Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization
Abstract Conservation of epiphytic lichens in managed forest landscapes relies on understanding limitations to their dispersal and establishment after harvesting. A hot spot for cephalo‐ and cyanolichens, the Kispiox inland temperate rainforest of British Columbia, Canada, is an example of where for...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3898 |
| _version_ | 1818333594138968064 |
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| author | Paula Bartemucci Erica Lilles Yngvar Gauslaa |
| author_facet | Paula Bartemucci Erica Lilles Yngvar Gauslaa |
| author_sort | Paula Bartemucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Conservation of epiphytic lichens in managed forest landscapes relies on understanding limitations to their dispersal and establishment after harvesting. A hot spot for cephalo‐ and cyanolichens, the Kispiox inland temperate rainforest of British Columbia, Canada, is an example of where forest managers seek silviculture options that allow for forest harvesting to continue, while also conserving threatened species. To characterize colonization of these lichens (including the nationally threatened Nephroma occultum and Lobaria retigera), we quantified thalli on 25‐year‐old regenerating spruce trees at varying distances from forest edges in logged openings of different sizes surrounded by mature (160 years) or old‐growth (≥350 years) forest. Lichen colonization 25 years after logging was influenced by distance from the forest edge, surrounding forest age, and opening size. Total mean colonization and number of species per three branches were 81 thalli and 8 species at the forest edge, declining to 18 and 4, respectively, approximately 50 m into the openings. Colonization of most species reached minimum levels within 80 m. Nationally threatened species and old‐forest associates had higher abundances and longer colonization distances in openings surrounded by old‐growth forests; whereas widespread species had greater colonization when surrounded by mature forests. Logged gaps <0.6 ha promoted higher and more diverse lichen colonization than clearcuts (>3.8 ha). This study demonstrates that forest managers should consider the spatial patterning of harvesting, with smaller openings and shorter distances between edges (likely in tandem with higher levels of retention) in forests rich in epiphytic lichens to facilitate their recolonization and conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T13:54:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a05c631e55641a59808186062d612d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T13:54:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a05c631e55641a59808186062d612d82022-12-21T23:42:59ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252022-01-01131n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3898Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonizationPaula Bartemucci0Erica Lilles1Yngvar Gauslaa2Gentian Botanical Research Smithers British Columbia CanadaBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development Smithers British Columbia CanadaFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås NorwayAbstract Conservation of epiphytic lichens in managed forest landscapes relies on understanding limitations to their dispersal and establishment after harvesting. A hot spot for cephalo‐ and cyanolichens, the Kispiox inland temperate rainforest of British Columbia, Canada, is an example of where forest managers seek silviculture options that allow for forest harvesting to continue, while also conserving threatened species. To characterize colonization of these lichens (including the nationally threatened Nephroma occultum and Lobaria retigera), we quantified thalli on 25‐year‐old regenerating spruce trees at varying distances from forest edges in logged openings of different sizes surrounded by mature (160 years) or old‐growth (≥350 years) forest. Lichen colonization 25 years after logging was influenced by distance from the forest edge, surrounding forest age, and opening size. Total mean colonization and number of species per three branches were 81 thalli and 8 species at the forest edge, declining to 18 and 4, respectively, approximately 50 m into the openings. Colonization of most species reached minimum levels within 80 m. Nationally threatened species and old‐forest associates had higher abundances and longer colonization distances in openings surrounded by old‐growth forests; whereas widespread species had greater colonization when surrounded by mature forests. Logged gaps <0.6 ha promoted higher and more diverse lichen colonization than clearcuts (>3.8 ha). This study demonstrates that forest managers should consider the spatial patterning of harvesting, with smaller openings and shorter distances between edges (likely in tandem with higher levels of retention) in forests rich in epiphytic lichens to facilitate their recolonization and conservation.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3898canopy retentioncyanolichensdispersalepiphytic lichensloggingtemperate rainforest |
| spellingShingle | Paula Bartemucci Erica Lilles Yngvar Gauslaa Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization Ecosphere canopy retention cyanolichens dispersal epiphytic lichens logging temperate rainforest |
| title | Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| title_full | Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| title_fullStr | Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| title_short | Silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation: Smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| title_sort | silvicultural strategies for lichen conservation smaller gaps and shorter distances to edges promote recolonization |
| topic | canopy retention cyanolichens dispersal epiphytic lichens logging temperate rainforest |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3898 |
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