microhabitat and host species would be necessary in future experimental studies in this region.