Deborah Isocrono

Two foliose lichens as microfungal ecological niches

The assemblage of filamentous fungi ob- tained from two foliose lichens, Parmelia taractica and Peltigera praetextata, collected at the same site in a coniferous forest (Aosta Valley, Italy), was studied. Ten apparently healthy thalli of each species were subjected to four isolation techniques. A total of 117 fungal taxa (67 identified to genus or species) were obtained. Numbers of fungal taxa, numbers of iso- lates, and diversity indices were significantly different in the two lichens; some fungal taxa were significantly associated with only one species. Multivariate analyses (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) showed a tendency towards grouping of fungal as- semblages belonging to the same lichen species. These results indicate that some host specificity exists for the fungal colonizers. The range of isolated fungi included typical colonizers of leaves and the rhizo- plane-ectomycorrhizoplane, microhabitats that show some ecological and structural similarities with lichen thalli. Other taxa could be obligately lichenicolous, or even true mycobionts. It is suggested that the in- herent selectivity of isolation techniques may lead to underestimation of fungal populations associated in nature with Pa. taractica and Pe. praetextata.

Identifying Deviations from Naturality of Lichen Diversity for Bioindication Purposes

The results of many bioindication studies can be interpreted in terms of deviations from “normal/natural” situations (see chapter 1, this volume). The definition of “normality” or “naturality” is a very difficult one. Here, we shall consider as “natural” those areas which are free from heavy anthropization, and from long-distance transport of important pollution loads. Species richness, cover and frequency of epiphytic lichens are obviously different in different bioclimatic areas, which requires the development of different interpretation scales. The methodology presented here has been developed within the framework of a national programme sponsored by the Italian Environmental Agency (ANPA), to monitor the diversity of epiphytic lichens countrywide, following the approach proposed by Asta et al. (chapter 19, this volume).

Evaluation of Data Quality in Lichen Biomonitoring Studies: The Italian Experience

A total of 65 operators involved in lichen mapping studies in central and northwestern Italy underwent quality control tests during five lichen biomonitoring workshops organized between 1999and 2000. The results showed that 75% quantitative accuracy and90% quantitative precision can be regarded as satisfactory levels for lichen biodiversity data; 65% proved to be sufficientfor accuracy of taxonomic identification in the field. Average correct assignment of the interpretative naturality/alteration class was only 48.7%. The results indicated the need for taxonomic training.

Epiphytic lichen vegetation on Larix in the Italian Alps

Abstract A synthesis of the epiphytic lichen vegetation on larch in the Italian Alps is presented. Vegetation types are described on the basis of a numerical classification of 291 relevés. They can be compared to a few well-known phytosociological unions found in other parts of the Alps. Some communities are restricted to subalpine areas with continental climate. Despite the homogeneity of the substrate, the flora is rich, with 98 species, several of which are rare, and hence of interest from a conservational point of view.

Epiphytic lichen communities in chestnut stands in Central-North Italy

Chestnut forest ecosystems represent an important component of the European Mediterranean basin and the Southern Alps landscape. Despite the good knowledge acquired in the phytosanitary and cultural aspects of chestnut, there is still a lack of data on the relationships between chestnut and epiphytes. We have investigated the changes in frequency of occurrence and species composition of lichen assemblages against the main site characteristics and environmental variables in chestnut woods along a bioclimatic and geographical gradient in Central-North Italy.The study has highlighted a geographic gradient from the Western Alps to the Northern Apennines. We recorded a total of 152 taxa, only 49 of which occurring in all the bioclimatic zones. The distribution of lichen communities in chestnut stands is mainly associated with increasing precipitation and decreasing temperature, thus confirming the prevailing influence of macroclimatic factors on epiphytic lichens. The species composition statistically differs also in stands differently managed (orchards vs. coppices).Chestnut woods host interesting communities, with rare species related to Lobarion, and can represent a good habitat for threatened epiphytic species.

Biomonitoring in the evaluation of human impact: Use of lichen biodiversity, and moss accumulation of radioisotopes in an Alpine valley (Valle Orco, Piedmont, Italy)

ABSTRACT The environmental quality of the Valle Orco, partly comprised within the Gran Paradiso National Park, was investigated by evaluation of its epiphytic lichen biodiversity, and the accumulation of radioisotopes in the moss Hylocomium splendens. Three areas with different degrees of environmental quality were identified. A good correlation was observed between sites most exposed to human activities and those with the greatest deviation from environmental quality. Gamma spectrometry revealed the presence of 137Cs, though not at levels posing a threat to health.

Assessment of the conservation status of the mat-forming lichens Cladonia subgenus Cladina in Italy

Cladina species are likely to suffer the impact of human pressure, resulting in a potential, as well as currently unknown, extinction risk for some of them. In this study, we used herbarium specimen data and literature data combined with geographic information system (GIS)-based analyses to assess the threatened status of Italian Cladina species according to IUCN criteria. A total of 485 records, reported during the period 1833–2013, were evaluated. Biological traits, habitat requirements and distribution patterns were used to infer species extinction risk. Extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have been calculated at the national scale, based on a 2 km × 2 km cell grid. The potential threats for the taxa were assessed using a decision-support protocol in order to set conservation targets for taxa lacking population viability analyses and habitat modelling data. The species were assigned to the IUCN categories mainly using the geographical criterion B, related to species with restricted and fragmented distribution and continuous declining trend, but the species have been tested against the maximum number of criteria for which data were available and/or appropriate. This has provided an opportunity to discuss some basic aspects of the process of lichen red-listing, suggesting some methodological improvements for the mat-forming ones.

New and noteworthy lichens from the Western Italian Alps

Abstract Western Italian Alps (namely Piedmont and the Aosta Valley) are among the lichenologically best known regions of Italy with c.1200 species listed. However, despite the long temporal continuity of lichen studies, information is still geographically uneven and data on the occurrence and distribution of many species are missing. An opportunity to fill this gap is currently provided by ecological and applied studies that assess the response of lichen communities to environmental factors in terms of species richness and composition. This study reports species that are new or interesting records for the western Italian Alps or noteworthy mainly because of their conservation status provided by ecological and applied studies in Aosta Valley and Piedmont and by some recent floristic surveys. A list of 51 records referring to 47 species is reported and discussed; 20 species are new to the Aosta Valley, 17 are new to Piedmont and 11 species are reported for the first time in the Western Italian Alps, being new for both regions. More than 25% of the records derive from stonework biodeterioration studies providing noteworthy data due to substrata analysed. About 35% of records derive from both air pollution monitoring studies and research on lichen conservation in relation to forest management. Biomonitoring studies are based on robust sampling design that allows data to be compared across regions and time series, improving the information associated with floristic data. Research on epiphytic lichens in Italian forests, rapidly increasing in Italy in the last years, has contributed significant advances in lichen floristics in Italy and in modelling environmental factors that are relevant for lichen ecology and conservation.