Lichen diversity in Dinaric refugia

Biodiversity can be assessed at different scales: as the number of habitats in an area, the number of species in a habitat, or the genotypic variation of a species. In addition, species can act as hosts of other organisms and thereby represent habitats themselves. In an integrative approach, this project investigates diversity of lichens and their fungal associates in glacial refugia of southern Dinaric mountains. The area is highly attractive for biodiversity studies, because it represents one of the last remaining large virgin forest areas in Europe, with varied topography and high density of varying habitats. Our preliminary data suggest that the number of lichen species is much higher than the presently known number would suggest. We plan to explore diversity of lichens and allied fungi using three approaches: (I) A comprehensive sampling of lichen species diversity, to be documented by a specimen-based database. (II) An evaluation of population genetic structure in three selected species, in conjunction with comparative biogeographical studies using available data. (III) A traditional and molecular assessment of lichenicolous fungi and other lichen associates in selected species. We found that the area is rich in lichen species which are rare elsewhere in Europe. Among them, some foliose species can occur in large and genetically diverse populations, which may reflect both old and also recolonizing genotypes. We also expect that a diversity of associated fungi can colonize those foliose lichens, when they can achieve high individual ages in undisturbed forests. This little explored niche may also include hitherto undiscovered species. We argue that the Southern Dinarides are a treasure case of fungal diversity, due to the landscape variation and the long history of undisturbed habitats.

Biodiversity can be assessed at different scales: as the number of habitats in an area, the number of species in a habitat, or the genotypic variation of a species. In addition, species can act as hosts of other organisms and thereby represent habitats themselves. In an integrative approach, this project investigates diversity of lichens and their fungal associates in glacial refugia of southern Dinaric mountains. The area is highly attractive for biodiversity studies, because it represents one of the last remaining large virgin forest areas in Europe, with varied topography and high density of varying habitats. Our preliminary data suggest that the number of lichen species is much higher than the presently known number would suggest. We plan to explore diversity of lichens and allied fungi using three approaches: (I) A comprehensive sampling of lichen species diversity, to be documented by a specimen-based database. (II) An evaluation of population genetic structure in three selected species, in conjunction with comparative biogeographical studies using available data. (III) A traditional and molecular assessment of lichenicolous fungi and other lichen associates in selected species. We found that the area is rich in lichen species which are rare elsewhere in Europe. Among them, some foliose species can occur in large and genetically diverse populations, which may reflect both old and also recolonizing genotypes. We also expect that a diversity of associated fungi can colonize those foliose lichens, when they can achieve high individual ages in undisturbed forests. This little explored niche may also include hitherto undiscovered species. We argue that the Southern Dinarides are a treasure case of fungal diversity, due to the landscape variation and the long history of undisturbed habitats.