Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

More documents

Recommendations

Info

31 Scarlet-cup Lichen (Cladonia coccifera) growing on a peat bog, Rannoch Moor
C onservation It should be clear by now that a number of lichen habitats in Scotland are of international importance, being richer and more extensively developed than anywhere else in Europe. Happily, past threats from air pollution, inappropriate forestry, and sheer ignorance are receding fast. Unfortunately a new threat, global warming, is beyond the capability of national conservation bodies to counter and may already be responsible for the recent extinction of four high-alpine lichens, Bellemerea alpina, Brodoa intestiniformis, Snow Caloplaca (Caloplaca nivalis), Alpine Moss Pertusaria (Pertusaria bryontha) and the decline of several others. Nitrogen pollution arising from industry, agriculture and transport is increasingly causing concern. Vigilance is still required at a site level with regard to potentially damaging operations and changes. Examples of this are: • hydroelectric schemes, • ski development, • road projects, 32 • the spread of rhododendron, • lack of continuity of veteran trees, and • the decline of wayside trees. The promotion of lichen conservation in Scotland is shared by a number of organisations which keep in close contact despite lichenologists being thin on the ground. Most major threats get identified and their effects mitigated. The British Lichen Society recruits amateur and professional lichenologists, helps train them through courses, and holds field meetings to explore little-known areas. It has an active Conservation Committee, and provides generally stimulating conditions for those wishing to pursue the study of lichens. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh provides advice through its resident lichenologist, at present Dr Brian Coppins. Preserved specimens of most of Scotland’s lichens can be seen in the herbarium there. These provide a source of reference for both historical and modern records, and can help in identification work.
Page 1 and 2: Lichens naturally scottish There ar
Page 3 and 4: © Scottish Natural Heritage 2004 I
Page 5 and 6: Foreword Whilst Scotland's outstand
Page 7 and 8: VIII Lichen-covered oak trees at Ar
Page 9 and 10: 2 Orange Sea Star (Caloplaca verruc
Page 11 and 12: H ow lichens multiply and disperse
Page 13 and 14: 6 Inside a Harris tweed factory wit
Page 15 and 16: W hat’s in a name? Many Scottish
Page 17 and 18: T he exceptional Scottish climate L
Page 19 and 20: A ir as pure as wine? Most people a
Page 21 and 22: I mportant habitats for lichens T h
Page 23 and 24: The best lichen sites are on sunny,
Page 25 and 26: C aledonian pinewoods It is a myth
Page 27 and 28: Hazel stems covered in mosses, live
Page 29 and 30: A lpines galore Only a tiny fractio
Page 31 and 32: 24 The rare Goblin Lights (Catolech
Page 33 and 34: T he coast Several features combine
Page 35 and 36: Lichen heath in the stabilized dune
Page 37: B lanket bog Most level ground in t
Page 41 and 42: B iodiversity Action Plan and the R
Page 43 and 44: F inding out more about lichens Lis
Page 45 and 46: Also in the Naturally Scottish seri

Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?