Impact of forest management on threatened epiphytic macrolichens: evidence from a Mediterranean mixed oak forest (Italy)

doi:10.3832/ifor2951-012

Impact of forest management on threatened epiphytic macrolichens: evidence from a Mediterranean mixed oak forest (Italy)

Luca Paoli⁽¹⁾ , Renato Benesperi⁽²⁾, Zuzana Fačkovcová⁽³⁾, Juri Nascimbene⁽⁴⁾, Sonia Ravera⁽⁵⁾, Marco Marchetti⁽⁵⁾, Barbara Anselmi⁽⁶⁾, Marco Landi⁽⁷⁾, Sara Landi⁽⁸⁾, Elisabetta Bianchi⁽²⁾, Luca Di Nuzzo⁽²⁾, Anna Lackovičová⁽³⁾, Andrea Vannini⁽⁹⁾, Stefano Loppi⁽⁹⁾, Anna Guttová⁽³⁾

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 12, Issue 4, Pages 383-388 (2019)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2951-012
Published: Jul 12, 2019 - Copyright © 2019 SISEF

Research Articles

PDF Version

Full Text

Citation

Geo-mapping

Forest management practices may heavily affect epiphytic cryptogams. This study was conceived in March 2016, as soon as we were informed about an authorized logging for timber within a Mediterranean mixed oak forest in Tuscany (central Italy), which threatened a large population of the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., composed of hundreds of fertile thalli. Lobaria pulmonaria is often used as an ecological indicator of high quality habitats hosting rare lichens, and in general, cryptogams worthy of conservation. The species has suffered a general decline throughout Europe as a consequence of air pollution and intensive forest management, and currently it is red-listed in several countries, where it is considered also as a “flag species”. We estimated that 40% of the lichen biomass (8.5-12.3 kg ha^-1) has been lost due to logging operations (in the core area, up to 1.8 kg every 100 m²), in particular large and fertile thalli. One year after the conclusion of logging operations, the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence emission (indicator of the photosynthetic performance of the lichen photobionts), revealed a significant reduction of the vitality of the thalli on retained-isolated trees. The article provides issues for conservation in Mediterranean oak forests and outlines the outmost importance of ensuring the safeguard of forest ecosystems hosting fertile populations of this model species, especially in the case of unprotected forests.

Keywords

Biomass Loss, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Flag Species, Legal Protection, Lobaria pulmonaria, Red Lists

Authors’ address

(1)

0000-0001-5479-6428
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, v. Ghini 13, 56126, Pisa (Italy)

(2)

0000-0003-4296-3393

Department of Biology, University of Florence, v. La Pira 4, I-50121, Florence (Italy)

(3)

0000-0002-5760-5364

Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84523 Bratislava (Slovakia)

(4)

0000-0002-9174-654X
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, v. Irnerio 42, I-40126 Bologna (Italy)

(5)

0000-0001-5223-7964
0000-0002-5275-5769
University of Molise, Campobasso (Italy)

(6)

Associazione Culturale di Murlo, p.zza Cattedrale, I-53016 Murlo, Siena (Italy)

(7)

Reparto Carabinieri per la Biodiversità di Siena, Loc. Il Braccio 4, I-53100 (Italy)

(8)

Department of Natural and Land Sciences, University of Sassari, Loc. Piandanna, I-07100 Sassari (Italy)

(9)

0000-0003-3789-6691
0000-0002-3404-1017
Department of Life Science, University of Siena, v. Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena (Italy)

Corresponding author

Luca Paoli
luca.paoli@unipi.it

Citation

Paoli L, Benesperi R, Fačkovcová Z, Nascimbene J, Ravera S, Marchetti M, Anselmi B, Landi M, Landi S, Bianchi E, Di Nuzzo L, Lackovičová A, Vannini A, Loppi S, Guttová A (2019). Impact of forest management on threatened epiphytic macrolichens: evidence from a Mediterranean mixed oak forest (Italy). iForest 12: 383-388. - doi: 10.3832/ifor2951-012

