Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest
The effects of host tree identity on epiphyte lichen communities are a controversial issue, as the results obtained in different forest environments studied are not consistent. We investigated the host preferences for lichens in the laurel forest of Macaronesia. For this purpose, we analyzed the lic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1031 |
| _version_ | 1797472296094400512 |
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| author | Cristina González-Montelongo Israel Pérez-Vargas |
| author_facet | Cristina González-Montelongo Israel Pérez-Vargas |
| author_sort | Cristina González-Montelongo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of host tree identity on epiphyte lichen communities are a controversial issue, as the results obtained in different forest environments studied are not consistent. We investigated the host preferences for lichens in the laurel forest of Macaronesia. For this purpose, we analyzed the lichen communities growing on the four most common trees (Erica canariensis Rivas-Mart., M. Osorio and Wildpret, Morella faya (Aiton) Wilbur, Laurus novoca-nariensis Rivas-Mart., Lousa, Fern. Prieto, E. Días, J.C. Costa and C. Aguiar, and Ilex canariensis Poir. in Lamarck) in the laurel forest of the Canary Islands. The diversity, richness, and lichen composition showed a repetitive and common pattern with the functional traits studied. Although the existence of specificity with respect to the phorophyte species was not demonstrated, there was a clear affinity of the epiphytic lichens to the physico-chemical features of the bark (texture and pH), canopy architecture, foliar characteristics, etc. Our results highlight the importance of the natural diversity of tree species in the laurel forest. Due to the diversity and uniqueness of the lichen species that support each of the phorophytes, this fact should be taken into account in landscape protection and restoration actions, especially in those islands where the forest is highly fragmented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:59:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4796f475086545c99e99e1a406bf562d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:59:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-4796f475086545c99e99e1a406bf562d2023-11-24T00:46:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2022-09-01810103110.3390/jof8101031Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel ForestCristina González-Montelongo0Israel Pérez-Vargas1Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, SpainDepartment of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, SpainThe effects of host tree identity on epiphyte lichen communities are a controversial issue, as the results obtained in different forest environments studied are not consistent. We investigated the host preferences for lichens in the laurel forest of Macaronesia. For this purpose, we analyzed the lichen communities growing on the four most common trees (Erica canariensis Rivas-Mart., M. Osorio and Wildpret, Morella faya (Aiton) Wilbur, Laurus novoca-nariensis Rivas-Mart., Lousa, Fern. Prieto, E. Días, J.C. Costa and C. Aguiar, and Ilex canariensis Poir. in Lamarck) in the laurel forest of the Canary Islands. The diversity, richness, and lichen composition showed a repetitive and common pattern with the functional traits studied. Although the existence of specificity with respect to the phorophyte species was not demonstrated, there was a clear affinity of the epiphytic lichens to the physico-chemical features of the bark (texture and pH), canopy architecture, foliar characteristics, etc. Our results highlight the importance of the natural diversity of tree species in the laurel forest. Due to the diversity and uniqueness of the lichen species that support each of the phorophytes, this fact should be taken into account in landscape protection and restoration actions, especially in those islands where the forest is highly fragmented.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1031Canary Islandsepiphytic lichenlaurel forestMacaronesiaphorophyte |
| spellingShingle | Cristina González-Montelongo Israel Pérez-Vargas Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest Journal of Fungi Canary Islands epiphytic lichen laurel forest Macaronesia phorophyte |
| title | Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest |
| title_full | Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest |
| title_fullStr | Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest |
| title_short | Together Apart: Evaluating Lichen-Phorophyte Specificity in the Canarian Laurel Forest |
| title_sort | together apart evaluating lichen phorophyte specificity in the canarian laurel forest |
| topic | Canary Islands epiphytic lichen laurel forest Macaronesia phorophyte |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/10/1031 |
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