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Piret Lõhmus
Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 51005 Tartu, Estonia

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Journal article
Published: 22 November 2019 in Forests
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There is a critical gap in our knowledge about sustainable forest management in order to maintain biodiversity with respect to allocating conservation efforts between production forests and set-asides. Field studies on this question are notably scarce on species-rich, poorly detectable taxon groups. On the basis of forest lichen surveys in Estonia, we assessed the following: (i) how much production stands contribute to maintaining the full species pool and (ii) how forest habitat conditions affect this contribution for habitat specialist species. The field material was collected in a “semi-natural forestry” system, which mitigates negative environmental impacts of even-aged forestry and forestry drainage by frequently using natural regeneration, tree retention, and low intensity of thinnings. We performed standard-effort surveys of full assemblages of lichens and allied fungi (such as non-lichenized calicioid and lichenicolous fungi) and measured stand structure in 127 2 ha plots, in mainland Estonia. The plots represented four management stages (old growth, mature preharvest forests, clear-cut sites with retention trees, and clear-cut sites without retention trees). The 369 recorded species represent an estimated 70% of the full species pool studied. Our main finding was that production forests supported over 80% of recorded species, but only one-third appears tolerant of management intensification. The landscape-scale potential of production forests through biodiversity-friendly silviculture is approximately twice as high as the number of tolerant species and, additionally, many very rare species depend on setting aside their scattered localities. The potential is much smaller at the scale of individual stands. The scale effect emerges because multiple stands contribute different sets of sensitive and infrequent species. When the full potential of production forests is realized, the role of reserves is to protect specific old-growth dependent taxa (15% to 20% of the species pool). Our study highlights that production forests form a heterogeneous and dynamic target for addressing the biodiversity conservation principle of sustainable forest management.

ACS Style

Piret Lõhmus; Asko Lõhmus. The Potential of Production Forests for Sustaining Lichen Diversity: A Perspective on Sustainable Forest Management. Forests 2019, 10, 1063 .

AMA Style

Piret Lõhmus, Asko Lõhmus. The Potential of Production Forests for Sustaining Lichen Diversity: A Perspective on Sustainable Forest Management. Forests. 2019; 10 (12):1063.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piret Lõhmus; Asko Lõhmus. 2019. "The Potential of Production Forests for Sustaining Lichen Diversity: A Perspective on Sustainable Forest Management." Forests 10, no. 12: 1063.

Review article
Published: 06 September 2019 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Ecosystem restoration is gaining political and economic support worldwide, but its exact targets and costs often remain unclear. A key issue, both for predicting restoration success and assessing the costs, is the uncertainty of post-restoration development of the ecosystem. A specific combination of uncertainties emerges when ecosystem restoration would negatively affect pre-restoration species conservation values. Such dilemma appears to be common, but largely ignored in restoration planning; for example, in historically degraded forests, wetlands and grasslands that provide novel habitats for some threatened species. We present a framework of linked options for resolving the dilemma, and exemplify its application in extensive mire restoration in Estonia. The broad options include: redistributing the risks by timing; relocating restoration sites; modifying restoration techniques; and managing for future habitats of the species involved. In Estonia, we assessed these options based on spatially explicit mapping of expected future states of the ecosystem, their uncertainty, and the distribution of species at risk. Such planning documentation, combined with follow-up monitoring and experimentation, can be used for adaptive management, by funding organizations and for academic research.

ACS Style

Liina Remm; Asko Lõhmus; Eerik Leibak; Marko Kohv; Jüri-Ott Salm; Piret Lõhmus; Raul Rosenvald; Kadri Runnel; Kai Vellak; Riinu Rannap. Restoration dilemmas between future ecosystem and current species values: The concept and a practical approach in Estonian mires. Journal of Environmental Management 2019, 250, 109439 .

AMA Style

Liina Remm, Asko Lõhmus, Eerik Leibak, Marko Kohv, Jüri-Ott Salm, Piret Lõhmus, Raul Rosenvald, Kadri Runnel, Kai Vellak, Riinu Rannap. Restoration dilemmas between future ecosystem and current species values: The concept and a practical approach in Estonian mires. Journal of Environmental Management. 2019; 250 ():109439.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liina Remm; Asko Lõhmus; Eerik Leibak; Marko Kohv; Jüri-Ott Salm; Piret Lõhmus; Raul Rosenvald; Kadri Runnel; Kai Vellak; Riinu Rannap. 2019. "Restoration dilemmas between future ecosystem and current species values: The concept and a practical approach in Estonian mires." Journal of Environmental Management 250, no. : 109439.

