Response of ground macrolichens to site factors, co‐existing plants and forestry in boreal forests

Tonteri, Tiina; Hallikainen, Ville; Merilä, Päivi; Miina, Jari; Rautio, Pasi; Salemaa, Maija; Tolvanen, Anne

doi:10.1111/avsc.12690

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…The decline concerns the large reindeer lichens (e.g., Cladonia arbuscula and C. rangiferina ), many smaller Cladonia species and other terricolous taxa such as Cetraria spp. The process is mainly driven by the higher competitive ability of bryophytes, especially large species (Tonteri et al, 2022; Økland et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resurvey studies of terricolous bryophytes and lichens indicate a widespread nutrient enrichment in German forests

Diekmann,

Heinken,

Becker

et al. 2023

J Vegetation Science

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QuestionsVegetation resurveys, both single studies and meta‐analyses, have predominantly been based on vascular plant data while bryophytes and lichens have largely been neglected. Our study aims to fill this gap and addresses the following research questions: has the overall species richness of terricolous bryophytes and lichens in forests changed over time? Which are the winners and losers among single species and ecological species groups? Do the results give a signal of the impact of nutrient enrichment, of changes in the light regime and of climate change?LocationDeciduous and coniferous forests in Germany.MethodsWe compiled 35 single resurvey data sets, including 1096 plots in total (each sampled twice). The time interval between initial surveys and resurveys ranged from 10 to 65 years. The differences between old and new plots were analysed with respect to the frequency of single species, total species richness, and the absolute and relative numbers of taxa in the species groups. Trend scores of species were related to ecological indicator values to identify the main environmental drivers behind the observed changes.ResultsTotal species richness did not systematically change, while pleurocarpous mosses had increased at the expense of acrocarpous mosses and, in coniferous forests, of lichens. Weak changes were generally observed in deciduous forests on base‐rich soils. In coniferous forests and in deciduous forests on acid soils, species with high nitrogen demand and high shade tolerance had increased, whereas those being typical for more infertile and open forest sites had decreased. There were trends towards a larger share of taxa with a more oceanic distribution.ConclusionsThe changes in the vegetation of terricolous bryophytes and lichens in the studied forests indicate nutrient enrichment and increasingly shady conditions in forests on acid soils, likely caused by nitrogen deposition and shrub layer closure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resurvey studies of terricolous bryophytes and lichens indicate a widespread nutrient enrichment in German forests

Diekmann,

Heinken,

Becker

et al. 2023

J Vegetation Science

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“…The general conclusion drawn by Roturier et al (2011) was that both the degree of initial disturbance caused by MSP and the re-establishment rate of reindeer lichens must be considered when estimating the effect of MSP on lichen loss for reindeer grazing over time. Tonteri et al (2022) analysed how lichen cover responds to forest management, site, and stand variables, and to co-existing plants, in different boreal vegetation zones in Finland. The study was based on a survey of understory vegetation cover in 1721 permanent sample plots on mineral soil on productive forest land.…”

Section: Ground Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A methodological issue in some studies is the difficulty to strictly distinguish the effect of MSP on ground vegetation from that of harvesting (Bergstedt et al 2008;Vanha-Majamaa et al 2017). A challenge to interpreting the results of the survey study by Tonteri et al (2022) is that the occurrence of lichens prior to MSP being carried out probably affected which MSP practice was selected, with less intensive MSP practices being used on sites with high initial lichen cover and ploughing on sites with low cover. In addition, there is some uncertainty about which types of sites were included as the non-prepared controls.…”

Section: Conclusion and Research Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impact of mechanical site preparation on mineral soils in Sweden and Finland — a review

Ring,

Sikström

2024

Silva Fenn

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Mechanical site preparation (MSP) is deliberate soil disturbance which is undertaken to improve the conditions for forest regeneration. Disc trenching and mounding are the dominant MSP practices currently used in Sweden and Finland. In this paper, the impacts of MSP on the soil, water quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ground vegetation of mineral soil sites in Sweden and Finland are reviewed. The practices considered are patch scarification, mounding, inverting, disc trenching, and ploughing, which together represent a wide range of soil disturbance intensity. The environmental effects of MSP in this region have not been studied extensively. The environmental impact of MSP derives from the process of creating microsites which involves horizontal and/or vertical redistribution of soil and soil mixing. This typically affects decomposition, element circulation and leaching, vegetation coverage and uptake of nutrients and water, and possibly erosion and sediment exports. Following disc trenching or mounding the effects on GHG emissions appear to be minor over the first two years. For a few years after disc trenching concentrations in soil water collected below ridges are higher than that below furrows for some elements (e.g., NO3-, NH4+, Mg2+, and total or dissolved organic C). The physical and chemical effects of ploughing remain detectable for several decades. There is little evidence about how the effects of forestry activities in upland areas on soil-water chemistry are transferred to adjacent surface water bodies, including what role streamside discharge areas play. MSP increases the tree biomass C store and may increase the total ecosystem C store. The impact of MSP on the cover and abundance of ground vegetation species depends on the composition of the original plant community, MSP intensity, and the establishment rate of different species. Species cover generally seems to decline for late succession understory species, while pioneer and ruderal species can benefit from the microsites created. Areas containing lichens which are used for reindeer forage require special consideration. More research is needed on the environmental effects of MSP, particularly regarding its long-term effects. Further efforts should be made to develop efficient site-preparation practices which better balance the disturbance intensity with what is needed for successful regeneration.

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“…Forest regeneration has been intensified using soil scarification and planting. In combination with fertilization and plantation of Lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta) , this has led to a densification of forest stands, which is a major contributing factor to the ground lichen decline with 71% since the 1950 (Sandström et al 2016 ; Tonteri et al 2022 ; Horstkotte et al 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adapted forest management to improve the potential for reindeer husbandry in Northern Sweden

Eggers

Roos

Lind

et al. 2023

Ambio

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In northern Sweden, improvements of grazing conditions are necessary for the continuation of traditional, natural pasture-based reindeer husbandry. Ground and tree lichen constitute the main fodder resource for reindeer during winter but have reached critically low levels. Using a forest decision support system, we prescribe adapted forest management to improve the preconditions for reindeer husbandry and compare outcomes with the continuation of current forest management. We found that adapted management increases the forest area with ground lichen habitat by 22% already within 15 years, while a continuation of current management would result in a further decrease in ground lichen. Tree lichen habitat can be retained and increased in all scenarios, which is important in a changing climate. Compared to a continuation of current practices, adapted management with significantly improved conditions for lichen resulted in a decrease in net revenues from wood production by 11–22%.

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Response of ground macrolichens to site factors, co‐existing plants and forestry in boreal forests

Cited by 6 publications

References 83 publications

Resurvey studies of terricolous bryophytes and lichens indicate a widespread nutrient enrichment in German forests

Resurvey studies of terricolous bryophytes and lichens indicate a widespread nutrient enrichment in German forests

Environmental impact of mechanical site preparation on mineral soils in Sweden and Finland — a review

Adapted forest management to improve the potential for reindeer husbandry in Northern Sweden

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