The niches of epiphytes are widely studied and have been shown to be complex involving interspecific competition, succession and predation. This study is unique in that it applies the niche concept to moss and lichen distributions within Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland. We studied 75 trees between three pristine ancient woodlands and measured a range of physical and biological factors to ascertain influences on epiphyte cover. The species of tree was found as the principal determinant in community structure as it bioengineers conditions such as light, temperature and humidity that the epiphytes are reliant upon. Furthermore, the bark character and trunk circumference were important. Zonation of the epiphytes was apparent with both aspect and height on the trunk. Typically, moss dominated over lichen within a niche that was relatively sheltered. Lichen tolerated drier and lighter niches often being further up the trunk on sun facing aspects. Ultimately, there was succession up the tree mediated through competition. This study highlights the complexity and interrelatedness between biotic and abiotic factors in a relatively unstudied geographical and biological area. Understanding agents behind a population's distribution enables manipulation for conservation or sustainable exploitation.
Abstract Changes in temperate forest ecosystems resulting from a long history of forest exploitation may severely impact current cryptogam diversity. We documented the distribution of cryptogams in representative forest types between 200 and 1000 m a.s.l. in central Europe, in managed and unmanaged stands. This survey included one-time inventories of lichens and bryophytes, 2 years of regular monitoring of macrofungi, and a detailed description of forest structure (live trees and dead woody debr...
Bryophytes and lichen are important components of many boreal forest ecosystems, making the quantification of moss and lichen decomposition rates critical to understanding the C cycle of these forests. Cryptogam decomposition has been predominantly studied in wetlands, while few studies exist for forest-habitat mosses and even fewer for foliose ground lichen. We used a) the litterbag and b) the minicontainer (MC) method to quantify the decomposition rates of i) feathermoss, ii) forest peatmoss, ...
Last. Xiaoming Shao(CAU: China Agricultural University)H-Index: 7
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Tibet makes up the majority of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, often referred to as the roof of the world. Its complex landforms, physiognomy, and climate create a special heterogeneous environment for mosses. Each moss species inhabits its own habitat and ecological niche. This, in combination with its sensitivity to environmental change, makes moss species distribution a useful indicator of vegetation alteration and climate change. This study aimed to characterize the diversity and distribution of ...
Abstract Ancient woodlands, with their long ecological continuity, frequently harbor a high number of typical, rare and threatened species, and are therefore of particular importance for nature conservation. To pinpoint these habitats, a common application is the use of plants as “ancient woodland indicators”. The occurrence of these particular species allows for evaluating the continuity of woodland cover in time. While lists of ancient woodland vascular plants have been derived for many region...
#2Hans H. Blom(Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute)H-Index: 12
Last. Magne Sætersdal(Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute)
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Abstract Retention of selected trees in clear-felling areas has become an important conservation measure in managed forests. Trees with large size or high age are usually preferred as retention trees. In this paper we investigated whether a single large or several small trees should be left in clear-felling areas to serve as life boats and future habitat for epiphytic species. The focal species were 25 Lobarion epiphytic lichens hosted by aspen ( Populus tremula ). We analyzed the relationships ...
#2Ildikó Király(ELTE: Eötvös Loránd University)H-Index: 15
Last. Juri Nascimbene(UniTS: University of Trieste)H-Index: 23
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Abstract Epiphytic bryophytes and lichens are an important component of the endangered forest biota in temperate forests, their diversity and composition patterns being regulated by tree, stand and landscape scale factors. The aim of this study is to improve ecological understanding of such factors in managed coniferous–deciduous mixed forests of Hungary in the context of forest management. In particular, this study investigate the effect of tree species composition, stand structure (tree size d...
Abstract This review aims at summarizing literature on epiphytic lichens in relation with forest management in temperate deciduous forests of Europe, including suggestions for mitigating the impact of forestry and stimulating further research. The review is focused on environmental factors that directly depend on, or that are known to interact with forest management, such as tree (and forest) age and size, tree species composition, large scale factors (e.g. climate and air pollution), landscape ...
