The effect of landscape structure on distribution and abundance of Lobaria Pulmonaria

The objective of the current study was to analyse the effect of landscape structure (habitat size and exposure to farmland) on the occurrence and abundance of Lobaria pulmonaria, a foliose cyanolichen. Since the agrarian revolution during the 19th century the agricultural landscape has become increasingly fragmented resulting in isolated meadows and wood-pastures surrounded by farmland. Lobaria pulmonaria is one of the species being affected by this habitat change, much due to their dispersal limitations, specific habitat demands and susceptibility to air pollution. 36 localities of two different size classes (< 1.5 ha and > 4.5 ha) and two different exposure classes (exposed or unexposed to farmland) were studied. The occurrence, size of lichen thallus and height of lichen patches on tree trunks were significantly positively affected by habitat size and negatively affected by habitat exposure. The implications of these findings for strategies to manage and conserve L. pulmonaria in a fragmented landscape are discussed