Changes in the epiphytic lichen biota in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands affected by a colony of grey heron (Ardea cinerea): a case study from northern Poland Katarzyna Ż Ó ŁKOŚ , Martin KUKWA and Renata AFRANOWICZ-CIEŚ LAK Abstract: Bird colonies affect all elements of inhabited ecosystems, such as the soil, floristic composition and phytocoenosis structure, including the lichen biota. To date, the few papers focusing on changes in the composition of lichen vegetation caused by bird colonies are concerned with saxicolous ornithocoprophilous communities. The aim of this study was to define the impact of the grey heron in two breeding colonies on epiphytic lichens on Scots pines presently inhabited by birds, as well as those recently abandoned. Analysis of the lichen biota showed that the species composition and number of lichens were significantly modified in the functioning colony and the post-colony areas when compared with the control plots never inhabited by grey heron. Within the functioning and post-colony areas, mainly species with a wide ecological amplitude and those characteristic of fertile habitats dominated, while acidophilous and ubiquitous taxa occurred in the control plots. Multivariate analyses (for species abundance and ecological characteristics) showed that lichens growing within the functioning colony and post-colony areas differed significantly from those in the control area in their habitat requirements, as they demanded nutrient-rich, low or moderately moist and deacidified bark. Within the control plots, lichens preferring a relatively acidic and slightly nitrified substratum occurred. The direct impact of bird excrement and the fertilized bark could cause significant modifications in qualitative and quantitative species composition compared to the epiphytic lichen biota usually occurring on Scots pines.
Gdańsk Pomerania is a region characterized by unique physiographic features and diverse flora. This region, as many other areas, is subject to numerous accelerating transformations. The occurrence of numerous species on their range edges and on isolated stands, e.g. mountain and xerothermic grassland species, was an important criterion in the development of a regional red list of vascular plants of Gdańsk Pomerania (Markowski & Buliński 2004). On this list, 648 species of vascular plants, which constitute about 39% of the regional flora and 26% of all Polish flora, are considered to be endangered at various levels. In total, 47 species have been declared extinct in the aforementioned region (RE), 39 taxa are considered as critically endangered (CR) and 109 – as endangered (EN). Further 222 plant species are classified as vulnerable (moderately endangered) (VU), 124 have low risk categories (NT or LC) and there are 107 taxa of unknown threat, due to lack of sufficient information (DD). The aim of this work was to synthesize endangered components of Gdańsk Pomerania vascular plant flora for their better recognition and characterization. Among the species varying in threat degrees, the authors identified species protected by law and endangered in Poland as well as globally. In addition, the participation of species diagnostic of individual phytosociological units was verified. Also, the share of taxa representing various geographical elements was indicated.
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