Invasive alien species in Switzerland - Schweizer ...

An inventory of alien species and their threat to biodiversity and economy in Switzerland FOEN 2006 124
8 > Lichens (Lichen-forming fungi)
Prepared by Rüdiger Wittenberg
There are no lichens known to be introduced and established in Switzerland
(C. Scheidegger, pers. comm.). Lichens, with their extremely slow growth, seem illadapted
to human-mediated transport and the colonization of new regions. There is no
doubt that species must be introduced with timber, etc., but the step from introduction
to establishment has apparently not been achieved. Breuss (2002) mentions Anisomeridium
polypori (Ellis & Everh.) M.E. Barr as a neomycete for Austria. However,
recently described new species are not necessarily introduced. They could also have
been overlooked in the past, in particular as floristic research in microlichens does not
have a long history and is rather incomplete. Changes in the environment can also
favour some previously rare species, so that they become more abundant and widespread,
feigning a new arrival. Aptroot (1999) doubts the neomycete character of A.
polypori, instead assuming a wide natural distribution.
References
Aptroot, A. (1999) Notes on taxonomy, distribution and ecology of
Anisomeridium polypori. Lichenologist 31 (6), 641–642.
Breuss, O. (2002) Flechten. In: Essl, F. and W. Rabitsch (eds) Neobiota in
Österreich. Umweltbundesamt, Wien, pp. 214–221.