Miscellaneous reports of lichenicolous fungi from Argentina including the new species Didymellopsis nephromatis

Two lichenicolous fungi are newly reported from Argentina: Myxophora leptogiophila (on Leptogium sp.) and Nectriopsis lecanodes (on Peltigera sp.). Didymellopsis nephromatis, found growing on Nephroma cellulosum, is described as new to science. A list of 60 lichenicolous fungi formerly known from the country is provided

Geographic mosaic of symbiont selectivity in a genus of epiphytic cyanolichens

Peer reviewe

Can retention forestry help conserve biodiversity?

Industrial forestry typically leads to a simplified forest structure and altered species composition. Retention of trees at harvest was introduced about 25years ago to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity, mainly from clearcutting, and is now widely practiced in boreal and temperate regions. Despite numerous studies on response of flora and fauna to retention, no comprehensive review has summarized its effects on biodiversity in comparison to clearcuts as well as un-harvested forests. Using a systematic review protocol, we completed a meta-analysis of 78 studies including 944 comparisons of biodiversity between retention cuts and either clearcuts or un-harvested forests, with the main objective of assessing whether retention forestry helps, at least in the short term, to moderate the negative effects of clearcutting on flora and fauna. Retention cuts supported higher richness and a greater abundance of forest species than clearcuts as well as higher richness and abundance of open-habitat species than un-harvested forests. For all species taken together (i.e. forest species, open-habitat species, generalist species and unclassified species), richness was higher in retention cuts than in clearcuts. Retention cuts had negative impacts on some species compared to un-harvested forest, indicating that certain forest-interior species may not survive in retention cuts. Similarly, retention cuts were less suitable for some open-habitat species compared with clearcuts. Positive effects of retention cuts on richness of forest species increased with proportion of retained trees and time since harvest, but there were not enough data to analyse possible threshold effects, that is, levels at which effects on biodiversity diminish. Spatial arrangement of the trees (aggregated vs. dispersed) had no effect on either forest species or open-habitat species, although limited data may have hindered our capacity to identify responses. Results for different comparisons were largely consistent among taxonomic groups for forest and open-habitat species, respectively.Synthesis and applications. Our meta-analysis provides support for wider use of retention forestry since it moderates negative harvesting impacts on biodiversity. Hence, it is a promising approach for integrating biodiversity conservation and production forestry, although identifying optimal solutions between these two goals may need further attention. Nevertheless, retention forestry will not substitute for conservation actions targeting certain highly specialized species associated with forest-interior or open-habitat conditions.Our meta-analysis provides support for wider use of retention forestry since it moderates negative harvesting impacts on biodiversity. Hence, it is a promising approach for integrating biodiversity conservation and production forestry, although identifying optimal solutions between these two goals may need further attention. Nevertheless, retention forestry will not substitute for conservation actions targeting certain highly specialized species associated with forest-interior or open-habitat conditions

Insights into the ecology and genetics of lichens with a cyanobacterial photobiont

Nature conservation requires an in-depth understanding of the ecological processes that influence species persistence in the different phases of a species life. In lichens, these phases comprise dispersal, establishment, and growth. This thesis aimed at increasing the knowledge on epiphytic cyanolichens by studying different aspects linked to these life stages, including species colonization extinction dynamics, survival and vitality of lichen transplants, and the genetic symbiont diversity in the genus Nephroma. Paper I reveals that local colonizations, stochastic, and deterministic extinctions occur in several epiphytic macrolichens. Species habitat-tracking metapopulation dynamics could partly be explained by habitat quality and size, spatial connectivity, and possibly facilitation by photobiont sharing. Simulations of species future persistence suggest stand-level extinction risk for some infrequent sexually dispersed species, especially when assuming low tree numbers and observed tree fall rates. Forestry practices influence the natural occurrence of species, and retention of trees at logging is one measure to maintain biodiversity. However, their long-term benefit for biodiversity is still discussed. The results of a 14-year transplantation study with the epiphytic Lobaria pulmonaria (paper IV) support the suitability of retention trees for species survival, especially if lichen thalli occur on north-facing sides. Lichens symbiotic nature requires the dispersal of both mycobiont and photobiont, which often occurs separately. Re-lichenization and symbiont selectivity are hence essential parts for lichen persistence. Using genetic markers, two papers (II & III) indicate that the 'choice' of the symbiotic partners in the genus Nephroma is not random, and that selectivity patterns vary between tree, local, and global scales. Particular symbiont associations are linked to geographical areas, and several lichen-forming fungi in Nephroma share tRNALeu (UAA) sequence-identical photobionts over a global scale. Relatively higher selectivity locally compared to globally indicated habitat preferences of particular symbiont combinations, but also a possible founder effect. While it still needs to be identified how and where lichen symbionts acquire their symbiotic partners, papers II and III support the idea that species form photobiont-sharing guilds, which possibly benefits their colonization success

Does the amount of trees retained at clearfelling of temperate and boreal forests influence biodiversity response?

