Wood-inhabiting lichens in the Gesäuse National Park

In the summer of 2005, on behalf of the Nature Conservation Department of the National Parks Gesäuse investigates the diversity of lichen societies on dead wood. The studies are part of surveys carried out with regard to planned stock transfer of forests to near-natural forests through the Steiermärkisches Landesforste. The lichenological mapping took place in 10 selected forest populations (two plots each), most of which were classified as close to nature, but also isolated forests were investigated. In total, 146 lichen lichens and 11 unpalenised fungal taxa (including 4 lichenicole fungi) were detected during the studies on dead wood. Species diversity varies between 8 and 33 taxa depending on the location, with an average of 19.8 species registered per recording area (100 m²). Some sites have proven to be particularly rich in wood-inhabiting lichen species.