Original paper
Rare epixylic liverwort Odontoschisma denudatum occurrence and cover in relation to dead log and forest stand characteristics in coniferous forest landscape
Mežaka, Anna; Strazdiņa, Līga; Ligita Liepiņa, Ligita; Inohosa, Linda Gerra; Jansons, Āris; Nitcis, Māris
Nova Hedwigia Band 115 Heft 1-2 (2022), p. 65 - 78
57 references
published: Aug 15, 2022
manuscript accepted: Jun 8, 2022
manuscript received: Jan 4, 2022
DOI: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2022/0708
ArtNo. ESP050011501004, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Abstract: Coniferous forests play a significant role in rare wood-inhabiting bryophyte distribution. We studied the rare epixylic bryophyte Odontoschisma denudatum occurrence probability and cover in relation to dead log and forest stand variables and found that dead logs without bark were significant predictors of both O. denudatum occurrence and cover. Odontoschisma denudatum occurrence probability was positively associated with dead log middle decay stages. A positive relationship was found between O. denudatum cover and dead log length but not with dead log diameter. The probability of finding O. denudatum substantially increased in forest stands older than 100 years. The cover of O. denudatum also significantly increased with forest stand area. Our results suggest that old-growth continuous forests are important for the conservation of O. denudatum metapopulations in the coniferous forest landscape. We recommend reducing forest stand fragmentation and initiating the monitoring of rare epixylic bryophyte metapopulations.
Keywords
epixylic liverworts • coniferous forests • dead log • rare species • ecology • bryophytes