Variations in the growth rate of Cladonia lichens during long-term postfire successions in the north of West Siberia

Abstract

This paper presents the results of studying the Cladonia lichen postfire growth-rate dynamics in different zonal units of West Siberia. The relative growth rate of lichens in forest-tundra and taiga zones was assessed with regard to the pyrogenic factor. The growth rate varied from 1.2 mm/year at the early stage of recovery succession to 11.9 mm/year at the stage of the closed lichen cover. The variations in lichen growth rates at different stages of recovery were reliable in southern and middle taiga communities. In open forests and forest-tundra communities of northern regions, the growth rate of lichens was not characterized by significant changes.