Lichen Decline in Desierto de los Leones (Mexico City)

Abstract

We document the effect of Mexico City on the epiphytic lichens of Abies religiosa by comparing the communities occurring at Desierto de los Leones, a protected area near to the city, with those at El Chico National Park, a location 100 km upwind (or crosswind) from the city. The first community had 47% fewer species, 62% less lichen cover, and a species abundance pattern that revealed a highly disturbed community. The differences between these communities were greater at the trunk base than at the height of two m, and much stronger when evaluated from a species to species perspective. Among a variety of factors, site air quality may account for many of the observed differences.