Journal article
Published: 17 August 2019 in Nova Hedwigia
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Retention of live trees and dead wood structures in clear-cut sites is a common sylviculture measure for biodiversity purposes. We studied lichen assemblages on pine stumps and fine woody debris (FWD) in 16 post-cut (4–6 and 9–11 yr. old) dry boreal pine stands in Latvia to explore what type of substrata and stand-scale characters (e.g., retention level, time since harvest) are related to lichen species richness and differences in composition. We found 48 lichen species on stumps and 43 species on FWD. Majority of the species (except )Cladonia parasitica) were common lichens of coniferous forests in hemiboreal regions. Time since harvest and retention level had positive impacts on richness on stumps, but not on FWD. Increase in total species richness on stumps in older post-harvest sites compared to the younger ones was strong and relatively rapid. Notwithstanding species richness, assemblages on FWD and on stumps were distinct between older and younger cut sites. The impact of time also emerged when assemblages on vertical and horizontal stump surfaces were separated. We conclude that pine stumps are important to lichen richness and post-harvest recovery of the epixylic lichen biota, especially in the face of alarming scarcity of snags and logs in cut-over sites in Latvia, where dead wood legacies (particularly snags) are not retained in sufficient amount.

ACS Style

Rolands Moisejevs; Jurga Motiejūnaitė; Piret Lõhmus. Lichen assemblages on Scots pine stumps and fine woody debris in hemiboreal post-harvest sites: the impact of site age and green tree retention. Nova Hedwigia 2019, 109, 247 -266.

AMA Style

Rolands Moisejevs, Jurga Motiejūnaitė, Piret Lõhmus. Lichen assemblages on Scots pine stumps and fine woody debris in hemiboreal post-harvest sites: the impact of site age and green tree retention. Nova Hedwigia. 2019; 109 (1-2):247-266.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rolands Moisejevs; Jurga Motiejūnaitė; Piret Lõhmus. 2019. "Lichen assemblages on Scots pine stumps and fine woody debris in hemiboreal post-harvest sites: the impact of site age and green tree retention." Nova Hedwigia 109, no. 1-2: 247-266.

Journal article
Published: 29 July 2019 in Folia Cryptogamica Estonica
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The second assessment of the threat status of Estonian lichens based on IUCN system was performed in 2019. The main basis for choosing the species to be currently assessed was the list of legally protected lichens and the list of species assigned to the Red List Categories RE–DD in 2008. Species that had been assessed as Least Concern (LC) in 2008 were not evaluated. Altogether, threat status of 229 lichen species was assessed, among them 181 were assigned to the threatened categories (CR, EN, VU), while no species were assigned to the LC category. Compared to the previous red list, category was deteriorated for 58% and remained the same for 32% of species. In Estonia, threatened lichens inhabit mainly forests (particularly dry boreal and nemoral deciduous stands), alvar grasslands, sand dunes and various saxicolous habitats. Therefore, the most frequent threat factors were forest cutting and overgrowing of alvars and dunes (main threat factor for 96 and 70 species, respectfully). Eesti samblike punane nimestik 2019 2019. aastal viidi läbi teistkordne IUCN süsteemil põhinev Eesti samblike ohustatuse hindamine. Hinnati liike, mis on riiklikult kaitstud ning liike, mis 2008. aasta hindamise järgi olid Eestis kas regionaalselt välja surnud, kriitilises seisundis, väljasuremisohus, ohualtid, ohulähedased või puuduliku andmestikuga (kategooriad RE–DD). 2008. a-l kategooriasse Soodsas seisundis (LC) kuulunud liike ei kaasatud uude hindamisse. Kokku hinnati 229 samblikuliigi ohustatust, nendest 181 kuulusid ohustatud kategooriatesse (CR, EN või VU); ükski hinnatud liik ei sobinud kategooriasse LC. Võrreldes eelmise punase nimestikuga tõusis kategooria 58% liikidel ning jäi samaks 32%-l. Ohustatud samblikuliigid asustavad Eestis peamiselt metsi (eriti palu- ja salumetsi), loopealseid, liivikuid ning erinevaid kivi-kasvupindu. Seetõttu on sagedasemad ohutegurid metsaraie ning loodude ja liivikute kinnikasvamine (oluline tegur vastavalt 96 ja 70 liigile).

