Lichen Distribution Patterns in the Ecoregions of Italy

Abstract

An outline of the main distribution patterns of lichens in the ecoregions of Italy, accounting for their climatic, geographic, and environmental features, is still missing. On the basis of a GIS-based analysis, we summarized: (1) the main features (e.g., surface, climate, landscape, topographic heterogeneity, bedrock, eutrophication) of the 9 ecoregions adopted in ITALIC, the information system on Italian lichens, and (2) the patterns of richness, functional traits, and ecological requirements of lichens in the ecoregions. Our GIS-based analysis describes for the first time the main features of the 9 ecoregions adopted in ITALIC, highlighting differences which could explain the main lichen patterns. Overall, the exploration of the Italian lichen biota is still a work in progress, some regions being still underexplored, especially in the South, with new taxa being reported every year. Our research could provide a baseline for further advancements in the understanding of species richness and community composition of Italian lichens, at a regional scale.

Integrating dark diversity and functional traits to enhance nature conservation of epiphytic lichens: a case study from Northern Italy

“…Therefore, due to proportionally lower dark diversity and an expected faster future species loss in the high elevation forests, preservation of the existing biodiversity should be the conservation priority in those areas. For example, conservation priority should focus on larger mountain forests, due to their capacity to harbor a larger number of epiphytic lichen species (Martellos et al 2020), and on practicing non-intensive management of spruce forests in order to maintain microclimatic conditions, attenuating future macroclimatic changes and deaccelerating species loss (Nascimbene et al 2014).…”

Practice Must Be Backed up by Theory! A Special Issue on Plant Community Ecology

“…The results of Pesaresi et al [5] confirm that by using phenological behaviors described by NDVI time series, it is possible to separate and distinguish plant communities in an objective/instrumental way, thus overcoming the subjectivity intrinsic to the phytosociological method. In the same way, databases that allow classical floristic data to converge in big data sets are useful to understand and describe the big picture of the ecoregions [6].…”

“…This aspect shows how much there is still to be discovered on the topic of taxon congruence for habitat conservation. Linked with this topic, Martellos et al [6] describe, through a GIS-based analysis, the main patterns of richness, functional traits and ecological requirements in 9 ecoregions in Italy of another neglected taxon: lichens. An outline of the main distribution patterns of lichens in Italy's ecoregions can provide a baseline for further advancements in the understanding of species richness and community composition of Italian lichens at a regional scale.…”

Antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant potential of two dominant macro-lichen Dirinaria aegialita and Parmotrema praesorediosum collected from Similipal Biosphere Reserve of Odisha, India

“…It is a great source of bioactive secondary metabolites [1]. Approximately 20000 species of lichen have been recorded so far globally, which inhabits over 10% of the terrestrial surface [2,3]. Lichens have been used as foods, medicines, cosmetics, and other ethnobotanical reasons in modern facts from prehistoric to recent days [4].…”