2010/06/23 by O. W. Purvis, Ian Tittley, P.D.J. Chimonides +5 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Lichen and fungal ecology #Botany and Plant Ecology Studies #Bryophyte Studies and Records
paper · doi:10.1080/14772001003782088
openalex publication_date 2010/06/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Long-term monitoring began 20 years ago at Burnham Beeches Site of Special Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserve (NNR) and European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lying 40 km west of London as a consequence of the authorization of an application to extract gravel from an adjacent site lying north of Slough Trading Estate. Dust monitoring (sticky pads) and photographic monitoring, recording and image analysis was instigated in 1992 on Parmelion communities to assess changes in lichen growth, health and community composition. Long-term monitoring identifies that the lichen flora on free-standing trees has undergone rapid expansion from a near dominance by the SO2-tolerant ‘acidophyte’ species Lecanora conizaeoides and Hypogymnia physodes following reductions in SO2 concentrations. Long-term influences of low levels of eutrophication, gaseous pollutants (particularly globally rising background ozone concentrations) on lichen and bryophyte communities and succession under changing climatic conditions are unknown. Soil–plant relationships, lichen–invertebrate interactions and a pollution legacy must also be considered.