ACS Style

Piret Lõhmus; Liis Marmor; Inga Jüriado; Ave Suija; Ede Oja; Polina Degtjarenko; Tiina Randlane. Red List of Estonian lichens: revision in 2019. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 2019, 56, 63 -76.

AMA Style

Piret Lõhmus, Liis Marmor, Inga Jüriado, Ave Suija, Ede Oja, Polina Degtjarenko, Tiina Randlane. Red List of Estonian lichens: revision in 2019. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica. 2019; 56 ():63-76.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piret Lõhmus; Liis Marmor; Inga Jüriado; Ave Suija; Ede Oja; Polina Degtjarenko; Tiina Randlane. 2019. "Red List of Estonian lichens: revision in 2019." Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 56, no. : 63-76.

Journal article
Published: 02 July 2019 in Forest Ecology and Management
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Retention forestry is a silvicultural approach that can achieve both ecological and economic objectives in various forest ecosystems. It builds largely on the assumption that the live trees left unharvested (the main timber cost) effectively support ecological functioning of post-harvest forest. Such effectiveness can be understood as a combination of the initial ecological value of the tree (that may persist after tree death) and its survival, i.e., the prospect to develop into a high-quality veteran tree in the next forest generation. We assessed those aspects among >3000 live trees actually retained in 103 Estonian harvested sites and monitored over 16 years. We analysed how their survival and habitat value (estimated from tree morphology, confirmed by epiphyte surveys) translate to the veteran-tree perspectives. Only 48% of the trees were still alive after 16 years, and this final survival at the stand-scale was poorly predictable from a few years of monitoring. Only 12% retention trees had both high habitat value and high survival. Most trees (75%) were of low initial habitat value and, combined with low survival, almost 40% of all trees never provided quality habitat for tree-dwelling species. Nevertheless, we found considerable potential for post-harvest development of habitat value; notably in European nemoral hardwood species (such as Fraxinus, Quercus, Ulmus, Acer), which survived well but were usually in subcanopies at the time of the harvest. These findings indicate that retention forestry can improve also highly impoverished (e.g. short-rotation) forests, if analytical tools have been developed and applied to predict tree survival and future habitat quality.

ACS Style

Raul Rosenvald; Piret Lõhmus; Riinu Rannap; Liina Remm; Katrin Rosenvald; Kadri Runnel; Asko Lõhmus. Assessing long-term effectiveness of green-tree retention. Forest Ecology and Management 2019, 448, 543 -548.

AMA Style

Raul Rosenvald, Piret Lõhmus, Riinu Rannap, Liina Remm, Katrin Rosenvald, Kadri Runnel, Asko Lõhmus. Assessing long-term effectiveness of green-tree retention. Forest Ecology and Management. 2019; 448 ():543-548.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Raul Rosenvald; Piret Lõhmus; Riinu Rannap; Liina Remm; Katrin Rosenvald; Kadri Runnel; Asko Lõhmus. 2019. "Assessing long-term effectiveness of green-tree retention." Forest Ecology and Management 448, no. : 543-548.

Research article
Published: 12 December 2018 in PLOS ONE
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Finding standard cost-effective methods for monitoring biodiversity is challenging due to trade-offs between survey costs (including expertise), specificity, and range of applicability. These trade-offs cause a lack of comparability among datasets collected by ecologists and conservationists, which is most regrettable in taxonomically demanding work on megadiverse inconspicuous taxon groups. We have developed a site-scale survey method for diverse sessile land organisms, which can be analyzed over multiple scales and linked with ecological insights and management. The core idea is that field experts can effectively allocate observation effort when the time, area, and priority sequence of tasks are fixed. We present the protocol, explain its specifications (taxon group; expert qualification; plot size; effort) and applications based on >800 original surveys of four taxon groups; and we analyze its effectiveness using data on polypores in hemiboreal and tropical forests. We demonstrate consistent effort-species richness curves and among-survey variation in contrasting ecosystems, and high effectiveness compared with casual observations both at local and regional scales. Bias related to observer experience appeared negligible compared with typical assemblage variation. Being flexible in terms of sampling design, the method has enabled us to compile data from various projects to assess conservation status and habitat requirements of most species (specifically rarities and including discovery of new species); also, when linked with site descriptions, to complete environmental assessments and select indicator species for management. We conclude that simple rules can significantly improve expert-based biodiversity surveys. Ideally, define (i) a common plot size that addresses multiple taxon groups and management goals; (ii) taxon groups based on field expertise and feasible number of species; (iii) sufficient and practical search time; (iv) a procedure for recording within-plot heterogeneity. Such a framework, combined with freedom to allocate effort on-site, helps utilizing full expertise of observers without losing technical rigor.

