Abstract
Aim of the study: To investigate terrestrial bryophyte and lichen species richness and environmental factors affecting the composition of species. Area of the study: Four Boreal zone fixed dunes were selected in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia. Material and methods: Non-metric multidimensional scaling was performed to analyse distribution patterns and environmental factors like canopy cover, photosynthetically active radiation, soil organic horizon thickness and decomposition rates, soil volumetric water content, soil pH and electrical conductivity and soil nutrients correlated with bryophyte and lichen species composition. Main results: Thirty bryophytes and 22 lichens were found on 232 sample plots, the most frequent species were Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Dicranum polysetum Sw. ex anon., Cladonia arbuscula (Wallr.) Flot. and Cladonia furcata (Huds.) Schrad. The lichen species richness was highest on the slopes of the dunes and decreased towards the bottoms and tops; bryophyte species richness was higher on the bottoms and decreased towards the tops of the dunes. Research highlights: The composition of bryophytes and lichens is significantly influenced by the aspect and the location on the dune, light conditions, soil pH, soil salinity (measured as electrical conductivity) and volumetric water content, thickness of moderately decomposed organic horizon and vascular plant species cover. Keywords Inland dunes; terrestrial bryophyte and lichen communities; environmental factors; topography.
Highlights
During the last century in Europe, mainly due to urbanization and other human-related factors, a reduction of about 70% of the dune systems has been estimated (Mc Lachlan & Brown, 2006)
The average lichen species richness was the highest on the slopes of the dunes, while the highest average bryophyte species richness occurred on the bottoms of the dunes
The highest number of lichen species was identified as light-demanding while the light preference of bryophyte species was more variable
Summary
During the last century in Europe, mainly due to urbanization and other human-related factors, a reduction of about 70% of the dune systems has been estimated (Mc Lachlan & Brown, 2006). Vegetated dunes are complicated and fragile ecosystems which have a very high ecological and conservative value (Lemauviel et al, 2003; Van der Maarel, 2003). Lichens and bryophytes have principal functional importance on boreal zone inland dune forests (Ahti & Oksanen, 1990); bryophytes dominate the forest floor vegetation and play an important role in the water and carbon budgets and improve microenvironment (BondLamberty & Gower, 2007; Márialigeti et al, 2016) while lichens colonize open sand surfaces and create suitable conditions for vascular plants Maintenance of biodiversity is an integral part of sustainable forest management which is a desirable goal for most forest-related initiatives and legislative bodies. Assessment of biological diversity is essential for understanding forest ecology and measuring sustainable forest management binds conservation and enhancement of biological diversity (MCPFE Liaison Unit Vienna, 2002; Canullo et al, 2013). According to Pharo et al (1999) the bryophytes and lichens have different patterns of diversity compared to vascular plant species and management practices and conservation actions should take into account the specialty
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