Long-term biomonitoring of lichen and bryophyte biodiversity at Burnham Beeches SAC and global environmental change

Long-term monitoring began 20 years ago at Burnham Beeches Site of Special Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserve (NNR) and European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lying 40 km west of London as a consequence of the authorization of an application to extract gravel from an adjacent site lying n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Systematics and biodiversity 2010-06, Vol.8 (2), p.193-208
Main Authors: Purvis, O. William, Tittley, I., Chimonides, P. D. Jim, Bamber, Roger, Hayes, Peta A., James, Peter W., Rumsey, Fred J., Read, Helen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biomonitoring
bryophyte
climate change
episode
Hypogymnia physodes
Lecanora conizaeoides
lichen
pollution
public policy
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Summary:Long-term monitoring began 20 years ago at Burnham Beeches Site of Special Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserve (NNR) and European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lying 40 km west of London as a consequence of the authorization of an application to extract gravel from an adjacent site lying north of Slough Trading Estate. Dust monitoring (sticky pads) and photographic monitoring, recording and image analysis was instigated in 1992 on Parmelion communities to assess changes in lichen growth, health and community composition. Long-term monitoring identifies that the lichen flora on free-standing trees has undergone rapid expansion from a near dominance by the SO 2 -tolerant 'acidophyte' species Lecanora conizaeoides and Hypogymnia physodes following reductions in SO 2 concentrations. Long-term influences of low levels of eutrophication, gaseous pollutants (particularly globally rising background ozone concentrations) on lichen and bryophyte communities and succession under changing climatic conditions are unknown. Soil-plant relationships, lichen-invertebrate interactions and a pollution legacy must also be considered.
ISSN:1477-2000
1478-0933
DOI:10.1080/14772001003782088