ACS Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus; Kadri Runnel. A simple survey protocol for assessing terrestrial biodiversity in a broad range of ecosystems. PLOS ONE 2018, 13, e0208535 .

AMA Style

Asko Lõhmus, Piret Lõhmus, Kadri Runnel. A simple survey protocol for assessing terrestrial biodiversity in a broad range of ecosystems. PLOS ONE. 2018; 13 (12):e0208535.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus; Kadri Runnel. 2018. "A simple survey protocol for assessing terrestrial biodiversity in a broad range of ecosystems." PLOS ONE 13, no. 12: e0208535.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2018 in Folia Cryptogamica Estonica
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The lichenized fungi Cetrelia monachorum, Pelti­gera castanea and P. occidentalis are reported as new to Estonia after revision of herbarium samples; one further species, Peltigera frippi Holt.-Hartw., must be excluded from the list of Estonian lichens as a misidentification.

ACS Style

Polina Degtjarenko; Inga Jüriado; Piret Lõhmus. New Estonian records: Lichenized fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 2018, 55, 151 -154.

AMA Style

Polina Degtjarenko, Inga Jüriado, Piret Lõhmus. New Estonian records: Lichenized fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica. 2018; 55 ():151-154.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Polina Degtjarenko; Inga Jüriado; Piret Lõhmus. 2018. "New Estonian records: Lichenized fungi." Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 55, no. : 151-154.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2018 in Forest Ecology and Management
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ACS Style

Tea Tullus; Raul Rosenvald; Mare Leis; Piret Lõhmus. Impacts of shelterwood logging on forest bryoflora: Distinct assemblages with richness comparable to mature forests. Forest Ecology and Management 2018, 411, 67 -74.

AMA Style

Tea Tullus, Raul Rosenvald, Mare Leis, Piret Lõhmus. Impacts of shelterwood logging on forest bryoflora: Distinct assemblages with richness comparable to mature forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 2018; 411 ():67-74.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tea Tullus; Raul Rosenvald; Mare Leis; Piret Lõhmus. 2018. "Impacts of shelterwood logging on forest bryoflora: Distinct assemblages with richness comparable to mature forests." Forest Ecology and Management 411, no. : 67-74.

Journal article
Published: 05 February 2018 in Journal of Vegetation Science
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Questions(1) What is the impact of legacy structures on lichen assemblage development up to two decades post fire? (2) How does that impact vary among ecological groups? (3) Are charcoal inhabiting lichen assemblages regionally distinct?LocationHemiboreal pine forests in Estonia and middle-boreal pine forests in Eastern Finland.MethodsWe performed standard lichen surveys (4 hr effort per 2 ha plot; on all substrates 0–2 m from the forest floor) and measured forest structure in 18 burned sites (nine in Finland and nine in Estonia). The sites included both old (15–21 yrs) and recent (9 yrs) fires, and half of the latter had been harvested for timber. We analysed lichen assemblages (full assemblages and different ecological groups) in relation to site factors (general linear models for species richness; multivariate techniques for assemblage composition).ResultsLichen assemblages on burned sites (altogether 187 species recorded) were regionally distinct and, additionally, significantly affected by the large variation in legacy and regeneration abundance among sites. Species richness was negatively related to abundance of fallen trees 9 years after fire but the relationship was positive 15–21 years post fire; this pattern indicated a change from the initial damage effect to a substrate providing effect of the fire. Microlichens and vegetatively dispersing lichens appeared more sensitive to disturbance (including harvesting), whereas macrolichens were more responsive to substrate providing. The main structural influences on lichens inhabiting charred substrates (67 species recorded in total) were similar to the factors affecting the composition of full lichen assemblages.ConclusionsWithin 10 years post fire, initial disturbance-related damage to forest lichen assemblages becomes replaced by the dominance of substrate providing factors (legacies; regeneration). These damage and recovery phases differ among lichen groups, but are consistent between hemi- and middle-boreal regions. The availability of post-fire legacies, including charred surfaces, is of critical importance for the management of burned areas in modern landscapes.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ACS Style

Piret Lõhmus; Asko Lõhmus; Aino Hämäläinen. Rapid legacy-dependent succession of lichen assemblages after forest fires: Insights from two boreal regions. Journal of Vegetation Science 2018, 29, 200 -212.

