Abstract
Current strategies for conservation reportedly suffer from an inadequate awareness of the drivers affecting lichen diversity, pointing to the need to fully develop a functional approach to lichen ecology. This study is an attempt to detect the drivers affecting functional diversity in the lichen flora of a volcanic Mediterranean area. Data on epiphytic lichen distribution were correlated with information coming from a GIS analysis. Species richness, functional diversity and indicator values of lichens species were analyzed as a function of altitude, bioclimatic patterns and land use patterns. Both taxonomic and functional diversity were found to increase with altitude, peaking at 600 m a.s.l. and slightly decreasing at higher elevations. A filtering effect of altitude on lichen growth-forms was detected at increasing altitude, with foliose isidiate lichens replacing crustose lichens with sexual reproduction, cyanobacteria replacing Trentepohlia as photobiont, and oligotrophic species linked to partially shaded environments gradually replacing species indicating eutrophic conditions. Forest stations impacted by low impact traditional agriculture tended to express higher lichen diversity compared to either undisturbed broadleaved forests or intensive orchards. These data demonstrate the need to integrate traditional low-impact agricultural practices in protected areas. Moreover, they provide the evidence that reanalyzing past and recent lichenological censuses with the proposed analytical tools may help previewing and driving the evolution of endangered ecosystems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aprile GG, Catalano I, Migliozzi A, Mingo A (2011) Monitoring epiphytic lichen biodiversity to detect environmental quality and air pollution: the case study of Roccamonfina Park (Campania Region - Italy). InTech—Air Pollution/Book 4. Cap 10:227–244
Aragón G, Belinchón R, Martínez I, Prieto M (2016) A survey method for assessing the richness of epiphytic lichens using growth forms. Ecol Ind 62:101–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.11.034
Aragón G, Martínez I, Hurtado P, Benítez Á, Rodríguez C, Prieto M (2019) Using growth forms to predict epiphytic lichen abundance in a wide variety of forest types. Diversity 11(4):51. https://doi.org/10.3390/d11040051
Asplund J, Wardle DA (2016) How lichens impact on terrestrial community and ecosystem properties. Biol Rev 92(3):1720–1738. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12305
Bässler C, Cadotte MW, Beudert B, Heibl C, Blaschke M, Bradtka JH, Langbehn T, Werth S, Müller J (2016) Contrasting patterns of lichen functional diversity and species richness across an elevation gradient. Ecography 39:689–698. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01789
Benítez A, Aragón G, González Y, Prieto M (2018) Functional traits of epiphytic lichens in response to forest disturbance and as predictors of total richness and diversity. Ecol Ind 86:18–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.12.021
Brown DH, Brown RM (1991) Mineral cycling and lichens: the physiological basis. Lichenol 23:293–307
Bruun HH, Moen J, Virtanen R, Grytnes JA, Oksanen L, Angerbjörn A (2006) Effects of altitude and topography on species richness of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens in alpine communities. J Veg Sci 17:37–46
Catalano I, Mingo A, Migliozzi A, Aprile G (2016) The lichens of Roccamonfina volcano (southern Italy). Nova Hedwigia 103:95–116. https://doi.org/10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2016/0337
Conti ME, Cecchetti G (2001) Biological monitoring: lichens as bioindicators of air pollution assessment - a review. Environ Pollut 114(3):471–492
de Bello F, Lavorel S, Diaz S, Harrington R, Cornelissen J, Bardgett DR, Berg M, Cipriotti P, Feld C, Hering D, Silva P, Potts S, Sandin L, Sousa JP, Storkey J, Wardle D, Harrison AP (2010) Towards an assessment of multiple ecosystem processes and services via functional traits. Biodivers Conserv 19:2873–2893. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9850-9
Díaz S, Lavorel S, de Bello F, Quétier F, Grigulis K, Robson M (2007) Incorporating plant functional diversity effects in ecosystem service assessments. PNAS 104:20684–20689. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704716104
Díaz S, Kattge J, Cornelissen J, Wright JI, Lavorel S, Dray S, Reu B, Kleyer M, Wirth C, Colin Prentice I, Garnier E, Bönisch G, Westoby M, Poorter H, Reich P, Moles A, Dickie J, Gillison A, Zanne EA, Gorné L (2016) The global spectrum of plant form and function. Nature 529:167–171. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16489
Ellis CJ (2012) Lichen epiphyte diversity: A species, community and trait-based review. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst 14:131–152
Ellis CJ (2019) Climate Change, Bioclimatic Models and the Risk to Lichen Diversity. Diversity 11:54. https://doi.org/10.3390/d11040054
Ellis CJ, Coppins BJ (2006) Contrasting functional traits maintain lichen epiphyte diversity in response to climate and autogenic succession. J Biogeogr 33:1643–1656
Ellis CJ, Coppins BJ (2010) Integrating multiple landscape-scale drivers in the lichen epiphyte response: climatic setting, pollution regime and woodland spatial-temporal structure. Divers Distrib 6:43–52
