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Epiphytic lichen diversity in old‐growth and managed Picea abies stands in southern Finland
Author(s) -
Kuusinen M.,
Siitonen J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3237127
Subject(s) - lichen , epiphyte , picea abies , basal area , abies alba , biology , snag , botany , taiga , species diversity , ecology , forestry , habitat , geography
. Epiphytic and epixylic lichens were surveyed on 15 1‐ha plots in mature Picea abies‐dominated boreal forests in southern Finland. The sample plots were classified into three groups according to the age of the dominant tree stand and recent signs of cutting: (1) early mature managed, ‘EM’ (95 ‐109 yr), (2) late mature managed, ‘LM’ (126 ‐ 145 yr) and (3) old‐growth, ‘OG’ (129 ‐ 198 yr). Two data sets on epiphytic and epixylic lichens were recorded from each plot: (1) species on basal trunks and branches of Picea abies and (2) species on all available woody substrates, including basal parts of all tree species, saplings, snags, logs and stumps. 142 epiphytic and epixylic lichen species were found, of which 83 (58%) occurred on P. abies . Mean total numbers of species per sample plot were 69 in EM, 78 in LM and 88 in OG plots, species number on P. abies were 47, 56, and 54 respectively. The LM plots had lower species numbers than OG plots, mainly due to the lack of old Populus tremula trees, but they had higher species number than the EM plots mainly due to the higher age of Picea abies . Differences in species composition, both within and between the three groups, were small. The results suggest that the epiphytic and epixylic lichen diversity in a managed stand can be increased by prolonging the rotation of the stand to >120 yr and by increasing the diversity of habitats in the stand.