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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Lichens are classified into different functional groups depending on their ecological and
physiological response to a given environmental stressor. However, knowledge on lichen response
to the synergistic effect of multiple environmental factors is extremely scarce, although vital to
get a comprehensive understanding of the effects of global change. We exposed six lichen species
belonging to different functional groups to the combined effects of two nitrogen (N) doses and direct
sunlight involving both high temperatures and ultraviolet (UV) radiation for 58 days. Irrespective of
their functional group, all species showed a homogenous response to N with cumulative, detrimental
effects and an inability to recover following sunlight, UV exposure. Moreover, solar radiation made
a tolerant species more prone to N pollution’s effects. Our results draw attention to the combined
effects of global change and other environmental drivers on canopy defoliation and tree death, with
consequences for the protection of ecosystems.
Description
Keywords
nitrogen pollution forest decay global change chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm ratio mediterranean ecosystems
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Morillas, L.; Roales, J.; Cruz, C.; Munzi, S. Resilience of Epiphytic Lichens to Combined Effects of Increasing Nitrogen and Solar Radiation. J. Fungi 2021, 7, 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7050333
Publisher
MDPI