Ellis CJ, Eaton S, Theodoropoulos M, Coppins BJ, Seaward MRD, Simkin J (2014) Response of epiphytic lichens to 21st Century climate change and tree disease scenarios. Biol Cons 180:153–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.09.046
Galloway DJ (1992) Biodiversity: a lichenological perspective. Biodivers Conserv 1:312–323
Giordani P, Brunialti G, Bacaro G, Nascimbene J (2012) Functional traits of epiphytic lichens as potential indicators of environmental conditions in forest ecosystems. Ecol Ind 18:413–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.006
Giordani P, Incerti G, Rizzi G, Rellini I, Nimis PL, Modenesi P (2014) Functional traits of cryptogams in Mediterranean ecosystems are driven by water, light and substrate interactions. J Veg Sci 25:778–792. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12119
Giorgi F, Lionello P (2008) Climate change projections for the Mediterranean region. Glob Planet Change 63:90–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.09.005
Grytnes JA, Heegaard E, Ihlen PG (2006) Species richness of vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens along an altitudinal gradient in western Norway. Acta Oecolog 29:241–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2005.10.007
Hurtado P, Prieto M, Aragón G, Escudero A, Martínez I (2019) Critical predictors of functional, phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity are geographically structured in lichen epiphytic communities. J Ecol 107(5):2303–2316. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13189
ISPRA (2018) Carta della Natura della Campania 2018. https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/servizi/sistema-carta-della-natura/carta-della-natura-alla-scala-1-50.000/campania - Used file: Carta degli habitat (Carta della natura) 1:25.000
Jönsson MT, Ruete A, Kellner O, Gunnarsson U, Snäll T (2017) Will forest conservation areas protect functionally important diversity of fungi and lichens over time? Biodivers Conserv 26:2547–2567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-1035-0
Kappen L (1993) Plant activity under snow and ice, with particular reference to lichens. Arctic 46:297–302
Király I, Nascimbene J, Tinya F, Ódor P (2013) Factors influencing epiphytic bryophyte and lichen species richness at different spatial scales in managed temperate forests. Biodivers Conserv 22:209–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-012-0415-y
Kubiak D, Osyczka P, Rola K (2016) Spontaneous restoration of epiphytic lichen biota in managed forests planted on habitats typical for temperate deciduous forest. Biodivers Conserv 25:1937–1954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1169-8
Lange OL, Büdel B, Meyer A, Kilian E (1993) Further evidence that activation of photosynthesis of lichens by dry cyanobacterial lichens requires liquid water. Lichenologist 25:175–189
Lepš J, de Bello F, Lavorel S, Berman S (2006) Quantifying and interpreting functional diversity of natural communities: practical considerations matter. Preslia 78:481–501
Llop E, Pinhoa P, Matosa P, Pereira MJ, Branquinho C (2012) The use of lichen functional groups as indicators of air quality in a Mediterranean urban environment. Ecol Ind 13:215–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.06.005
Loppi S, Giordani P, Brunialti G, Isocrono D, Piervittori R (2002) Identifying deviations from naturality of lichen diversity for bioindication purposes. In: Nimis PL, Scheidegger C, Wolseley PA (eds) Monitoring with lichens—monitoring lichens. (Nato Science Series: IV) (Reprint Edition) pp 281–284 (ISBN 9781402004308)
Marini L, Nascimbene J, Nimis PL (2011) Large-scale patterns of epiphytic lichen species richness. Photobiont Depend Response Clim For Struct. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.010
Martellos S (2012) From a textual checklist to an information system: the case study of ITALIC, the Information System on Italian Lichens. Plant Biosystems 146(4):764–770. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2012.740088
Martinez I, Carreño F, Escudero A, Rubio A (2006) Are threatened lichen species well-protected in Spain? Effectiveness of a protected areas network. Biol Cons 33:500–511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.08.003
Médail F, Quézel P (1999) Biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean basin: setting global conservation priorities. Conserv Biol 13(6):1510–1513
Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, Da Fonseca GA, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858
Nascimbene J, Marini L (2015) Epiphytic lichen diversity along elevational gradients: biological traits reveal a complex response to water and energy. J Biogeogr 42:1222–1232. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12493
Nascimbene J, Brunialti G, Ravera S, Frati L, Caniglia G (2010) Testing Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. as an indicator of lichen conservation importance of Italian forests. Ecol Ind 10:353–360
Nascimbene J, Marini L, Ódor P (2013) Drivers of lichen species richness at multiple spatial scales in temperate forests. Plant Ecol Divers 5(3):355–363
