Biodiversity and conservation of terricolous lichens and bryophytes in continental lowlands of northern Italy: the role of different dry habitat types

Abstract

In dry habitats of European lowlands terricolous lichens and bryophytes are almost neglected in conservation practises, even if they may strongly contribute to biodiversity. This study aims at (a) testing the role of heathlands, acidic and calcareous dry grasslands for lichen and bryophyte diversity and conservation in lowland areas of northern Italy characterized by high human impact and habitat fragmentation; (b) detecting the effect of environmental drivers and vegetation dynamics on species richness and composition. Lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, and environmental variables were recorded in 287 circular plots for 75 sites. Our results indicate that heathlands, acidic and calcareous dry grasslands host peculiar terricolous lichen and bryophyte communities that include several species of conservation concern. Thus, each habitat provides a complementary contribution to lichen and bryophyte diversity in continental lowland landscapes. Furthermore, in each habitat different factors drive species richness and composition with contrasting patterns between lichens and bryophytes. In terms of conservation, our results indicate that management of lowland dry habitats should act at both local and landscape scales. At local scale, vegetation dynamics should be controlled in order to avoid biodiversity loss due to vegetation dynamics and wood encroachment. At the landscape scale, patches of all the three habitats should be maintained to maximize regional diversity.

The lichen genus Cladonia in Monte Ceceri (Tuscany, Central Italy)

“…(2016) as a major threat to this species. However, also habitat loss may have negatively impacted the species, being one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss for terricolous lichens in lowland open dry habitats (Gheza & al. 2020b), due to vas-…”

“…C. peziziformis is a rare species that was reported recently in Italy only from sites hosting well-preserved open dry habitats in the western Po Plain (Gheza 2018b(Gheza , 2020Gheza & al. , 2020b.…”

A first lichen survey in Valle Imagna (Lombardy, Northern Italy)

“…2013a). The only attempt made in this geographic area applied to terricolous lichens in lowland dry habitats (Gheza & al. 2020), and therefore the development of this topic is still at the beginning and needs to be improved.…”

Microwave-Assisted Extraction and HPLC-UV-CD Determination of (S)-usnic Acid in Cladonia foliacea

“…C. foliacea spontaneously grows in inland sand dunes in the western Po Plain (Lombardy region, Nord Italy). Considering this, studies about this interesting species can lead not only to the valorization of our biodiversity but also to the conservation and protection of the open dry habitats, which typically host this and other Cladonia species [ 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”