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Species richness of lichen functional groups in relation to land use intensity
- Source :
- The Lichenologist. 38:331-353
- Publication Year :
- 2006
- Publisher :
- Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2006.
-
Abstract
- Changing land use has a major impact on lichen diversity. This study attempts to identify patterns or trends of lichen functional groups along a land use gradient, ranging from natural forests to open agricultural landscape. In eight countries, covering six main European biogeographic regions, lichen vegetation was assessed according to a standardized scheme. Data on reproductive, vegetative and ecological traits was compiled and relative species richness for all classes of all traits calculated. Relationships between the land use gradient and relative species richness of trait classes were analysed. Open and intensively managed landscapes harbour more fertile species while sterile species are relatively more important in forests. This finding is also supported by analyses of different classes of dispersal propagules. The importance of species with the principal photobiont Trebouxia s.l. increases linearly with intensification of land use. A converse pattern is revealed by species with Trentepohlia. Concerning substratum specialization only generalists show an effect along the land use intensity gradient. Their relative species richness decreases from landscapes dominated by forests to open agricultural landscape. A considerable decline in the rare lichen species richness as a result of land intensification is predicted.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Land use
Ecology
Vegetation
15. Life on land
Biology
Generalist and specialist species
biology.organism_classification
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Propagule
Trentepohlia
Biological dispersal
Species richness
Lichen
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10961135 and 00242829
- Volume :
- 38
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Lichenologist
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........37932ddefcb8d1ff1c06700b0e7a22ba