Key message

Epiphytic lichens of remnant Atlantic oakwood trees, enclosed within a recently planted conifer matrix, show ability to survive early stages of woodland restoration (conifer removal).

Context

Atlantic oakwood, ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), supports important epiphytic lichens. Fragmented ASNW, historically in-filled with conifers, are now being restored to reflect ASNW tree and ground flora character. Concerns exist that sudden and total removal of the conifer matrix will be detrimental to the epiphyte diversity of remnant trees retained within the former plantation.

Aims

Here, we ask whether an unintended consequence of habitat restoration is the loss of epiphyte populations on remnant trees.

Methods

Dynamics of ground flora development were studied at one 50-ha site on the west coast of Scotland using indicator species occurrence and species traits. Change in cover of lichen species was determined and lichen vitality was assessed in two Lobaria species using chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy. Assessments pre-, post- and nine years after conifer removal were made in plantation areas (containing remnant oak trees) and ASNW areas.

Results

Re-vegetation of the ground flora was predominantly by ASNW vegetation. Species richness and occurrence of native woodland indicator species increased and the community showed stronger competitor traits. Lichen vitality was initially reduced but recovered. Tests showed change in the abundance of key lichen species and lichen community diversity was non-significant despite the loss of four lichen species on remnant trees.

Conclusion

Ground flora dynamics indicate site recovery was underway within eight years of restoration activities and epiphytic lichens although variable in response were in this study largely unaffected, this restoration approach could be appropriate for other Atlantic oakwoods where lichen conservation is an objective.

中文翻译：

---

在种植的古老林地遗址中残留的大西洋橡木树的附生地衣能否在林地恢复的早期阶段存活下来？

关键信息

残留大西洋橡木的附生地衣，封闭在最近种植的针叶树基质中，显示出在林地恢复（针叶树去除）的早期阶段存活的能力。

语境

大西洋橡木，古老的半天然林地 (ASNW)，支持重要的附生地衣。历史上充满针叶树的碎片 ASNW 现在正在修复以反映 ASNW 树和地面植物群的特征。存在的担忧是，针叶树基质的突然和完全移除将对保留在前人工林内的残余树木的附生植物多样性有害。

宗旨

在这里，我们询问栖息地恢复的意外后果是否是残余树木上附生植物种群的丧失。

方法

使用指示物种发生率和物种特征，在苏格兰西海岸的一个 50 公顷的地点研究了地面植物群的发展动态。确定了地衣物种覆盖的变化，并使用叶绿素荧光作为代理评估了两种Lobaria物种的地衣活力。在种植区（包含残余橡树）和 ASNW 区域进行针叶树移除前、后和九年的评估。

结果

地面植物群的重新植被主要是 ASNW 植被。本地林地指示种的物种丰富度和出现次数增加，群落表现出更强的竞争性状。地衣生命力最初下降，但又恢复了。测试表明，尽管残余树木上的四种地衣物种消失了，但关键地衣物种的丰度和地衣群落多样性的变化并不显着。

结论

地面植物群动态表明，在恢复活动和附生地衣的八年内，场地恢复正在进行中，尽管本研究中的响应变量在很大程度上不受影响，但这种恢复方法可能适用于以地衣保护为目标的其他大西洋橡树林。