• biodiversity conservation
• chlorophyll fluorescence
• lichens
• mediterranean forests
• threatened species
• translocations

Forest management practices, even when legal, can threaten sensitive epiphytic species, including lichens, which play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Lobaria pulmonaria, an epiphytic forest macrolichen, is widely recognized as a model organism in conservation biology and a flagship species for lichen preservation. This highly sensitive species serves as an umbrella species, reflecting the health and continuity of forest ecosystems.
This study, conducted within the framework of the PRIN PNRR project BioConLobaria, incorporates two types of thallus propagules - meristematic (young) and adult thallus fragments - as well as different seasons for the translocation experiment, to improve translocation techniques that can ensure the highest vitality and survival of sensitive lichens. The research simulates seasonal translocations by transplanting the model species from control sites into: 1) mature, undisturbed oak, chestnut, and beech forests, and 2) disturbed environments, such as logged areas with isolated trees of the same forest types, during spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This experimental setup is replicated across three distinct geographical areas in Italy.
The study aims to identify the most effective and least impactful opportunities, particularly regarding seasonality, for translocating Lobaria pulmonaria in Italian forests, with a focus on minimizing the negative effects of silvicultural practices.
Specifically, this work focuses on the Tuscany region and evaluates key physiological parameters of Lobaria pulmonaria, including thallus water-holding capacity, specific thallus mass, photosynthetic performance (chlorophyll a fluorescence), total chlorophyll content, and thallus growth using non-destructive methods to minimize impact on this threatened species.
The findings suggest that Lobaria pulmonaria exhibits detectable physiological responses to seasonal variations and subtle to forest management, highlighting its sensitivity to environmental changes. This study highlights the importance of forest management practices that preserve habitat integrity while supporting lichen conservation. The results provide practical information for enhancing the conservation of Lobaria pulmonaria and offer a framework for managing sensitive epiphytic lichens in forests ecosystems threatened by anthropogenic activities.