Fine spatial pattern of an epiphytic lichen species is affected by habitat conditions in two forest types in the Iberian Mediterranean region

Structural variables drive the distribution of the sensitive lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in Mediterranean old-growth forests

“…Similarly, in a study carried out in southern Sweden, Öckinger et al (2005) found that L. pulmonaria is restricted to sites with a long temporal continuity of older trees and suggested that dispersal capacity is probably the most important factor in limiting the local distribution of this species. These results are in contrast with those reported by other authors, supporting that the presence of a green-algal photobiont may give L. pulmonaria much greater flexibility in its ecological amplitude making this species more resilient to harvesting treatments with respect to cyanolichens (Coxson and Stevenson, 2007;Belinchón et al, 2009;Belinchón et al, 2011). Similarly, Kalwij et al (2005) found that L. pulmonaria was not negatively correlated with disturbance at the forest stand level and argued that frequency and abundance of this species are therefore not appropriate measures to indicate continuity at the spatial and temporal scales considered in their study.…”

Environmental factors that drive the distribution and abundance of a threatened cyanolichen in Southern Europe: A multi‐scale approach

“…Thus, Lobarina scrobiculata occurred in old forests but its abundance appeared to be enhanced in relatively young oak forests in the studied area. It is important to note that population size has been used as an indicator of environmental quality for threatened species (e.g., Carrascal and Seoane, 2009; Belinchón et al, 2011; Stehn et al, 2013). However, other factors such as the genetic diversity or population structure should be assessed to confirm this relationship in our case because a high abundance need not correlate with the optimum environmental conditions.…”

“…This may be consistent with our results, which showed that the occupation rate decreased with increasing tree density, and higher tree densities may be related to relatively young forests. Second, they could be declining populations that might become extinct (see Rolstad et al, 2001; Belinchón et al, 2011; Schei et al, 2012). However, the fate of these populations is dependent on the colonization‐extinction dynamics because the successful colonization of new trees relies on the dispersal of propagules and the success of establishment.…”

“…Effective conservation strategies rely on a thorough knowledge of the life processes and ecology of threatened species (Hilmo and Ott, 2002; Iriondo et al, 2009; Scheidegger and Werth, 2009). The viability of a population depends on two main factors: (1) population size; and (2) individual performance, which are usually associated with the habitat quality (Soulé, 1987; Hilmo and Ott, 2002; Iriondo et al, 2009; Belinchón et al, 2011). At a large scale, climatic conditions may influence the life cycle and performance of species, thereby shifting the species habitat quality requirements at finer scales (Scheidegger and Werth, 2009).…”

A method for the direct detection of airborne dispersal in lichens

“…Most estimates of dispersal distance for case study species such as lichen epiphytes have been made indirectly. Data have been collected through investigations of the spatial arrangement of colonized trees (e.g., Belinchón, Martínez, Aragón, Escudero, & De la Cruz, ; Dettki, Klintberg, & Esseen, ; Gjerde, Blom, Heegaard, & Sætersdal, ), through population genetic studies (e.g., Hilmo, Lundemo, Holein, Stengrundet, & Stenoien, ; Jüriado et al., ; Lättman et al., ; Scheidegger, Bilovitz, Werth, Widmer, & Mayrhofer, ; Walser, ), through modelling approaches (e.g., Johansson, Ranius, & Snäll, ; Wagner, Werth, Kalwij, Bolli, & Scheidegger, ) or time series observations of colonization events (e.g., Fedrowitz, Kuusinen, & Snäll, ; Öckinger, Niklasson, & Nilsson, ). As these studies rely on data from established lichen thalli, they are unable to apportion the effect of dispersal from that of establishment and therefore make estimates of effective dispersal only (Scheidegger & Werth, ).…”