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Does snail grazing affect growth of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2006

Y. GAUSLAA
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (Urbygningen), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
H. HOLIEN
Affiliation:
Faculty of Social Sciences and Natural Resources, Nord-Trøndelag University College, P.O. Box 2501, N-7729 Steinkjer, Norway
M. OHLSON
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (Urbygningen), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
T. SOLHØY
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway

Abstract

Grazing marks from snails are frequently observed in populations of the old forest epiphyte Lobaria pulmonaria. However, grazing marks are more numerous in thalli from deciduous broadleaved forests than in thalli from boreal Picea abies forests, due to higher populations of lichen-feeding molluscs in deciduous stands. Here we tested for deleterious effects of snails on the lichens by transplanting 600 more or less grazed L. pulmonaria thalli from deciduous forests to snail-free P. abies forests. Subsequent measurements showed that growth rates were as high in thalli with many grazing marks as those without, suggesting that growth of mature lobes of L. pulmonaria are not inhibited by the recorded grazing pressure imposed by lichen feeding snails.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© British Lichen Society 2006

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