How sensitive are epiphytic and epixylic cryptogams as indicators of forest naturalness? Testing bryophyte and lichen predictive power in stands under different management regimes in the Białowieża forest

Lichens prove to be highly sensitive indicators of forest naturalness, with their species richness significantly correlating with the degree of protection and historical features of forests. A study conducted across the Białowieża Forest in Poland demonstrated that lichen diversity was highest in the 100-year-old Białowieża National Park (BNP) and decreased in managed stands, while bryophyte diversity did not show a clear dependence on management regimes. The research involved sampling epiphytic and epixylic bryophytes and lichens from 180 plots representing different management/protection regimes and habitat types. It found that relic species of primeval forests and red-listed species were more frequent in protected areas, particularly in BNP for lichens and nature reserves for bryophytes. Structural features such as deadwood volume, undergrowth plant richness, tree layer diversity, shrub cover, and herb layer cover exhibited strong correlations with cryptogam species richness and cover. The study highlights the potential of lichens, especially, as reliable ecological indicators of forest status.

Czerepko, J., Gawryś, R., Szymczyk, R., Pisarek, W., Janek, M., Haidt, A., Kowalewska, A., Piegdoń, A., Stebel, A., Kukwa, M., & Cacciatori, C. (2021). How sensitive are epiphytic and epixylic cryptogams as indicators of forest naturalness? Testing bryophyte and lichen predictive power in stands under different management regimes in the Białowieża forest. Ecological Indicators, 125, 107532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107532