The main biogenic elements’ content in Lobaria pulmonaria cephalolichen thalli in different ontogenetic stages in the boreal forests of Karelia (Paanajärvi National Park)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The analysis of the main biogenic elements in the thalli of the epiphytic cephalolichen Lobaria pulmonaria of different ontogenetic stages was conducted. Thallus for research was collected in the spruce forests of the Paanajärvi National Park, which disturbance age varied from 190 to 270 years from the tree trunks (living and dead) of Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Sorbus aucuparia, Betula spp. Chemical analysis of thalli samples showed that N content increased (r = 0.43, p = 0.0039) and K content decreased (r = −0.42, p = 0.0046) in the ontogenetic stages from virginal 1 to senile. We revealed different elements were accumulated in lichen thalli, depending on the elements’ content in the substrate: C, K, Mn – in the young thalli, Ca, Cu, Zn – in old ones, Fe – in both groups. The results indicated the necessity to consider the ontogenetic stages of lichen thalli when analysing the element content, because the ignoring of this parameter can lead to results that did not reflect reality.