Epiphytic macrolichens in spruce plantations and native birch forests along a coast-inland gradient in North Norway

Around 10% of the natural coastal birch forest in North Norway has been converted to spruce plantations. However, little is known about the effects on the affected ecosystems. Our objective was to evaluate differences in macrolichen communities between spruce plantations and native birch-dominated f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Boreal environment research 2010, Vol.15 (1), p.43-57
Main Authors: WANNEBO-NILSEN, Kjersti, BJERKE, Jarle W, BECK, Pieter S. A, TØMMERVIK, Hans
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900
Agriculture disciplines: 910
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Forestry: 915
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Landbruks- og Fiskerifag: 900
Landbruksfag: 910
Marine and continental quaternary
Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400
Mathematics and natural science: 400
Plant geography: 496
Plantegeografi: 496
Skogbruk: 915
Surficial geology
Synecology
VDP
Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480
Zoology and botany: 480
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Around 10% of the natural coastal birch forest in North Norway has been converted to spruce plantations. However, little is known about the effects on the affected ecosystems. Our objective was to evaluate differences in macrolichen communities between spruce plantations and native birch-dominated forests. Canonical correspondence ordination shows that birch forests and spruce plantations host distinct macrolichen species compositions. Mean yearly temperature is the most important explanatory environmental variable. Sitka spruce plantations had the lowest recorded species number and diversity, which probably is a result of low-light conditions caused by very long branches. Mixed birch–Norway spruce stands had both highest species number and diversity. Oceanic sites generally have different species composition, and higher species number and bark pH than continental sites. Plantations cause changes in species compositions and partly also declines in species number and diversity, and hence, plantations are far from optimal for conservation of native epiphytic lichen communities.
ISSN:1239-6095
1797-2469