Volume 16, August 2015, Pages 34–43
Highlights
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- We investigated biomass growth of the transplanted Cetraria islandica.
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- Differences between chemical compositions of the lichens thalli is examined.
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- Artificial dispersal of thallus fragments increases lichens cover and biomass growth.
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- The percentage cover and biomass growth depend on the initial lichens mass.
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- The process of transplantation doesn't influence the chemical quality of lichen.
Abstract
Changes in biomass growth and chemical composition of transplanted Cetraria islandica
lichen thalli were investigated in a natural stand in the Bory
Tucholskie region (northern Poland) over 3 yr. Transplants consisted of
either 3.85 or 7.88 g fragments, 12.62 g clumps, or control plots where
all vegetation and lichens were removed. The initial mass of C. islandica
significantly influenced the percentage cover of investigated lichens
at the study plots. At the last set of study measurements the highest
cover, biomass accumulation (4×) and mean final mass (31.99 g m−2) of C. islandica
were recorded at the study plots at which 7.77 g fragments were
transplanted. Analysis showed that the content of the determined
chemical compounds in each sample were similar. The potential influence
of other species growing at the study area on the occurrence of C. islandica
was also examined through monitoring species diversity in the cleared
forest floor plots. Altogether 18 species of plants and lichens were
recorded in study plots, and among most abundant species Dicranum polysetum and Pleurozium schreberi were observed. The mean percentage cover for C. islandica was 14.61 %.
Keywords
- Lichenized fungi;
- Lichens growth;
- Lichens mass;
- Secondary metabolites;
- Thallus fragmentation
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +48 061 8475601; fax: +48 061 8473668.