AMA Style

Piret Lõhmus, Asko Lõhmus, Aino Hämäläinen. Rapid legacy-dependent succession of lichen assemblages after forest fires: Insights from two boreal regions. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2018; 29 (2):200-212.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piret Lõhmus; Asko Lõhmus; Aino Hämäläinen. 2018. "Rapid legacy-dependent succession of lichen assemblages after forest fires: Insights from two boreal regions." Journal of Vegetation Science 29, no. 2: 200-212.

Journal article
Published: 23 November 2016 in Folia Cryptogamica Estonica
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Ten lichenized fungi are reported as new to Estonia: Atla wheldonii, Bacidia coprodes, Bacidina assulata, Bacidina brandii, Candelariella lutella, Gyalidea fritzei, Piccolia ochrophora, Protoparmelia oleagina, Sclerophora amabilis and Strangospora deplanata. One lichenized fungus, Leptogium subtile, has been reported from Estonia earlier, but all the specimens of this species in the herbarium of University of Tartu appeared to be misidentifications; currently the species has one certain locality in Estonia.

ACS Style

Ede Oja; Julia Gerasimova; Ave Suija; Piret Lõhmus; Tiina Randlane. New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 2016, 53, 123 .

AMA Style

Ede Oja, Julia Gerasimova, Ave Suija, Piret Lõhmus, Tiina Randlane. New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica. 2016; 53 ():123.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ede Oja; Julia Gerasimova; Ave Suija; Piret Lõhmus; Tiina Randlane. 2016. "New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized fungi." Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 53, no. : 123.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2015 in Canadian Journal of Forest Research
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Harvesting stumps and logging residues for energy production may have negative impacts on forest species, especially those associated with dead wood. We assessed the potential impact of biofuel harvest on epiphytic lichens by studying the lichen assemblages on stumps and downed fine woody debris (FWD) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in clear-cut, mature managed, and old-growth forest stands in eastern Finland. We also examined the impact of tree retention level and prescribed burning on these assemblages. A total of 102 lichen species (including 13 red-listed species) were observed, with 95 species on stumps and 69 species on downed FWD. Composition of the species assemblages differed between stumps and downed FWD and between stumps of different age. Tree retention (in comparison with clear-cut sites) and prescribed burning resulted in a slightly higher species richness on cut stumps 12 years after harvest but did not affect the assemblages on downed FWD or older stumps. We conclude that stumps and downed FWD of Scots pine can host high numbers of lichen species, including red-listed ones. Most of the species occurred also on other substrates and are, therefore, not likely to be affected by biofuel harvest. However, for dead wood dependent lichen species, intensive biofuel harvest is potentially harmful, though the severity of this impact likely depends on the landscape-level availability of other woody substrates.

ACS Style

A. Hämäläinen; J. Kouki; Piret Lõhmus. Potential biodiversity impacts of forest biofuel harvest: lichen assemblages on stumps and slash of Scots pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 2015, 45, 1239 -1247.

AMA Style

A. Hämäläinen, J. Kouki, Piret Lõhmus. Potential biodiversity impacts of forest biofuel harvest: lichen assemblages on stumps and slash of Scots pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 2015; 45 (10):1239-1247.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Hämäläinen; J. Kouki; Piret Lõhmus. 2015. "Potential biodiversity impacts of forest biofuel harvest: lichen assemblages on stumps and slash of Scots pine." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45, no. 10: 1239-1247.

Journal article
Published: 11 November 2014 in Nordic Journal of Botany
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ACS Style

Inga Jüriado; Ede Leppik; Piret Lõhmus; Tiina Randlane; Jaan Liira. Epiphytic lichens onJuniperus communis- an unexplored component of biodiversity in threatened alvar grassland. Nordic Journal of Botany 2014, 33, 128 -139.

