Lichens and climate change
As a result of climate change, lichen species from southern Europe that prefer warmer climates are becoming more common in the Netherlands.
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Trends
Since 1989 there has been an increase in the lichen species that prefer warm climates, and a decrease in the lichen species associated with cool conditions. Climate change is thought to be responsible for this. No such changes were observed between 1979 and 1989.
Recent changes in species composition have been reinforced by ammonia pollution, because proportionally more of the northern species do not tolerate high levels of nitrogen and therefore decline faster.
Technical note
The data are from observations of lichens at a large number of sampling points in Utrecht province. The mean percentage of species per sampling point and per species group is shown. The species groups are: (1) northern species that occur primarily north of the Netherlands and in mountain areas; (2) species from cool temperate regions that are widespread in the northern hemisphere; (3) species from warm temperate regions that occur primarily south of the Netherlands; and (4) tropical species that often extend into warm temperate regions.
References
- Herk, C.M. van, A. Aptroot en H.F. van Dobben (2002). Long-term monitoring in the Netherlands suggests that lichens respond to global warming. Lichenologist, 34 (2): 141-154.
