Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage
Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage
Lichen carpet at Culbin Forest, Moray 33
B iodiversity Action Plan and the Red Data List In 1996 a Red Data Book of Lichens in Britain was published. It contained descriptions of 208 of Britain's rarest lichens. Each of these lichens was placed in one of the following four internationally recognised threat categories: Extinct (29), Critically Endangered (27), Endangered (30), Vulnerable (91) and Rare (31). Many are montane calcicoles but even more occur in sheltered valley woodland along the west coast where the combination of a high rainfall, cool summers and mild winters favours the development of communities rich in spectacular genera containing blue-green algae. To promote the conservation of 40 of the most important lichens, Scottish Natural Heritage funded indepth studies that involved the production of Biological Action Plans or Species Dossiers. These comprised a review of the literature, herbarium searches, and intensive fieldwork. The results were often surprising - certain species turned out to be more widespread than expected, for example, Stump Lichen (Cladonia botrytes, Gyalideopsis scotica) while others were in steep decline (Bacidia incompta, Cladonia peziziformis). When deciding on conservation priorities there is a difficulty. Should resources be directed towards saving species on the verge of extinction or are these at the edge of their range and unlikely to respond to conservation measures? It is probably wisest to concentrate on Scottish endemic species, the White Script Lichen Graphis alboscripta and Halecania rhypodiza, or those such as Norwegian Specklebelly (Pseudocyphellaria norvegica) for which Scotland is its European stronghold. 34
- Page 1 and 2: Lichens naturally scottish There ar
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- 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 and 38: B lanket bog Most level ground in t
- Page 39: C onservation It should be clear by
- Page 43 and 44: F inding out more about lichens Lis
- Page 45 and 46: Also in the Naturally Scottish seri
Lichen carpet at Culbin Forest, Moray<br />
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