Long-term changes in bryophyte diversity of central European managed forests depending on site environmental features

Abstract

Cryptogamic diversity is a reliable indicator of the state of forest ecosystems. In this study we analysed the variations in both bryophyte species richness overall and number of hemerophobic bryophyte species in Central European managed forests over a 20-year time span, based on data collected in 132 plots scattered across Poland. We tested differences in species richness among five temporal replicates, as well as among site types grouped based on elevation a.s.l., dominant tree species and stand age. The analyses revealed no significant trend in species richness across years. Meanwhile, species richness significantly increased along with elevation a.s.l., especially in broadleaved forests. No significant difference in species number between spruce and pine dominated stands emerged for mature stands, while there was a strong difference for young stands, with spruce forest hosting a much higher number of species. Species richness exhibited a slight, but not significant, increase over time in broadleaved forests, no significant variations in pine dominated stands and significant fluctuations in spruce dominated stands, yet without a significant trend. Out of the tested drivers, dominant tree species exhibited the strongest impact on species community composition. Number of hemerophobic and strongly hemerophobic species did not undergo significant variations across years either. The lack of bryophyte diversity trends highlighted in this study suggests Central European managed forests are in an equilibrium sate, maintained by the opposing effects of climate changes, on one side and of more sustainable forest management and pollutant deposition decline, from the other.

Effects of the Abandonment of Traditional Cultural Practices on Epiphytic Bryolichenic Communities in Chestnut Orchards in North-West Spain

“…Changes in lichen or bryophyte communities associated with forest management have been shown in several studies across Europe in forests dominated by beech, pine, oak, aspen, spruce, or hornbeam [34][35][36][37][38]; as regards work on chestnut forests, partial studies have been carried out in Northern Italy [18,39], in the Swiss Alps [40], and in Montenegro [41]. In addition, there is a paucity of studies that collectively show the changes that occur in bryolichenic communities (both bryophytes and lichens) in relation to forest management [42].…”

Effects of the Abandonment of Traditional Cultural Practices on Epiphytic Bryolichenic Communities in Chestnut Orchards in NW Spain

“…Changes in lichen communities associated with forest management have been shown in several studies across Europe in forests dominated by beech, pine, oak, aspen, spruce or hornbeam [26][27][28][29][30], as regards work on chestnut forests, partial studies have been carried out in Northern Italy [15,31], in the Swiss Alps [32] and in Montenegro [33]. In addition, there is a paucity of studies that collectively show the changes that occur in bryolichenic communities (both bryophytes and lichens) in relation to forest management [34].…”

Resurvey studies of terricolous bryophytes and lichens indicate a widespread nutrient enrichment in German forests

“…There are three main reasons for this knowledge gap: (1) in many habitat types, including most types of deciduous forest and grassland, terricolous (epigeic) bryophytes and lichens are clearly less species‐rich than vascular plants; (2) many plant ecologists consider them as more difficult to identify and traditionally tend to neglect them; (3) in habitat types such as forests, bryophytes and lichens are perceived as ecologically less relevant than vascular plants (Ewald, 2009), and their ecological optima and tolerances towards environmental factors are less well known (but see Schönhar, 1996). As a consequence, bryophytes and lichens have often been or are still ignored, both in the sampling of vegetation plots and in reviews, although bryophytes have received increasing attention lately (e.g., Cacciatori et al, 2022; Stefańska‐Krzaczek et al, 2022). Accordingly, to our knowledge, bryophytes and lichens have not been treated in previous resurvey meta‐analyses.…”