Academic Editor

Rodolfo Picchio

Paper history

Received: Aug 20, 2018
Accepted: Apr 28, 2019

First online: Jul 12, 2019
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2019
Publication Time: 2.50 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 38778
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 33602
Abstract Page Views: 2455
PDF Downloads: 2096
Citation/Reference Downloads: 6
XML Downloads: 619

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 1959
Overall contacts: 38778
Avg. contacts per week: 138.56

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Feb 2023)

Total number of cites (since 2019): 9
Average cites per year: 1.80

(no Plumx Metrics available for this paper)

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ^©

Articles citing this article

List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.

(1)

Aragón G, Martínez I, Izquierdo P, Belinchón R, Escudero A (2010)
Effects of forest management on epiphytic lichen diversity in Mediterranean forests. Applied Vegetation Science 13: 183-194.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(2)

Benesperi R, Nascimbene J, Lazzaro L, Bianchi E, Tepsich A, Longinotti S, Giordani P (2018)
Successful conservation of the endangered forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria requires knowledge of fine-scale population structure. Fungal Ecology 33: 65-71.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(3)

Bergamini A, Scheidegger C, Stofer S, Carvalho P, Davey S, Dietrich M, Dubs F, Farkas E, Groner U, Kärkkäinen K, Keller C, Lökös L, Lommi S, Máguas C, Mitchell R, Pinho P, Rico VJ, Aragón G, Truscott AM, Wolseley PA, Watt A (2005)
Performance of macrolichens and lichen genera as indicators of lichen species richness and composition. Conservation Biology 19: 1051-1062.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(4)

Brunialti G, Frati L, Ravera S (2015)
Structural variables drive the distribution of the sensitive lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in Mediterranean old-growth forests. Ecological Indicators 53: 37-42.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(5)

Campbell J, Fredeen AL (2004)
Lobaria pulmonaria abundance as an indicator of macrolichen diversity in Interior Cedar-Hemlock forests of east-central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Botany 82: 970-982.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(6)

Coxson DS, Stevenson SK (2007a)
Growth rate responses of Lobaria pulmonaria to canopy structure in even-aged and old-growth cedar-hemlock forests of central-interior British Columbia, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management 242: 5-16.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(7)

Coxson DS, Stevenson SK (2007b)
Influence of high-contrast and low-contrast forest edges on growth rates of Lobaria pulmonaria in the inland rainforest, British Columbia. Forest Ecology and Management 253: 103-111.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(8)

Eaton S, Ellis CJ (2014)
High demographic rates of the model epiphyte Lobaria pulmonaria in an oceanic hazelwood (western Scotland). Fungal Ecology 11: 60-70.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(9)

Edman M, Eriksson AM, Villard MA (2008)
Effects of selection cutting on the abundance and fertility of indicator lichens Lobaria pulmonaria and Lobaria quercizans. Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 26-33.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(10)

Fačkovcová Z, Guttová A, Benesperi R, Loppi S, Bellini E, Sanità di Toppi L, Paoli L (2019)
Retaining unlogged patches in Mediterranean oak forests may preserve threatened forest macrolichens. iForest 12: 187-192.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(11)

Gauslaa Y, Solhaug KA (1999)
High-light damage in air-dry thalli of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria interactions of irradiance, exposure duration and high temperature. Journal of Experimental Botany 50: 697-705.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(12)

Gauslaa Y, Solhaug KA (2000)
High-light-intensity damage to the foliose lichen Lobaria pulmonaria within a natural forest: the applicability of chlorophyll fluorescence methods. The Lichenologist 32: 271-289.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(13)

Gauslaa Y, Lie M, Solhaug K, Ohlson M (2006)
Growth and ecophysiological acclimation of the foliose lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in forests with contrasting light climates. Oecologia 147: 406-416.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(14)

Hauck M, De Bruyn U, Leuschner C (2013)
Dramatic diversity losses in epiphytic lichens in temperate broad-leaved forests during the last 150 years. Biological Conservation 157: 136-145.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(15)

