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Dispersal Patterns of Terricolous Lichens by Thallus Fragments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

Thilo Heinken
Affiliation:
Institut für Systematische Botanik und Pflanzengeographie, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, D–14195 Berlin, Germany.

Abstract

Dispersal patterns from seven terricolous lichen species, with a high capacity for asexual reproduction by fragmentation (Cetraria muricata, Cladonia species), were studied in differing vegetation types in north-eastern Germany. Marked lichen thalli were fragmented by trampling. After 15 days the spread of thallus fragments was monitored. Whereas most of the fragments that were dispersed by wind remained within a 20-cm radius from the source, the maximal dispersal distance was 57 cm in a dry sand grassland and 68 cm in an open pioneer pine forest. Dispersal was negligible in a closed old-growth pine forest. Several fragmented lichen cushions were disturbed and removed by animals, and led to a maximal dispersal distance of 9·70 m. These results suggest that: (a) thallus fragments provide good short-distance dispersal in open vegetation, but are inefficient for long-distance dispersal, and (b) wind and animals are important factors for the dispersal of thallus fragments. For restoration management of man-made substrata, artificial introduction of lichen thalli is proposed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1999

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