Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne
Du är här: Hem // 2010 
TitelImportance of scale and density of oaks for oak-dependant lichens
NoEX2010-0030
UniversitetLinköping university
InstitutionIFM
HuvudsökandeDaphné Dumazel
Beviljat belopp 7 500
Sammanfattning
Understanding how a species respond to habitat factors at different scales is important to understand species distribution (Fischer & al 2004). Different species can respond in a differently to different environmental variables at different scales. That’s why studies at multiple scales are important: studies at a single scale to predict or evaluate population changes for a range of species can end up in incorrect conclusions (Lindenmayer 2000). Species can show different responses to habitat features at different spatial scales depending on a range of species and habitat characteristics (dispersal range, body size). Some studies about scale in ecology have been done but very few at multiple scales. The county of Östergötland is nationally and internationally important for the conservation of organisms associated with oaks. In these habitats, different processes are acting on different time scales and over different spatial scales. The variation in species respons to substrate density means that habitat loss and fragmentation will have different effects on species. Our species of interest are redlisted lichen species growing on old oaks. Our aim will be to understand the effect of oak density on the lichen’s spatial distribution and abundance. That will help us latter to make conservation and management plans for lichens and other species since lichens are often associated with other species, and know what density of old oaks they need. Our study will take place in the county of Östergötland, south-eastern Sweden and consists of patchily distributed large oaks in an area dominated by coniferous forests arable lands. The County Administration Board carried out an inventory of larges trees in Östergötland. The study will take place at 38 sites. In each site, we will sample 4 oaks for 11 selected lichen species, that is, 152 oaks in total. For each sampled oak in a site, we will calculate the oak densities at different radii, and describe the oak density for the site. These selected old-oaks dependant lichen species are nationally or regionally red listed. We will record species occurrence around the trunk of each oak at 60-160cm above ground level. Our results will permit us to see if there are some relationships between the density of oaks at different radii around the sampled oak and the abundance of lichens. We expect to find correlations between these variables. That could underline different dynamics in lichens distribution. The project will mean a large amount of field trips all over Östergötland, according to my estimations, I will cover about 3500 km which represent a lot of money. References: Fischer & al (2004). The challenge of managing multiple species at multiple scales: reptiles in an Australian grazing landscape. J. Appl. Ecol., 41, 32–44. Lindenmayer, D.B (2000). Factors at multiple scales affecting distribution patterns and their implications for animal conservation: Leadbeater’s possum as a case study. Biodivers. Conserv., 9, 15–35.