Jüriado I, Liira J, Csencsics D, Widmer I, Adolf C, Kohv K, Scheidegger C (2011)
Dispersal ecology of the endangered woodland lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in managed hemiboreal forest landscape. Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 1803-1819.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(16)

Kraus D, Krumm F (2013)
Integrative approaches as an opportunity for the conservation of forest biodiversity. European Forest Institute, Germany, pp. 284.
Gscholar

(17)

Krause J, Wagner HG, Otte V (2017)
Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der Flechten (Lichenes) von Berlin [Red list and species list of lichens of Berlin]. In: “Derlandesbeauftragte Für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege / Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz (Hrsg.)” [Regional supervisor for nature and landscape / Senate management for environment, transport and climate protection]. Rote Listen der gefährdeten Pflanzen, Pilze und Tiere von Berlin [Red Lists of Endangered Plants, Fungi and Animals of Berlin], 28 S. DepositOnce, Web site. [in German]
CrossRef | Gscholar

(18)

Larsson P, Solhaug KA, Gauslaa Y (2014)
Winter - the optimal logging season to sustain growth and performance of retained epiphytic lichens in boreal forests. Biological Conservation 180: 108-114.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(19)

Lettau G (1912)
Beiträge zur Lichenographie von Thüringen [Contributions to the Lichenography of Thuringia]. Hedwigia 51: 176-220. [in German]
Gscholar

(20)

Lindenmayer DB, Margules CR, Botkin DB (2000)
Indicators of biodiversity for ecologically sustainable forest management. Conservation Biology 14: 941-950.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(21)

Nadyeina O, Dymytrova L, Naumovych A, Postoyalkin S, Scheidegger C (2014)
Distribution and dispersal ecology of Lobaria pulmonaria in the largest primeval beech forest of Europe. Biodiversity and Conservation 23: 3241-3262.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(22)

Nascimbene J, Brunialti G, Ravera S, Frati L, Caniglia G (2010)
Testing Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. as an indicator of lichen conservation importance of Italian forests. Ecological Indicators 10: 353-360.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(23)

Nascimbene J, Thor G, Nimis PL (2013a)
Effects of forest management on epiphytic lichens in temperate deciduous forests of Europe - a review. Forest Ecology and Management 298: 27-38.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(24)

Nascimbene J, Nimis PL, Ravera S (2013b)
Evaluating the conservation status of epiphytic lichens of Italy: a red list. Plant Biosystems 147: 898-904.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(25)

Nascimbene J, Ylisirniö AL, Pykälä J, Giordani P (2013c)
Lichens: sensitive indicators of changes in forest environment. In: “Integrative Approaches as an Opportunity for the Conservation of Forest Biodiversity” (Kraus D, Krumm F eds). European Forest Institute, Freiburg, Germany, pp. 180-185.
Online | Gscholar

(26)

Nascimbene J, Casazza G, Benesperi R, Catalano I, Cataldo D, Grillo M, Isocrono D, Matteucci E, Ongaro S, Potenza G, Puntillo D, Ravera S, Zedda L, Giordani P (2016)
Climate change fosters the decline of epiphytic Lobaria species in Italy. Biological Conservation 201: 377-384.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(27)

Nimis PL (2016)
The lichens of Italy. A second annotated catalogue. EUT, Trieste, Italy, pp. 739.
Online | Gscholar

(28)

Ockinger E, Niklasson M, Nilsson SG (2005)
Is local distribution of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria limited by dispersal capacity or habitat quality? Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 759-773.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(29)

Otálora MG, Martínez I, Belinchón R, Widmer I, Aragón G, Escudero A, Scheidegger C (2011)
Remnants fragments preserve genetic diversity of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in a fragmented Mediterranean mountain forest. Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 1239-1254.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(30)

Paoli L, Guttová A, Anselmi B (2013)
Osservazioni sui licheni di Crevole [Observations on the lichens of Crevole]. MurloCultura 16 (1): 8-10. [in Italian]
Gscholar

