Message - 7th IAL Symposium

1A-O
Lichen: from genome to ecosystem in a changing world
(1A – O14) Submission ID: IAL0004-00001
LICHEN CONSERVATION AS THE ELEMENT OF NATURA 2000
Dingová A. 1 , Valachovič M. 1
1 Department of Geobotany, Institute of Botany, Bratislava, Slovakia
Aeolian sands in Borská nížina lowland are unique landscape in Slovakia with many semi-natural elements
present. There so-called lichen steppes are presented with high biodiversity, and were therefore included
in NATURA 2000 as follows: 2340 Pannonic inland dunes (alliance Corynephorion canescentis Klika 1931), 4030
European dry heaths (alliance Euphorbio cyparissiacae-Callunion vulgaris Schubert ex Passarge in Scamoni
1963), and 6260 Pannonic sand steppes (association of Festucion vaginatae Soó 1938). Terrain research has
been carried out in the years 2009-2011 under the umbrella of the project LIFE06NAT/SK/000115. The aim of the
study was to define the most optimal and the less stressed management, which should guarantee conservation
of the NATURA 2000 localities. The object of the research has been to study the changing diversity and synusias
of the lichens according to the different management impacts. There were six main types formed according to the
growing shade to the moss and lichen layer: type 1 – open sand, type 2 – Pannonic inland dunes, type 3 – Pannonic
inland dunes with oak and pine stands, type 4 – European dry heaths, type 5 – Pannonic sand steppes,
type 6 – shaded places in the dense stands of oak and pine forests. There are significant differences between
the types in the study area. The highest diversity, abundance and stability were reported for types 2, 3 and 4
in the Pannonic inland dunes and European dry heaths. Management included cutting the trees and cleaning
by hands, little exporter with low weight or loading machine as well as spreading the surface on the open sand
stands. According to the study, the effect of the machines was visible. The weakest stress for lichens is clearing
after trees removal by hands or by little exporter with the low weight. Observed NATURA 2000 localities are occurred
on the open poor acid sand, so the highest priority should be cutting the trees and cleaning the wood after
the cutting. Data show that cutting and clearing of the stands was most important for the conservation of lichens
on nutrient poor open grassland vegetation.
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