Population Structure of the Epiphytic Lichen Usnea Longissima in a Boreal Picea Abies Canopy

1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yngvar Gauslaa

AbstractUsnea longissima was sampled in SE Norway on six main branches of one Picea abies, comprising its full vertical canopy range. Nearly all specimens (n = 781) were unattached and fragmented, in contrast with associated lichens. A combination of weak axes and lack of holdfasts resulted in a population of repeatedly displaced thalli, a similar situation as in ground-dwelling vagant lichens. Comparisons with a litterfall population indicated that thalli, regardless of size, had a similar probability to end as litter on the ground. Specimens were frequently sorediate, but only 12 small thalli with a basal holdfast had been directly recruited through soredial establishment. Its patchy distribution within apparently homogenous forest stands is probably a consequence of a rare successful long-range dispersal through soredia coupled with an abundant local dispersal of coarse thallus fragments. Old forests with ample, diffuse skylight at lower and humid canopy levels are probably essential to maintain a vagant epiphytic life form with a predominantly downward dispersal of thallus fragments.

1999 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jørund Rolstad ◽  
Erlend Rolstad

AbstractIn boreal Scandinavia Usnea longissima is a rare epiphytic lichen associated with old spruce (Picea abies) forests. To test whether tree age was an important determinant of the occurrence and abundance of U. longissima at the scale of a forest stand we estimated thallus numbers on 1008 trees within three submontane spruce stands in south-central Norway. The stands were of all ages and multi-layered and had been selectively cut previous to the 1940s. There was no relationship between number of U. longissima thalli and tree age among trees with dbh of ≥ 10 cm. The most consistent pattern was a positive relationship between occurrence and number of thalli and stem diameter. After controlling the covariance of stem diameter, there was a tendency for a negative relationship between number of thalli and tree age. The results suggest that in old-growth resembling stands, with already established U. longissima populations, tree size (here measured as stem Diameter) is a better predictor of thallus number than tree age. This does not contradict the possibility that other environmental characteristics, associated with stands of older age, may be important for the establishment and growth of U. longissima populations.


2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela SCHMULL ◽  
Markus HAUCK

Lecidea hercynica Hauck & Schmull is described as a new species from Germany. It is characterized by a poorly developed or bullate to verrucose, areolate thallus on whitened spots of the substratum, numerous plane to yellowish brown to black, convex apothecia with a persistent margin, Micarea type-like asci, and by the presence of atranorin and protocetraric acid. It does not belong to Lecidea s. str., but is provisionally placed in Lecidea s. lat. until a taxonomic treatment of the whole group has been carried out. Lecidea hercynica is widespread in high-elevation forests of Picea abies in the Harz Mountains, where it grows preferably on decorticated wood in open situations.


AGROFOR ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena RUBA ◽  
Olga MIEZITE ◽  
Imants LIEPA

As a result of nature resources intensive use, most of ecosystems have beenconverted. Anthropogenic impact includes changes of forest stands structure andtheir spatial specificity in the forest area. Accordingly the sanitary state of Norwayspruce young forest stands can be affected by different risk impact factors ofmanagement. The aim of the research was to analyze the spruce Picea abies (L. )Karst. young forest stands sanitary condition depending on forest plots spatialspecificity and location in the forest areas. The data were collected in 4 regions ofLatvia in spruce young forest stands (1 - 40 years old). The research was conductedin young natural and artificial stands (pure – 44, mixed – 42). In total 502 sampleplots with a total area of 28250 mwere installed. The particular plot size (25, 50,100 and 200 m) were selected depending on the stand average tree height, whiletheir number depended on the forest stand area. A total area of investigated foreststands were 127. 5 hectares. Results showed that the expression of spatial specificsdepended on risk factors and their intensity, as well as the environmentalcharacteristics. Damages caused by abiotic risk factors at different forest standswere not the same regarding intensity, nature and volume, but more or less closelywere related to all site conditions. Spatial specificity of forest stands area (regularand irregular), as well as their location in the forest massif significantly affects thespruce young forests sanitary status (respectively p=0. 027 and p=0. 002). Differentrisk factors damage to forests, bordering with spruce or pine young growths,cutovers and various types of infrastructure, were identified as much moreimportant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Bodziarczyk ◽  
Jerzy Szwagrzyk ◽  
Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica ◽  
Antoni Zięba ◽  
Janusz Szewczyk ◽  
...  

Abstract The composition and structure of forest stands in the Tatra National Park were examined using data gathered in 2016 and 2017 from 617 circular sample plots (0.05 ha each). The diameter at breast height of all living trees, standing dead trees, snags, and wind throws was measured along with diameters and lengths of fallen logs within the plot boundaries. Tree height was measured for all living trees within the core (0.01 ha) of the sample plots. Using the obtained data, height-diameter curves were calculated for all major tree species and in the case of spruce, the height-diameter relationships were also calculated separately for each of the three elevation zones (up to 1200 m, between 1200 and 1400 m, above 1400 m). For each elevation zone and park protection zone, we also determined the volumes of live and dead trees. The volume of living trees in the Tatra National Park amounted to 259 m3/ha, which was higher than the volume of dead trees (176 m3/ha). Snags constituted the largest part of the dead wood whilst over 97% of the standing dead trees were spruce Picea abies. Among living trees, the share of spruce ranged from 81% in the low elevation zone to 98% in the middle zone. Other significant species in the lower zone were Abies alba (11%) and Fagus sylvatica (4.5%), while in the middle and upper elevation zones only Sorbus aucuparia occurred in significant numbers. Furthermore, in the lower elevation zone, Fagus sylvatica was the only species displaying significantly higher volumes in the ‘strict protection’ zone compared to the other park areas. In the ‘landscape protection’ zone, Picea abies was the most dominant species and the share of other species in the lowest elevation zones calculated based on tree density was smaller than calculated based on tree volume, indicating problems with stand conversion from spruce monoculture to mixed forest.


2000 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Kivistö ◽  
Mikko Kuusinen

AbstractThe edge effect of large clear-cuts on the epiphytic lichen flora of Picea abies in old-growth forest fragments was studied at three south-exposed and four north-exposed forest clear-cut edges in middle boreal Finland. The sampling of the species cover on trunk bases was carried out along four transects parallel to the forest margin: (1) at the forest margin, (2) 10 m from the margin, (3) 20 m from the margin and (4) 50 m from the margin. In addition, control trees were sampled > 100 m from nearest edge. Our results showed that the epiphytic lichen species diversity was lower at the forest margin than in the forest interior for sunny south-facing edges, while the species diversity in north-exposed edges was independent of the distance from the forest margin. The cover of a common and abundant lichen species, Parmeliopsis ambigua, was slightly higher at the forest edge and decreased inside the forest for both south-exposed and north-exposed edges.


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