Lichen community structure and richness in three mid-elevation secondary forests in Costa Rica

Introduction: Lichen diversity, community structure, composition and species abundance have been used as indicators of the integrity ecological continuity tropical forest ecosystems. Objectives: To assess corticolous lichen composition, importance three forested stands differing in time abandonment how passive restoration influences assemblage. Methods: We surveyed individual lichens on tree stems a reference old secondary young (50 14-year-old natural regeneration after pasture abandonment, respectively), 35-year-old exotic cypress plantation, oriental Central Valley, Orosí, Costa Rica. Standard similarity indexes, value index were calculated. An NMDS analysis was performed structure parameters presence-absence matrix. Results: found 64 25 families with 42, 21, 23 species, 20, 10, 15 families, forests, respectively. Cryptothecia sp. possessed highest across sites. More than 87 % are rare. The combined IVI top were: 36, 48.5, 74.8 forests Cypress plantation sites, Overall, Arthoniaceae is families. had richness, but presented best evenness. Similarity diversity indexes suggest particularly low resemblance communities smooth gradient differentiation between which confirmed by test. homogeneity test identified great differences composition. Conclusions: This region contains distinctive assemblage resulting strong site, reflecting influence ecophysiological microclimatic factors that define establishment survival suggesting regional beta within fragmented landscape. Greater connectivity strategies resulted greater more heterogeneous both abandoned plantation. Protection fragments will maximize future forests.