Lichen recolonization in the city of Toruń

Together with the decreasing pollution load in the atmosphere, particularly with sulphur oxides, one can observe inhibition of the process of lichens’ biota impoverishment in areas with the increased anthropopressure. Since the end of the 1970s, in most of the cities of Western Europe, the process of recolonization by lichens has been observed. Recently, this phenomenon has been described also in Poland. As a consequence of lichenological researches, carried out in the city of Toruń between 2001 and 2010, as well as based on the literature data, one can confirm the first symptoms of the process of recolonization by these organisms within the city area. In this paper, the most spectacular examples are presented in order to illustrate the early process of recolonization by epiphytic lichens in the city of Toruń during the last 60 years

Lichen recolonization in the city of Toruń

Together with the decreasing pollution load in the atmosphere, particularly with sulphur oxides, one can observe inhibition of the process of lichens’ biota impoverishment in areas with the increased anthropopressure. Since the end of the 1970s, in most of the cities of Western Europe, the process of recolonization by lichens has been observed. Recently, this phenomenon has been described also in Poland. As a consequence of lichenological researches, carried out in the city of Toruń between 2001 and 2010, as well as based on the literature data, one can confirm the first symptoms of the process of recolonization by these organisms within the city area. In this paper, the most spectacular examples are presented in order to illustrate the early process of recolonization by epiphytic lichens in the city of Toruń during the last 60 years

Biota of lichens on the Zadroże Dune and its immediate surroundings

The present paper aims at describing the biota of lichens of the Zadroże Dune and its adjacent area in Toruń. The research on lichens was conducted during the years 2005-2006. The data on lichens come from my own research and literature. Altogether, the occurrence of 82 lichen taxa was recorded in the investigated area, including 74 species recorded during my own research. Due to the availability of habitats and substrata, terricolous species dominate here, mainly from the genus Cladonia and Cetraria. Particularly noteworthy are rare, endangered and protected species from this area e.g. Peltigera canina, Polyblastia agraria, Rinodina conradii and Stereocaulon condensatu

Epigeic lichens of different development stages of forest growing on the heathland

The study deals with the occurrence of epigeic lichens on the study plots with a varying percentage of Calluna vulgaris (L.) in different forest development stages on the heathland Glinki near the southern boundary of Toruń. Five plots were established in the gradient of the increasing density of pine. A total of 17 lichen species were identified, typical of this type of habitats, mainly from the genus of Cladonia, including e.g.: Cladonia arbuscula, C. furcata, C. gracilis, C. uncialis as well as Cetraria aculeata, C. islandica, and also Stereocaulon condensatum and Trapeliopsis granulosa . Two species, i.e. Cladonia digitata and C. portentosa occurred only on the heath. The light availability and the trophic status of the substrate determine this kind of distribution of lichens

Materials for biota of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the military area near Toruń, Poland

The paper presents the first species list of lichens and lichenicolous fungi found and identified in the artillery training area located near the city of Toruń. Lichenological studies were conducted in that area in 1998–2001 and 2009. A total of 100 taxa were identified, including 4 species of lichenicolous fungi, with particular emphasis on epigeic lichens – mainly from the genus Cladonia and Cetraria associated with heaths and arenaceous grasslands. The identified lichens include some threatened and protected taxa, i.a. Bryoria subcana, Cetraria islandica, Physconia distorta, Peltigera canina, P. polydactylon, P. praetextata, Ramalina fraxinea, Stereocaulon condensatum

Materials to the lichen biota of the hill in Folusz near Szubin (NW Poland)

A total of 37 lichen species were identified during the first lichenological research conducted in 2014 on the Folusz hill, including 28 taxa of epiphytes, 10 epixylic lichens and 4 common species of epigeic lichens. Historical sources contain only data on the occurrence of 13 taxa of epigeic lichens. In total, the list of lichens occurring in this area includes 48 species. No characteristic species of xerothermic grasslands were recorded at present or in the past

Notes on the genus Thelidium (Verrucariaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) in the Kujawy region (north-central Poland)

