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

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Anselmi B¹  Nascimbene J²  Bianchi E³  Benesperi R³  Di Nuzzo L³  Paoli L⁴  Vannini A⁵  Loppi S⁵  Landi S⁶  Lackovičová A⁷  Guttová A⁷  Fačkovcová Z⁷  Landi M⁸  Ravera S⁹  Marchetti M⁹ 

[1] Associazione Culturale di Murlo, p.zza Cattedrale, I-53016 Murlo, Siena (Italy);Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, v. Irnerio 42, I-40126 Bologna (Italy);Department of Biology, University of Florence, v. La Pira 4, I-50121, Florence (Italy);Department of Biology, University of Pisa, v. Ghini 13, 56126, Pisa (Italy);Department of Life Science, University of Siena, v. Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena (Italy);Department of Natural and Land Sciences, University of Sassari, Loc. Piandanna, I-07100 Sassari (Italy);Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84523 Bratislava (Slovakia);Reparto Carabinieri per la Biodiversità di Siena, Loc. Il Braccio 4, I-53100 (Italy);University of Molise, Campobasso (Italy);

关键词: Biomass Loss;    Chlorophyll Fluorescence;    Flag Species;    Legal Protection;    Lobaria pulmonaria;    Red Lists;   

DOI  :  10.3832/ifor2951-012

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown