Water-energy relationships shape the phylogenetic diversity of terricolous lichen communities in Mediterranean mountains: Implications for conservation in a climate change scenario

Vallese, Chiara; Musciano, Michele Di; Muggia, Lucía; Giordani, Paolo; Francesconi, Luana; Benesperi, Renato; Chiarucci, Alessandro; Cecco, Valter Di; Martino, Luciano Di; Nuzzo, Luca Di; Gheza, Gabriele; Zannini, Piero; Nascimbene, Juri

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101189

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…However, larger areas are more likely to include a higher habitat heterogeneity (Scheiner et al 2011;Connor & McCoy 2017;Drira et al 2019;Martellos et al 2020;Moradi et al 2020), which leads to a greater diversity in climate, substrata and microhabitats available for lichen colonization, than small areas. Larger areas could also be expected to include wider elevational spans, and lichen assemblages are known to vary along altitudinal gradients (Bruun et al 2006;Grytnes et al 2006;Bässler et al 2016;Di Nuzzo et al 2021;Vallese et al 2022), thus promoting species richness as broader gradients are considered. Interestingly, the form of a SAR can be directly influenced by elevation: at increasing elevations, plant species richness decreases due to an increase of bare rock (Moradi et al 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species–area relationship in lichens tested in protected areas across Italy

Gheza,

Di Nuzzo,

Giordani

et al. 2023

The Lichenologist

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The species–area relationship (SAR) states that species richness increases with the increase of the sampled area, although other factors can influence the pattern. SARs have been tested on many different organisms, but only rarely on lichens. We aimed to test the SAR, across a wide range of area sizes, for three main substratum-related guilds of lichens, namely epiphytic, epilithic and epigaeic. The test was performed using data from lichen inventories carried out in 44 protected areas of various sizes across Italy. We found a positive correlation of species richness with area size for all three guilds, better fitted by the logarithmic function for epilithic lichens and by the power function for epiphytic and epigaeic lichens. Our results support the fundamental role of area size as the main driver for lichen diversity, suggesting that in an area-based conservation framework, larger protected areas are fundamental to support high lichen species richness. However, finer scale investigations are also required to better elucidate whether and how other environmental factors could interact with area size and modify SAR patterns. Exhaustive lichen inventories could be useful information sources to more robustly test such relationships, and therefore better inform conservation practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2021; Vallese et al . 2022), thus promoting species richness as broader gradients are considered. Interestingly, the form of a SAR can be directly influenced by elevation: at increasing elevations, plant species richness decreases due to an increase of bare rock (Moradi et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species–area relationship in lichens tested in protected areas across Italy

Gheza,

Di Nuzzo,

Giordani

et al. 2023

The Lichenologist

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An experimental test of niche versus dispersal limitation of the distribution limit of the Ghost Antler Lichen,Pseudevernia cladonia, along a temperate–boreal elevation gradient

Rinas,

Vellend

2024

Botany

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Understanding the mechanisms underlying species’ distribution limits is critical for predicting how species may respond to environmental change. For species restricted to mountain summits, there is concern that climatic changes may result in increasingly restricted distributions. Two central mechanisms govern species distribution limits: (i) niche limitations – environmental conditions beyond distribution limits that are insufficient for survival and reproduction, and (ii) dispersal limitations that prevent colonization of suitable habitat beyond distribution limits. Here, we conducted a transplant experiment to examine the effect of niche versus dispersal limitation on the altitudinal distribution limit of the Ghost Antler Lichen (Pseudevernia cladonia) that, within Québec, Canada, is restricted to high-elevation mountain summits in the southeast. Along an elevation gradient, we transplanted individuals into sites within its distribution, at the edge, and beyond its distribution. We observed that survival and performance were greatest within its distribution and decreased markedly beyond its distribution, supporting our prediction that this lichen is niche limited along the elevation gradient. We suggest that cooler and more humid conditions at the summit are important environmental factors for species’ persistence. Our findings suggest that projected climatic changes in these montane habitats may result in less suitable habitat for this species.

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Bedrock-Dependent Effects of Climate Change on Terricolous Lichens Along Elevational Gradients in the Alps

Vallese,

Di Nuzzo,

Francesconi

et al. 2024

JoF

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In this study, we focused on the bedrock-dependent effects of climate change on terricolous lichen communities along elevational gradients in the Alps. In particular, we contrasted between carbonatic and siliceous bedrock, hypothesizing more favourable conditions on siliceous than on carbonatic bedrock, where dryer conditions may exacerbate the effects of climate change. To test this hypothesis, we compared terricolous lichen diversity patterns between the two bedrock types in terms of (1) species richness, (2) beta-diversity, (3) proportion of cryophilous species, and (4) functional diversity, also testing the effect of the elevational gradient as a proxy for expected climate warming. Our results indicate that the most cold-adapted part of the terricolus lichen biota of the Alps could be especially threatened in the near future, mainly on carbonatic bedrock. Actually, contrasting diversity patterns were found between carbonatic and siliceous bedrock, clearly revealing a bedrock-dependent effect of climate change on terricolous lichens of the Alps. As hypothesized, siliceous bedrock hosts a richer lichen biota than carbonatic bedrock, reflecting a general richness pattern at the national level. In general, siliceous bedrock seems to be less prone to rapid pauperization of its lichen biota, providing more suitable climatic refugia that can mitigate the effects of climate warming on terricolous lichens.

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Water-energy relationships shape the phylogenetic diversity of terricolous lichen communities in Mediterranean mountains: Implications for conservation in a climate change scenario

Cited by 3 publications

References 53 publications

Species–area relationship in lichens tested in protected areas across Italy

Species–area relationship in lichens tested in protected areas across Italy

An experimental test of niche versus dispersal limitation of the distribution limit of the Ghost Antler Lichen,Pseudevernia cladonia, along a temperate–boreal elevation gradient

Bedrock-Dependent Effects of Climate Change on Terricolous Lichens Along Elevational Gradients in the Alps

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