Prof. Z. Czeppe Department of Polar Research and Documentation, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Department of Forest Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. 29-listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland.
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Jun 1;771:144834. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144834. Epub 2021 Jan 27.
The lichen Scots pine forests habitats are undergoing rapid disappearance across Europe. Due to the semi-natural character of this habitat and an increase of the nitrification as a result of air pollution, determination of factors responsible for the decrease in lichen field layer cover requires a comprehensive approach. Our study aimed to investigate environmental factors necessary for the determination of active protection measures in order to maintain this vulnerable habitat. Specifically, we aimed to investigate: 1) the environmental factors influencing lichen cover in the lichen Scots pine forests of Bory Tucholskie National Park; 2) the differences in habitat variables between sites with lichen-rich and bryophyte-rich field layers. In our study, we used vegetation and microhabitat properties data collected over three years of surveys, as well as ALS LiDAR data. Our results indicated that lichen and bryophyte cover, tree height, tree cover, thickness of organic matter layer, soil temperature and soil water content differed between lichen-rich and bryophyte-rich sites. We found a significant negative relationship between lichen cover recorded within the field layer and tree height. The lichen-rich field layer developed better in areas with lower tree height and thinner layer of organic matter, which created a favorable habitat conditions for lichen development. Our research revealed the previously unknown impact of tree height for the development of lichen field layer. These findings can be used to plan the active conservation measures of lichen Scots pine forests.
欧洲的石松欧洲赤松林生境正在迅速消失。由于这种生境具有半自然特性，并且由于空气污染导致硝化作用增加，因此确定导致地衣层盖度减少的因素需要综合方法。我们的研究旨在调查确定积极保护措施所需的环境因素，以维持这种脆弱的生境。具体来说，我们旨在调查：1）影响博里托赫齐国家公园石松欧洲赤松林地衣覆盖的环境因素；2）地衣丰富和苔藓丰富的生境之间的栖息地变量差异。在我们的研究中，我们使用了三年调查中收集的植被和微生境特性数据以及 ALS LiDAR 数据。我们的结果表明，地衣和苔藓的覆盖、树木的高度、树木的覆盖、有机物层的厚度、土壤温度和土壤水分含量在地衣丰富和苔藓丰富的地点之间存在差异。我们发现地衣记录在地表层内的覆盖与树木高度之间存在显著的负相关关系。地衣丰富的地表层在地衣发育良好的地区发展得更好，那里的树木高度较低，有机物层较薄，为地衣的发育创造了有利的生境条件。我们的研究揭示了树木高度对地衣地表层发育的先前未知影响。这些发现可用于规划石松欧洲赤松林的积极保护措施。
