Altitude is a better predictor of the habitat requirements of epixylic bryophytes and lichens than the presence of coarse woody debris in mountain forests: a study in Poland

Abstract

Key message In order to preserve the continuity of epiphytic and epixylic cryptogamic flora, two things are essential: maintaining the near-natural character of a forest community in relation to the montane zonation and more sustainable forest management in relation to deadwood. Context Lichens and bryophytes are common species that inhabit dead wood. The relationship between their habitat requirements, which can be expressed by their Ellenberg indicator values and the characteristics of dead logs, are not yet known. Aims We formulated the hypothesis that altitude is positively correlated with the demands of species for higher light and lower temperature, while the decomposition stage of deadwood is positively correlated with species’ requirements for nutrients and moisture. Moreover, we assumed that there would be differences in the habitat requirements among specific groups of species, i.e., lichens, liverworts, and mosses. Methods A total of 629 logs that were colonized by bryophytes and lichens were analyzed in terms of their mean Ellenberg indicator values in order to determine whether there is a link between the location, decomposition of logs and the species’ environmental requirements. Results Altitude correlated with the moisture and nutrients in the habitats of liverworts and mosses and light and soil acidification only in mosses. Conclusions The obtained results demonstrate that the altitudinal distribution of epixylic species in a montane region is of greater importance than the deadwood properties like decomposition stage and moisture content.

Topographical Influence on Snag Distribution in a Subtropical Forest in South China

“…Our results showed that elevation is an important factor that limits snag distribution in the secondary forest ecosystems of the Kanghe Mountains, which agrees well with many other studies [18,[40][41][42][43]. The average DBH and basal area decreased as elevation decreased, which may be due to competition for limited resources.…”

“…Moreover, snags with larger diameters provide nests, perches, roost sites, foraging substrates, song posts, and escape cover for organisms such as amphibians, arthropods, birds, and small mammals [13][14][15][16]. When they fall, snags also offer germination and growth substrates for lichens, various types of fungi, and bryophytes [17,18].…”

Composition and Conservation Value of Epiphytic Lichen Communities on Common Ash in North-Western Alps: A First Assessment

“…The same pattern was detected for solar radiation: cluster 1 displayed solar radiation values higher than 1000 KW/m 2 , while the values of cluster 2 were substantially below this threshold (see Table S1). The association between elevation and solar radiation has been reported elsewhere, suggesting that elevation may be a good proxy for light availability in mountain environments [35]. Our results suggested that elevation and solar radiation were the environmental variables most associated with the differences detected between the lichen communities characterizing the two clusters of sites.…”

Monitoring of Buxbaumia viridis (Buxbaumiaceae, Bryophyta) in Calabria (southern Italy) with some historical and ecological notes

“…Relevant ecological variables explaining the occurrence of the species are rainfall, canopy closure, amount of necromass in a late state of decay, watercourses and altitude (Chmura & al. 2002).…”