AMA Style

Inga Jüriado, Ede Leppik, Piret Lõhmus, Tiina Randlane, Jaan Liira. Epiphytic lichens onJuniperus communis- an unexplored component of biodiversity in threatened alvar grassland. Nordic Journal of Botany. 2014; 33 (2):128-139.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Inga Jüriado; Ede Leppik; Piret Lõhmus; Tiina Randlane; Jaan Liira. 2014. "Epiphytic lichens onJuniperus communis- an unexplored component of biodiversity in threatened alvar grassland." Nordic Journal of Botany 33, no. 2: 128-139.

Journal article
Published: 11 July 2014 in Folia Cryptogamica Estonica
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ACS Style

Tiina Randlane; Piret Lõhmus; Ljudmilla Martin; Ave Suija. New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 2014, 51, 135 .

AMA Style

Tiina Randlane, Piret Lõhmus, Ljudmilla Martin, Ave Suija. New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi. Folia Cryptogamica Estonica. 2014; 51 ():135.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tiina Randlane; Piret Lõhmus; Ljudmilla Martin; Ave Suija. 2014. "New Estonian records and amendments: Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi." Folia Cryptogamica Estonica 51, no. : 135.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2014 in Forest Ecology and Management
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ACS Style

A. Hämäläinen; Jari Kouki; Piret Lõhmus. The value of retained Scots pines and their dead wood legacies for lichen diversity in clear-cut forests: The effects of retention level and prescribed burning. Forest Ecology and Management 2014, 324, 89 -100.

AMA Style

A. Hämäläinen, Jari Kouki, Piret Lõhmus. The value of retained Scots pines and their dead wood legacies for lichen diversity in clear-cut forests: The effects of retention level and prescribed burning. Forest Ecology and Management. 2014; 324 ():89-100.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Hämäläinen; Jari Kouki; Piret Lõhmus. 2014. "The value of retained Scots pines and their dead wood legacies for lichen diversity in clear-cut forests: The effects of retention level and prescribed burning." Forest Ecology and Management 324, no. : 89-100.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2013 in Fungal Ecology
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ACS Style

Asko Lõhmus; Ave Suija; Piret Lõhmus. Intensive local surveys can complement rapid survey techniques to provide insights into the population size and ecology of lichenised fungi. Fungal Ecology 2013, 6, 449 -452.

AMA Style

Asko Lõhmus, Ave Suija, Piret Lõhmus. Intensive local surveys can complement rapid survey techniques to provide insights into the population size and ecology of lichenised fungi. Fungal Ecology. 2013; 6 (5):449-452.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Asko Lõhmus; Ave Suija; Piret Lõhmus. 2013. "Intensive local surveys can complement rapid survey techniques to provide insights into the population size and ecology of lichenised fungi." Fungal Ecology 6, no. 5: 449-452.

Research article
Published: 30 April 2013 in PLoS ONE
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Artificial drainage (ditching) is widely used to increase timber yield in northern forests. When the drainage systems are maintained, their environmental impacts are likely to accumulate over time and along accompanying management, notably after logging when new forest develops on decayed peat. Our study provides the first comprehensive documentation of long-term ditching impacts on terrestrial and arboreal biodiversity by comparing natural alder swamps and second-generation drained forests that have evolved from such swamps in Estonia. We explored species composition of four potentially drainage-sensitive taxonomic groups (vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, and snails), abundance of species of conservation concern, and their relationships with stand structure in two-ha plots representing four management types (ranging from old growth to clearcut). We found that drainage affected plot-scale species richness only weakly but it profoundly changed assemblage composition. Bryophytes and lichens were the taxonomic groups that were most sensitive both to drainage and timber-harvesting; in closed stands they responded to changed microhabitat structure, notably impoverished tree diversity and dead-wood supply. As a result, natural old-growth plots were the most species-rich and hosted several specific species of conservation concern. Because the most influential structural changes are slow, drainage impacts may be long hidden. The results also indicated that even very old drained stands do not provide quality habitats for old-growth species of drier forest types. However, drained forests hosted many threatened species that were less site type specific, including early-successional vascular plants and snails on clearcuts and retention cuts, and bryophytes and lichens of successional and old forests. We conclude that three types of specific science-based management tools are needed to mitigate ditching effects on forest biodiversity: (i) silvicultural techniques to maintain stand structural complexity; (ii) context-dependent spatial analysis and planning of drained landscapes; and (iii) lists of focal species to monitor and guide ditching practices.