Nascimbene J, Nimis PL, Ravera S (2013) Evaluating the conservation status of epiphytic lichens of Italy: A red list. Plant Biosyst 147(4):898–904. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2012.748101
Nieborer E, Richardson DHS, Tomassini FD (1978) Mineral uptake by lichens: an overview. The Briologist 81(2):226–246
Nimis PL (1990) Air quality indicators and indices. The use of plants as bioindicators and biomonitors of air pollution. In: Proceedings International Workshop on Indicators and Indices, JRC Ispra, EUR 13060 EN: 93–126. Colombo A, Premazzi G (eds)
Nimis PL (2016) The Lichens of Italy. A second annotated catalogue. EUT, Trieste
Nimis PL, Martellos S (2001) Testing the predictivity of ecological indicator values. A comparison of real and virtual relevés of lichen vegetation. Plant Ecol 157(2):165–172
Nimis PL, Martellos S (2017) ITALIC—the information system on Italian Lichens. Version 5.0. University of Trieste, Dept. of Biology. http://dryades.units.it/italic/index.php
Ódor P, Király I, Tinya F, Bortignon F, Nascimbene J (2014) Patterns and drivers of species composition of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in managed temperate forests. For Ecol Manag 306:256–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.07.001
Pike LH (1978) The importance of lichens in mineral cycling. The Bryologist 81:247–257
Pinho P, Bergamini A, Carvalho P, Branquinho C, Stofer S, Scheidegger C, Máguas C (2012) Lichen functional groups as ecological indicators of the effects of land-use in Mediterranean ecosystems. Ecol Ind 15:36–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.09.022
Pinokiyo A, Singh KP, Singh JS (2008) Diversity and distribution of lichens in relation to altitude within a protected biodiversity hot spot, north-east India. The Lichenologist 40(1):47–62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282908007214
Podani J (2001) SYN-TAX 2000. computer programs for data analysis in ecology and systematics. User’s manual. Scientia Publishing, Budapest
Rao CR (1982) Diversity and dissimilarity coefficients: a unified approach. Theor Pop Biol 21:24–43
Regione Campania (2001) Carta del’Utilizzazione Agricola della Campania. Campania Region. https://sit2.regione.campania.it/content/carta-utilizzazioneagricola-dei-suoli. Used shape file: cuas_2001.zip
Regione Campania (2009) Carta regionale dell'utilizzazione agricola del suolo. https://sit2.regione.campania.it/content/carta-utilizzazione-agricola-dei-suoli. Used shape file: ASCUAS2009.zip
Ricotta C (2005) A note on functional diversity measures. Basic Appl Ecol 6(5):479–486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2005.02.008
Roxburgh SH, Shea K, Wilson JB (2004) The intermediate disturbance hypothesis: patch dynamics and mechanisms of species coexistence. Ecology 85:359–371
Rubio-Salcedo M, Martínez I, Carreño F, Escudero A (2013) Poor effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network protecting Mediterranean lichen species. J Nat Conserv 21:1–9
Scheidegger C, Werth S (2009) Conservation strategies for lichens: insights from population biology. Fungal Biol Rev 23:55–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2009.10.003
Simpson EH (1949) Measurement of diversity. Nature 163:688
Sloof JE, Wolterbeek HT (1993) Interspecies comparison of lichens as biomonitors of trace-element air pollution. Environ Monit Assess 25(2):149–157
Tavşanoğlu Ç, Pausas JG (2018) A functional trait database for Mediterranean Basin plants. Sci Data 5:180135. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.135
Thor G (1995) Red lists—aspects of their compilation and use in lichen conservation. In Scheidegger C, Wolseley PA, Thor G (eds) Conservation biology of Lichenised Fungi 70(1): 29–39. Mitteilungen der Eidgenössischen Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft, Teufen (ISSN 1016-3158)
Violle C, Navas ML, Vile D, Kazakou E, Fortunel C, Hummel I, Garnier E (2007) Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos 116:882–892
Acknowledgements
We kindly thank the Ente Parco Regionale di Roccamonfina—Foce Garigliano for providing us with relevant information and logistical support during all the phases of the research.
Funding
This work was partly funded by the LANDSUPPORT project "Development of Integrated Web-Based Land Decision—Support System Aiming Towards the Implementation of Policies for Agriculture and Environment"—Grant agreement ID: 774234. It was also part of the project L.I.F.E. "Living in a Fringe Environment", ERC CoGrant 681673.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
AMig, IC, AMin and GGA conceived the work and wrote the manuscript. AMig performed the GIS analysis. IC organized and conducted the field work and identified the specimens. AMin is responsible for data analysis. GGA organized the field work, identified the specimens and supervised all the steps of the work.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Communicated by Anne Pringle.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Migliozzi, A., Catalano, I., Mingo, A. et al. Detecting the drivers of functional diversity in a local lichen flora: a case study on the extinct volcano of Roccamonfina (southern Italy). Oecologia 194, 757–770 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04790-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04790-x