EPIPHYTIC LICHEN DIVERSITY IN CHESTNUT WOODS

In the frame of a project for the evaluation of epiphytic lichen diversity in forests, we studied chestnut orchards.
A random stratified sampling design based on climatic data was adopted for selecting sampling sites.
Three circular plots were established in each of the four study sites for a total of 77 reference trees.
Presence and frequency of epiphytic organisms were calculated by standard grids on basal and median part of the boles.
In these woods we recorded 63 lichen species, a value comparable to those found in coniferous forests in the same area.
Two main lichen communities can be separated following the species ecological requirements (substratum pH and eutrophication). Diversity values, species richness and occurrence differ among sites.

I European Congress on Chestnut – Castanea 2009

E. Matteucci, D. Isocrono, R. Piervittori

Castanea sativa, lichen communities, autoecological features, biodiversity, NW Italy

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.866.5