Abstract
Lichenized fungi or lichens are organisms that have been little studied in the tropics and which distribution is affected by microenvironmental factors and substrate characteristics. The present study aimed to identify phorophyte specificity and microenvironmental preferences of corticolous lichens in five phorophyte species from premontane forest of the farm Finca Zingara in Cali, Colombia. For this, five individuals were selected from five tree species (phorophytes). Lichen species present in a 0.50x0.20m2 quadrant located in the trunk of each tree at a height of 1.3m were identified. Substrate parameters such as bark pH, Diameter Breast Height (DBH) and bark structure were measured. Also, microenvironmental factors including temperature, humidity and irradiance were determined. In order to detect phorophyte preferences, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and indicator species analysis were made. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assert the relationship between environmental variables and groupings found in the NMS. A total of 69 species of lichens were found, of which 37 were identified to species, 18 to genera and 14 were not determined because they were sterile or had no spores. NMS showed that some individuals of the same tree species were grouped alongside the analysis dimensions, and they were related with the factors of light intensity, temperature and DBH. Only three lichens with preference for certain tree species were found (Arthonia microsperma by Meriania sp., Cladonia ceratophylla and sorediado 8 by Clusia sp.), suggesting absence of phorophyte preferences. Thus, it can be concluded that lichens from the study area do not show phorophyte preference, but their distribution is affected by light, temperature and DBH.
Highlights
Los bosques montanos son uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados en Colombia, debido a la deforestación, el aumento de la agricultura, el pastoreo, las quemas y la sobreexplotación de sus recursos; esta situación se incrementa cada vez más con el aumento de la población, que gran parte se ubica en la región andina (Armenteras et al 2007)
The present study aimed to identify phorophyte specificity and microenvironmental preferences of corticolous lichens in five phorophyte species from premontane forest of the farm Finca Zingara in Cali, Colombia
Con base en los resultados del MRPP, no métrico multidimensional (NMS), análisis de la diversidad beta y de especies indicadoras, se puede decir que no hay una relación específica entre la especie de liquen y la del forófito, sino preferencias hacia características climáticas y del sustrato (Sipman & Harris 1989, Cáceres et al 2007)
Summary
Zona de estudio: El estudio se realizó en la finca Zíngara (coordenadas 3o32’ N-76o36’ W: entre los 1 900-2 000msnm), ubicada en el corregimiento de La Elvira, Municipio de Cali, a 4km de la vereda Km 18 (en la carretera que lleva desde éste corregimiento hasta Dapa), Colombia. El bosque presenta una pendiente de aproximadamente 30-60o (Giraldo 1988). Dado que a lo largo del camino las condiciones ambientales van a ser diferentes, se procedió a agrupar los árboles tal y como muestra la figura 1. Para la identificación de los especímenes, se siguieron las claves de líquenes neotropicales de Sipman (2006) y del género Coenogonium de Rivas-Plata et al (2006). En cada forófito se ubicó un cuadrante de 0.50x0.20m a 1.3m de altura desde la base y en el lado oriental del tronco. Adicionalmente, en cada unidad de muestreo se midió la humedad relativa, la temperatura ambiente (higrotermómetro digital) e irradianza (cuantómetro LI-1 000 DataLogger LI-COR), con dos mediciones en el día (una en la mañana y otra en la tarde). La estructura de la corteza fue estudiada en términos de la presencia de lenticelas, mediante el número de lenticelas por cm y el tamaño medio de éstas
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