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RESPONSE OF EPIPHYTIC LICHENS ON POPULUS TREMULA IN A SELECTIVE CUTTING EXPERIMENT
Author(s) -
Hedenås Henrik,
Ericson Lars
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/1051-0761(2003)13[1124:roelop]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - lichen , epiphyte , crustose , thallus , ecology , biology , abundance (ecology) , taiga , habitat , botany
Aspen ( Populus tremula ) is a key substrate for a large number of organisms in the boreal forest. Because aspen abundance is declining there is a need to develop alternative silvicultural practices in order to maintain aspen in the forest landscape. This study was initiated to document the response of epiphytic lichens on retained aspens in stands (size 1.75–3 ha) where 50% of the standing volume was removed. Data on growth rate and vitality were collected for three cyanolichens, Collema curtisporum , C. furfuraceum , and Leptogium saturninum , and two crustose lichens, Mycobilimbia epixanthoides and M. carneoalbida , prior to and four years after the treatment, in three experimental and three control stands. The treatment resulted in severe damage for M. carneoalbida and M. epixanthoides and intermediate damage for C. furfuraceum , while the two other cyanolichens showed minor damage. Overall mortality was low; in total only 4% of the thalli died following the treatment. Growth rate on average decreased for all five species. However, significant reductions were observed only for C. furfuraceum , M. epixanthoides , and M. carneoalbida . There were also differences in responses between stands of the same treatment that may mirror habitat conditions for individual trunks as well as individual thalli. We conclude that (1) selective thinning may be a suitable method for preserving cyanolichens confined to more sunlit aspen stands, while species such as Mycobilimbia spp., confined to shady late‐successional stands, will be negatively affected, (2) data from large‐scale field experiments are needed in order to take proper conservation measures, (3) results from one area or one species cannot be applied directly to other species.