Message - 7th IAL Symposium

The 7 th International Association for Lichenology Symposium 2012
(1A – O4) Submission ID: IAL0149-00001
FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES OF CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
IN THE NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK UK
Wolseley P. 1 , Sanderson N. 2 , Thues H. 1 , Eggleton P. 3
1 Botany, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
2 Self Employed, Southampton, United Kingdom
3 Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Understanding biodiversity patterns across a landscape is vital for setting conservation priorities. In
2010 a quantitative inventory of the New Forest National Park covering c. 57,100 ha in the south of the UK was
initiated in order to evaluate species distribution in a range of habitats and to provide a repeatable method with
which to assess changes over time. The mosaic of woodlands, heathlands and wetlands provided an opportunity
to compare ancient old-growth wood pasture with 19 th century plantations of native tree species, and the effects
of grazing, and isolation of sites on the distribution of lichens and saproxylic beetles, organisms that include
many species of high conservation value. The sampling method followed Bioassess in using random sampling
in 1 ha plots established within 6 land use types. Watercourses were sampled at 16 points along a 10 m stretch.
Within woodland plots 12 random points were established from a central point and nearest trees, lignum and
dead wood selected for lichen sampling using 20, 10x10 cms square quadrats. A similar method was used to
sample lichens on dry and wet heathlands. For invertebrates in each 1 ha plot three sampling methods were
used, pitfall trapping, Winkler bag extraction of leaf litter and hand sorting of soil pits. Results have shown that
diversity and frequency of species of conservation importance in both groups is significantly related to stand
age. Lichen diversity within the old growth plots occurs in stands with ancient Quercus trees, where grazing by
a range of large herbivores maintains glades and open spaces. There are significant differences between the
tree species, including between Quercus robur and Quercus petraea, an unexpected result, and indications that
distance to a source of propagules has an effect on the colonization of lichens of isolated 200 year old plantations.
These results are similar to those found for ground-dwelling beetles, although lichens show the patterns
more clearly. The heathland plots are locally rich in lichen species that are in decline in other areas of lowland
heath in Western Europe.
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1A-O