The effect of management related factors on species richness of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens was studied in managed deciduous-coniferous mixed forests in Western-Hungary. At the stand level, the potential explanatory variables were tree species composition, stand structure, microclimate and light conditions, landscape and historical variables; while at tree level host tree species, tree size and light were studied. Species richness of the two epiphyte groups was positively correlated. Both f...
Background: Bioclimatic models are widely applied in biogeography and conservation biology; however, the functional relevance of macroclimate as an explanation for species performance (e.g. establishment, growth and survival, fecundity) has been challenged. Aims: In this study, we aimed to determine whether the ecological performance of an epiphytic lichen is related to coarse-grained macroclimate. Methods: A meta-analysis was carried out to compare local growth rates for a lichen epiphyte, Loba...
Conservation and sustainable forestry are essential in a multi-functional landscape. In this respect, ecological studies on epiphytes are needed to determine abiotic and biotic factors associated with high diversity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate relative sensitivity of conservation targets (epiphytic bryophytes and lichens) in relation to contrasting environmental variables (tree species, tree diameter at breast height, bark crevice depth, pH, tree inclination, pH, forest stand a...
During establishment and subsequent growth, corticolous lichen fungi are subjected to the chemical composition and pH of the stemflow, which depend on the water-soluble compounds released from the bark. The present study explored the use of spore-shot isolation to test the effect of bark extracts on germination and initial mycelium growth. The pH, phenolic content and glucose equivalents of the bark extracts were also related to spore germination. Bark samples from Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glu...
The Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) is a popular tool used for the assessment of air quality in polluted urban areas, on the basis of phytosociological data of epiphytic lichen communities. We hypothesized that this indicator could also be used in less polluted forest areas to determine the quality of ecological conditions for lichens. The aim of the present study was to verify the use of IAP method in the assessment of environmental pollution, and alternatively for the assessment of general e...
Abstract The study compares the epiphytic lichen communities of two different ecological systems of northern Poland, a non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest corresponding to the potential vegetation flora of a large part of Central Europe, in relation to the same tree species. The impact of habitat type and tree species on individual tree properties and the association between tree size, bark pH, conductivity, water-holding capacity, bark splitting, light intensity at tree tru...
Urban areas may contain a wide range of potential habitats and environmental gradients and, given the many benefits to human health and well-being, there is a growing interest in maximizing their biodiversity potential. However, the ecological patterns and processes in urban areas are poorly understood. Using a widely applicable ecological survey method, we sampled epiphytic lichen communities, important bioindicators of atmospheric pollution, on host Quercus trees in urban parks of London, UK, ...
Cement and sand are two of the materials which are used in the infrastructure development and are also main components of masonry coatings. Nevertheless, negative impacts indicated by these materials are crucial. Cement production accounts for considerable amount of global CO2 emissions while sand mining activities disturb the natural equilibrium. However, cement and sand consumption can be considerably reduced by omitting wall plastering. In order to accomplish the requirement of smoothing the ...
#1Sumira Mukhia(University of North Bengal)H-Index: 2
#2Palash Mandal(University of North Bengal)H-Index: 8
Last. Devendra Singh(BSI: Botanical Survey of India)H-Index: 8
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Maintenance of biodiversity is an integral part of sustainable forest management. Epiphytic bryophytes are an important element of biodiversity. Thus, this work aims to study the role of different physical and biochemical factors in affecting the growth and proliferation of epiphytic liverworts. Fifty trees in three different plots, distributed in Senchal wildlife sanctuary, Darjeeling, were surveyed. Factors such as light intensity, moisture, and diameter at breast height (DBH) of the tree were...
#1Ángel Benítez(UTPL: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja)H-Index: 9
#2Gregorio Aragón(URJC: King Juan Carlos University)H-Index: 22
Last. María Prieto(URJC: King Juan Carlos University)H-Index: 24
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Tropical dry forests have been recognized as one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world due to deforestation. These ecosystems harbour a high endemicity of epiphytes, which play a major role in the functioning of the forests. Lichens constitute an important fraction of the epiphytes. These poikilohydric organisms respond drastically to disturbance, which is strongly linked to humidity and light availability. We hypothesized that richness and species composition of lichens would be relate...
