Lichens biodiversity in Catalonia

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Keywords:

lichen definition, morphology, habitat, specific richness, threats.

Abstract

Lichens are lichenized fungi. These fungi have slowed down their growth rate and “cultivate” photoautotrophic organisms to obtain organic matter. Associated with the lichen thallus we also find a whole set of fungi, the lichenicolous fungi. Lichens in ecosystems act as primary producers. Many lichen thalli can accumulate secondary metabolites, of which more than a thousand different lichen substances have been described. In Catalonia, the habitats with a higher specific richness are the surfaces of rocks (saxicolous lichens) and the bark of trees (epiphytic lichens), and with a lower diversity we also find lichens on the ground (terricolous lichens). From the end of the 19th century up to the present, new findings have been made which increase our knowledge of lichen diversity in Catalonia. The most recent census, from 2019, reveals a specific richness of 1,502 lichens and 211 lichenicolous fungi. The threats that can negatively influence lichen specific richness are those derived from global warming – which affects temperatures and precipitation – atmospheric pollution and the destruction or alteration of habitats.

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