(31)

Peterson EB, McCune B (2001)
Diversity and succession of epiphytic macrolichen communities in low-elevation managed conifer forests in Western Oregon. Journal of Vegetation Science 12: 511-524.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(32)

Philippi T (2005)
Adaptive cluster sampling for estimation of abundances within local populations of low abundances plants. Ecology 86: 1091-1100.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(33)

Ravera S, Massari G, Genovesi V (2006)
Phytoclimatic characterization of lichen habitats in central Italy. Nova Hedwigia 82: 143-165.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(34)

Rose F (1976)
Lichenological indicators of age and environmental continuity in woodlands. In: “Lichenology: Progress and Problems” (Brown DH, Hawksworth DL, Bailey RH eds). Academic Press, London, UK, pp. 279-307.
Gscholar

(35)

Rolstad J, Gjerde I, Storaunet KO, Rolstad E (2001)
Epiphytic lichens in Norwegian coastal spruce forest: historic logging and present forest structure. Ecological Applications 11: 421-436.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(36)

Rubio-Salcedo M, Merinero S, Martínez I (2015)
Tree species and microhabitat influence the population structure of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. Fungal Ecology 18: 1-9.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(37)

Schei FH, Blom HH, Gjerde I, Grytnes JA, Heegaard E (2013)
Conservation of epiphytes: single large or several small host trees? Biological Conservation 168: 144-151.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(38)

Scheidegger C, Flachsmann S, Zoller S, Frey B (1997)
Naturschutzbiologie bei Flechten: Konzepte und Projekte [Conservation biology in lichens: concepts and projects]. Kleine Senckenbergische Reihe 27: 167-175. [in German]
Gscholar

(39)

Scheidegger C, Clerc P, Dietrich M, Frei M, Groner U, Keller C, Stofer S, Vust M (2002)
Lista Rossa delle specie minacciate in Svizzera. Licheni epifiti e terricoli. Ambiente - Esecuzione [Red list of threatened species in Switzerland. Epiphytic and soil lichens. Environment - Execution]. UFAFP, Berne and WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland, pp. 122. [in Italian]
Gscholar

(40)

Scheidegger C, Werth S (2009)
Conservation strategies for lichens: insights from population biology. Fungal Biology Reviews 23: 55-66.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(41)

Scheidegger C, Bilovitz PO, Werth S, Widmer I, Mayrhofer H (2012)
Hitchhiking with forests: population genetics of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in primeval and managed forests in southeastern Europe. Ecology and Evolution 2: 2223-2240.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(42)

Sillett SC, McCune B, Peck JE, Rambo TR, Ruchty A (2000)
Dispersal limitations of epiphytic lichens result in species dependent on old-growth forests. Ecological Applications 10: 789-799.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(43)

Sitzia T, Campagnaro T, Dainese M, Cassol M, Dal Cortivo M, Gatti E, Padovan F, Sommacal M, Nascimbene J (2017)
Contrasting multi-taxa diversity patterns between abandoned and non-intensively managed forests in the southern Dolomites. iForest 10: 845-850.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(44)

Thompson SK (1990)
Adaptive cluster sampling. Journal of the American Statistical Association 85 (412): 1050-1059.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(45)

Turk P, Borkowski JJ (2005)
A review of adaptive cluster sampling: 1990-2003. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 12: 55-94.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(46)

Werth S, Wagner HH, Holderegger R, Kalwij JM, Scheidegger C (2006)
Effect of disturbances on the genetic diversity of an old-forest associated lichen. Molecular Ecology 15: 911-921.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(47)

Whittet R, Ellis CJ (2013)
Critical tests for lichen indicators of woodland ecological continuity. Biological Conservation 168: 19-23.
CrossRef | Gscholar

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Contents

Search

Journal Info

Journal Subjects and Fields

For Authors

For Reviewers

For Readers

SISEF Publishing

Search iForest Contents