Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Rosentreter, Roger [1]. Lichen cover as an indicator of forest health:for the cedars of Lebanon. Lebanon is well known for their cedar forests (Cedrus). These trees are the symbol of the country and the cedar tree is on the national flag. There are only seven nature reserves in Lebanon to protect these trees and their ecosystem. Outside of these reserves most of the cedar forest habitats have been overgrazed and converted to perennial weedy forbs. The cedar forests occur on calcareous soils at higher elevations in Lebanon. These habitats have experienced a warming climate; it has changed abiotic conditions to favor growth of some lichen species. Some of the individual cedar trees in the Ehden Reserve are not growing well. The cedar trees with impaired health and slow growth are limited to specific ecological sites. The cedars that are in poor health grow more slowly and are a stable substrate for lichens, so the lichen cover increases greatly on these particular trees. This indicates poor forest health. Broader Impacts:
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1 - BLM Idaho State Office, Boise, ID, 83709
Keywords:
Lebanon
Lichens
Forest health
Cedrus.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 14
Location: Morrow/Hyatt
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 4:00 PM
Number: 14010
Abstract ID:99 | 