This study describes and assesses the influence of the particular features of microhabitats on the abundances of lichen species. The research was performed in 4 natural reserves: Seaca-Movileni, Bădeana, Hârboanca-Brăhășoaia, and Bălteni (all within Vaslui county). The distribution of lichen species abundances was investigated in 20 cm × 20 cm sampling units at a height of 1 m above the ground. In the studied area 27 lichen species were sampled in 81 sampling units. Cluster analysis indicated both similarities and dissimilarities between the natural reserves investigated. Kruskal-Wallis tests pointed out significant differences regarding tree girths, depth of rhytidome crevices, and relative abundances of the lichen species. The results of a SIMPER test show that Physconia enteroxantha (Nyl.) Poelt. and Candelaria concolor (Dicks.) Stnr. are the species responsible for the dissimilarities between investigated sites. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant dissimilarities between the lichen synusiae investigated. Of all the lichen species recorded, only Physconia enteroxantha and Lecidella elaeochroma (Ach.) M. Choisy were significantly correlated with trees of the genus Quercus. There were fewer trees of the genus Quercus with large girths compared to other analyzed tree genera.

Vicol, I. 2016. Ecological patterns of lichen species abundance in mixed forests of Eastern Romania. Ann. For. Res. 59(2): 237-248.Abstract. The importance of this study consists in the knowledge of the ecological attributes characteristic to mixed forestry habitats and how they affect the structure of the lichen species abundances. The field activities were performed within five forest habitat types from Moldavia Province, characterised mainly by oak mixed forests, riparian mixed forests and mixed beech forests. The habitat variables, tree variables and the lichen species abundances were analysed to get informations on the structural disimilarities, on the one hand, and relationships on the other hand. Within this study no significant disimilarities were found out from abundance lichen species point of view. The lichen species abundances are a result of interactions between components of their microhabitat and macrohabitat. The correlation analysis pointed out the preferences of lichen species to their host trees, especially Quercus and Fraxinus, altitude and tree level variables as are aspect and mosses coverage. The regression analysis has highlighted that the changes in lichen species abundances are caused by macrohabitat level predictors such as host trees represented by Fraxinus. This study demonstrates that, structure of lichen species is influenced by attributes of mixed forest habitats; therefore maintaining the diversity of tree species and ensuring the continuous occurrence of forestry land is necessary for lichen and their habitat conservation.

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