The lichens of the Scottish native pinewoods

Abstract

During the last 30 years, 434 epiphytic lichen taxa have been recorded from the native pinewoods of Scotland. Of these lichens, about 219 have been recorded from the bark, lignum or stumps of pine (Pinus sylvestris) itself. Eighteen species are, in the British Isles, confined to these native pinewoods, which are themselves confined to the Scottish Highlands. A resume is presented of the habitats and niches available to lichens in the native pinewoods, using examples of the most characteristic species for each. The 'pinewood habitat' for epiphytic lichens is by no means restricted to pine, but also includes associated trees, shrubs and subshrubs, especially birch, rowan, holly, aspen, juniper and heather. The strong east-west variation in the composition of the lichen flora is outlined. By comparison of species lists from pinewood stands of known ancientness with those from mature plantations distant from the 'core' pinewoods, an additional c. 60 species can be considered as indicative of an ecological continuity of the pinewood habitat. From this pool of c. 77 species, a Native Pinewood Index of Ecological Continuity is presented as a useful tool for biodiversity assessments of pinewoods. © Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2006. All rights reserved.