Thelidium incavatum, Th. minutulum, Th papulare, Th. rimosulum and Th. zawackhii have been identified from the Polish lowlands. Many sites of the above species are located in industrial and urban areas of the Kujawy region. The species are illustrated and described based on the examined material. An identification key to the species and thier distribution are provided

The preservation state of the flora and vegetation of the artillery range near the city of Toruń

The floral and phytosociological research conducted between 1998-2001 in the area of the artillery range shows that there are 460 different species, including 363 vascular plants and 96 algae, bryophytes and lichens. The aforementioned count includes 45 taxa that are fully or partially protected. In the investigated area there are 30 species of vascular plants and 13 lichen species endangered to a different extent, referring to the scale of the whole region, for example: Aster amellus, Prunella grandiflora, Bryoria fuscescens, B. subcana, Peltigera praetextata and Ramalina fraxinea. Out of 335 species recorded in the same area by German researchers in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, the occurrence of 270 species was confirmed by our research, which constitutes 80.6%. The following species are considered as extinct, since they were not found again in the area: Adenophora liliifolia, Cephalanthera damasonium, C. rubra, Dracocephalum ruyschiana and Gladiolus paluster. During the one hundred years, which separate the two research projects, 95 new species appeared in the studied area, mostly archaeophytes and kenophytes. According to the phytosociological research, there are 8 plant associations and one plant community in the unforested part of the range. Among the most rare associations, the following should be mentioned: Caricetum arenariae, Caricetum ligericae and Festuco-Koelerietum glaucae. Calamagrostietum epigeji, Corniculario-Corynephoretum, Arctostaphylo-Callunetum are typical associations of this area. The association Scorzonero purpureae-Stipetum joannis and the community of Salix acutifolia-Epipactis atrorubens are the most valuable ones. They will become the most endangered associations if the excessive pressure by the army or the highway construction should cease in the future. To preserve the particularly valuable species and plant associations, new active preservation forms should be introduced in the whole area of the artillery range, especially after cessation of the excessive military exploitation. A part of the artillery range called "Piaski" should be protected as a sanctuary because of the association Scorzonero purpureae-Stipetum joannis, which occurs only here

The importance of habitat islands in the preservation of relict xerothermic and calcicolous epigeic lichens based on the example of the “Ostnicowe Parowy Gruczna” nature reserve (N Poland)

The objective of this paper is to discuss the role of environmental islands isolated in the agricultural landscape in the pres- ervation of xerothermic and calcicolous epigeic lichens. The site of lichens associated with relict steppe vegetation, rare in northern Poland, has been preserved in the reserve “Ostnicowe Parowy Gruczna”. The list of lichen taxa identified in the study area comprises 16 species that are very rare in lowland, e.g. Gyalolechia fulgens, Heppia adglutinata, Squamarina lentigera, Endocarpon pusillum, Gyalolechia bracteata, Placidium squamulosum and Toninia sedifolia. In many places, the lichens associated with dry grasslands become extinct despite the optimum light conditions. These lichen species are sensitive to the impact of agriculture. Preservation of epigeic lichens’ localities is possible in specific habitat conditions when they are isolated from surface runoff of fertile farm water

An isolated site of calciphilous lichens in the Kujawy region

The paper presents a list of lichen species occurring in three quarries and on mine dumps located within the dust emission impact zone of the cement plant “Kujawy”. The species occur in the lowlands far from their natural localities on limestone rocks in southern Poland. The study area is therefore a valuable habitat island for epilithic and epigeic species of calciphilous lichens in central Poland. Particularly noteworthy are taxa characteristic of natural limestone rocks found in mountain areas of Poland: Verrucaria calciseda, Verrucaria nigroumbrina V. obfuscans and V. polysticta, as well as nine species from the Polish Red List of Lichens: Bacidia rubella, Caloplaca cf. cerina, Enchylium coccophorum, Endocarpon pusillum, Heppia adglutinata, Lempholema chalazanum, Goidanichia ambrosiana, Thelidium incavatum and Th. papulare