Regular research paper

Epiphytic lichens diversity and chemistry in Scots pine forests along the transect from  Northern Finland to Southern Poland

Ljudmilla Martin, Juri Martin

Eurouniversity, Mustamäe tee 4, 10621 Tallinn, Estonia e-mail: martin@eurouniv.ee

Abstract: 

         Along the north-south transect crossing much of the distribution of the Pinus sylvestris forests in Europe, 22 epiphytic macrolichen species were identified. Three of them, Hypogymnia physodes, Imshaugia aleurites and Parmeliopsis ambigua had wide distribution. Analysis of chemical element contents in H. physodes and corresponding pine bark samples demonstrated relatively high correlation. Elements such as copper, nickel, cadmium, sodium and phosphorus had higher concentrations at the Kevo (FN1) site and lead, iron and sulphur content was higher at Polish forest sites in southern part of the transect.

Key words: Metals in epiphytic lichens, Scots pine transect