<p><b>Abstract</b></p> <p>Clear-felling is one of the main methods used in many parts of the world for the production of pulp, timber and bioenergy, leading to a simplified forest structure and species composition. One of the measures to mitigate the impact of logging on biodiversity is the retention of trees at final harvest. Tree retention approaches in forestry are still rather new, although widely distributed across different continents. Several studies have been performed on the effects of retention trees on biodiversity but to date there is no evidence on the relation between the amounts of trees, i.e. the number, volume or area per ha retained, and the response of biodiversity.</p> <p>The overall aim of our review will be to provide forest practitioners and conservationists in temperate and boreal forests with more detailed recommendations regarding the amount of trees that should be retained in order to achieve positive effects for biodiversity compared to traditional clear-cutting.</p

Survival and Vitality of a Macrolichen 14 Years After Transplantation on Aspen Trees Retained at Clearcutting

Industrial forestry has caused large biodiversity changes in European boreal forests. One recently introduced conservation measure in production forestry is retention of trees at clearcutting to benefit flora and fauna. Aspen Populus tremula is often retained for conservation purposes since it is a key tree species for biodiversity with many associated species, a number of which are red-listed. Still, the importance to biodiversity of aspen trees retained at harvest is largely unknown. In 1994, a transplantation experiment with the old-growth forest indicator lichen Lobaria pulmonaria was set up on 280 aspens at 35 sites in east-central Sweden with a total of 1120 transplants, with the aim to assess the habitat suitability of retained aspens following harvest. After 14 years 23% of L. pulmonaria transplants remained, with a significantly higher survival on retained aspens than on aspens in the surrounding forest, especially on the northern side of stems. Transplants were also more vital on northern than on southern sides of stems. There was no difference in survival or vitality of transplants between dispersed aspens and aspens in groups. Results largely agreed with a re-inventory made already after two years but the importance of the north side of retention trees became evident for species survival only after 14 years, indicating that to gain deeper insights longer time-spans may be necessary. This study, which is the longest lichen transplantation time-series from a well replicated experiment so far published, shows that retention of trees at harvest may be an efficient conservation action

Can retention forestry help conserve biodiversity? A meta-analysis

Industrial forestry typically leads to a simplified forest structure and altered species composition. Retention of trees at harvest was introduced about 25 years ago to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity, mainly from clearcutting, and is now widely practiced in boreal and temperate regions. Despite numerous studies on response of flora and fauna to retention, no comprehensive review has summarized its effects on biodiversity in comparison to clearcuts as well as un-harvested forests. Using a systematic review protocol, we completed a meta-analysis of 78 studies including 944 comparisons of biodiversity between retention cuts and either clearcuts or un-harvested forests, with the main objective of assessing whether retention forestry helps, at least in the short term, to moderate the negative effects of clearcutting on flora and fauna. Retention cuts supported higher richness and a greater abundance of forest species than clearcuts as well as higher richness and abundance of open-habitat species than un-harvested forests. For all species taken together (i.e. forest species, open-habitat species, generalist species and unclassified species), richness was higher in retention cuts than in clearcuts. Retention cuts had negative impacts on some species compared to un-harvested forest, indicating that certain forest-interior species may not survive in retention cuts. Similarly, retention cuts were less suitable for some open-habitat species compared with clearcuts. Positive effects of retention cuts on richness of forest species increased with proportion of retained trees and time since harvest, but there were not enough data to analyse possible threshold effects, that is, levels at which effects on biodiversity diminish. Spatial arrangement of the trees (aggregated vs. dispersed) had no effect on either forest species or open-habitat species, although limited data may have hindered our capacity to identify responses. Results for different comparisons were largely consistent among taxonomic groups for forest and open-habitat species, respectively. Synthesis and applications. Our meta-analysis provides support for wider use of retention forestry since it moderates negative harvesting impacts on biodiversity. Hence, it is a promising approach for integrating biodiversity conservation and production forestry, although identifying optimal solutions between these two goals may need further attention. Nevertheless, retention forestry will not substitute for conservation actions targeting certain highly specialized species associated with forest-interior or open-habitat conditions