Genetic diversity, Population biology and Conservation status of an endangered primeval-forest lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria, in a East-West transect through Eurasia

Lobaria pulmonaria Photo: Ch. Scheidegger (WSL)

The analysis of within and among population genetic diversity will detect the geographic pattern of genetic diversity of Lobaria pulmonaria. Provenance experiments between the study areas will determine ecotypic adaptation of this endangered species and measurements of growth rates for both transplanted diaspores and adult thalli will identify regional characteristics of the life-cycle of this relatively fast growing foliose lichen. Population structure and life cycle-analyses will be compared between the endangered Lobaria pulmonaria and the very common species Hypogymnia physodes. Comparative floristic study will quantify the lichen diversity of the respective habitats. Heavy metal-analyses of the upper soil and epiphytic lichen species will quantify the environmental pollution in the areas and will indicate whether environmental pollution is a major threat to the sensitive epiphytic lichen flora.

Contact

• Christoph Scheidegger