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Benesperi, R./ L. Lastrucci/ J. Nascimbene 2013: Human disturbance threats the red-listed macrolichen Seirophora villosa (Ach.) Frödén in coastal Juniperus habitats: Evidence from western peninsular Italy. - Environmental Management 52(4): 939-945. [RLL List # 233 / Rec.# 35098]
Keywords: Community nestedness/ Conservation/ Dispersal limitations/ Epiphytic lichens/ Habitat continuity/ Indicator species/ Dispersal limitations/ Epiphytic lichens/ Habitat continuity/ Indicator species/ Nestedness/ Biodiversity/ Conservation/ Forestry/ Fungi/ Ecosystems/ abundance/ biodiversity/ bioindicator/ coastal zone/ community composition/ coniferous tree/ epiphyte/ habitat conservation/ human activity/ lichen/ nestedness/ Red List/ species occurrence/ species richness/ article/ coastal waters/ habitat patchiness/ habitat quality/ human impact (environment)/ indicator organism/ Italy/ Juniperus/ lichen (organism)/ nonhuman/ population abundance/ Seirophora villosa/ species composition/ species conservation/ species habitat/ species richness/ vegetation dynamics/ zonation/ Italy/ Tuscany/ Animalia/ Juniperus/ Seirophora villosa/ Tracheophyta
Abstract: In Europe, coastal dune systems with Juniperus spp. (Natura 2000 habitat code 2250) are a priority habitat for conservation according to the Natura 2000 policies. Currently, anthropogenic pressure is threatening the biodiversity of this habitat. While the impact of human pressure on animals and vascular plants is already documented, information is still scanty for other organisms such as epiphytic lichens. The main aim of this study is to test the effect of human disturbance on the occurrence and abundance of the red-listed macrolichen Seirophora villosa. We also tested the effect of human disturbance on the whole community of epiphytic lichens in terms of species richness and composition. The study was performed along the coast of Tuscany by comparing both disturbed and undisturbed Juniperus stands according to a stratified random sampling design. Our results provided evidence that in coastal systems the long-term conservation of the red-listed macrolichen S. villosa and its characteristic community composed by several Mediterranean species of conservation concern depends on the maintenance of undisturbed Juniperus habitats. Results also support the possibility of using S. villosa as an indicator species of habitat conservation importance and habitat integrity since its occurrence is predicted on nestedness in term of species composition, assemblages of species poor disturbed stands being subsets of those of richer undisturbed stands. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0081-1
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