Open AccessTree trunk lichen cover and its relation with cardinal orientation in parks of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica.
Author(s) -
Víctor Hugo Méndez,
Carlos Andrés Arce Campos
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cuadernos de investigación uned/cuadernos de investigación uned
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1659-4266
pISSN - 1659-441X
DOI - 10.22458/urj.v7i2.1159
Subject(s) - lichen , geography , trunk , wet season , latitude , metropolitan area , cardinal direction , dry season , forestry , environmental science , physical geography , ecology , biology , archaeology , cartography , geodesy
The geographical position of Costa Rica at 11 ° north latitude produces varying temperatures and two seasons, wet and dry, that are clearly established. Tree trunk lichens are greatly affected by humidity and air pollution, factors that can differ according to cardinal orientation of the substrate. We studied eight trees in each of the ten municipal parks in three central provinces: Alajuela, Cartago and San José. With a template we measured lichen cover, regardless of species during the dry and rainy seasons. The highest cover was on the north side of trunks and in the rainy season.