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Epiphytic lichen communities in chestnut stands in Central-North Italy

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Abstract

Chestnut forest ecosystems represent an important component of the European Mediterranean basin and the Southern Alps landscape. Despite the good knowledge acquired in the phytosanitary and cultural aspects of chestnut, there is still a lack of data on the relationships between chestnut and epiphytes. We have investigated the changes in frequency of occurrence and species composition of lichen assemblages against the main site characteristics and environmental variables in chestnut woods along a bioclimatic and geographical gradient in Central-North Italy.

The study has highlighted a geographic gradient from the Western Alps to the Northern Apennines. We recorded a total of 152 taxa, only 49 of which occurring in all the bioclimatic zones. The distribution of lichen communities in chestnut stands is mainly associated with increasing precipitation and decreasing temperature, thus confirming the prevailing influence of macroclimatic factors on epiphytic lichens. The species composition statistically differs also in stands differently managed (orchards vs. coppices).

Chestnut woods host interesting communities, with rare species related to Lobarion, and can represent a good habitat for threatened epiphytic species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Colture Arboree, University of Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, I-10095, Grugliasco, Italy

    Enrica Matteucci & Deborah Isocrono

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica, University of Firenze, Via la Pira 4, I-50121, Firenze, Italy

    Renato Benesperi

  3. Botanic Centre Hanbury, DIP.TE.RIS., University of Genova, Corso Dogali 1M, I-16136, Genova, Italy

    Paolo Giordani

  4. Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, I-10125, Torino, Italy

    Rosanna Piervittori

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  1. Enrica Matteucci
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  2. Renato Benesperi
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  3. Paolo Giordani
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  4. Rosanna Piervittori
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  5. Deborah Isocrono
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Correspondence to Deborah Isocrono.

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Matteucci, E., Benesperi, R., Giordani, P. et al. Epiphytic lichen communities in chestnut stands in Central-North Italy. Biologia 67, 61–70 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0145-8

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