ACS Style

Liina Remm; Piret Lõhmus; Mare Leis; Asko Lõhmus. Long-Term Impacts of Forest Ditching on Non-Aquatic Biodiversity: Conservation Perspectives for a Novel Ecosystem. PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e63086 .

AMA Style

Liina Remm, Piret Lõhmus, Mare Leis, Asko Lõhmus. Long-Term Impacts of Forest Ditching on Non-Aquatic Biodiversity: Conservation Perspectives for a Novel Ecosystem. PLoS ONE. 2013; 8 (4):e63086.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liina Remm; Piret Lõhmus; Mare Leis; Asko Lõhmus. 2013. "Long-Term Impacts of Forest Ditching on Non-Aquatic Biodiversity: Conservation Perspectives for a Novel Ecosystem." PLoS ONE 8, no. 4: e63086.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2012 in Nova Hedwigia
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ACS Style

Piret Lõhmus; Ede Leppik; Jurga Motiejunaite; Ave Suija; Asko Lõhmus. Old selectively cut forests can host rich lichen communities - lessons from an exhaustive field survey. Nova Hedwigia 2012, 95, 493 -515.

AMA Style

Piret Lõhmus, Ede Leppik, Jurga Motiejunaite, Ave Suija, Asko Lõhmus. Old selectively cut forests can host rich lichen communities - lessons from an exhaustive field survey. Nova Hedwigia. 2012; 95 (3-4):493-515.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piret Lõhmus; Ede Leppik; Jurga Motiejunaite; Ave Suija; Asko Lõhmus. 2012. "Old selectively cut forests can host rich lichen communities - lessons from an exhaustive field survey." Nova Hedwigia 95, no. 3-4: 493-515.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2011 in Silva Fennica
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ACS Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus. Old-forest species: the importance of specific substrata vs. stand continuity in the case of calicioid fungi. Silva Fennica 2011, 45, 1 .

AMA Style

Asko Lõhmus, Piret Lõhmus. Old-forest species: the importance of specific substrata vs. stand continuity in the case of calicioid fungi. Silva Fennica. 2011; 45 (5):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus. 2011. "Old-forest species: the importance of specific substrata vs. stand continuity in the case of calicioid fungi." Silva Fennica 45, no. 5: 1.

Journal article
Published: 15 October 2010 in Forest Ecology and Management
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Large uprooted trees are typical old-forest structures that provide distinct microsites for sessile organisms. While the habitat value of treefall pits for plants is relatively well known, the characteristic exposed root-plates of treefall mounds, which may require different management, have received less attention. The aim of the current study was to explore key factors of lichen incidence and their community characteristics on root-plates. We mapped and described treefall mounds in 24 stands (2 ha each) in a balanced design representing mixed stands of two site types (mesotrophic; drained swamp) and two management types (old growth, mature commercial forest) in hemiboreal Estonia. First, the occurrence of any lichens and of a specialized pin lichen, Chaenotheca furfuracea, was recorded on all 1207 mounds found. According to multi-level logistic regression models, their incidence depended on every mound-scale variable tested: there were independent positive effects of root-plate area and treefall age, spruce treefall, and the absence of exposed pit. In contrast, weak stand-scale effects only appeared when their interactions with mound-scale variables were included or some main effects were eliminated. C. furfuracea also occurred more frequently where other inhabited root-plates were nearby, and such dispersal limitation interacted with habitat quality. Secondly, full lichen communities were described in detail on a subsample of 84 root-plates of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Altogether 48 lichen species were recorded, including eight red-listed or nationally rare species. The communities on large fresh root-plates and in mature drained stands had distinct species composition, while communities of older mounds and in old-growth stands converged in species composition. We conclude that lichen incidence on root-plates is mostly determined by colonization probability, and commercial forests can support a diverse lichen biota when large treefall mounds, particularly of P. abies and of >10 years age are provided. However, given some differences of lichen communities in old growth, and because treefall issues conflict with other management objectives in commercial forests, optimised management of treefall areas there should be complemented by their strict protection in reserves.

ACS Style

Piret Lõhmus; Kristel Turja; Asko Lõhmus. Lichen communities on treefall mounds depend more on root-plate than stand characteristics. Forest Ecology and Management 2010, 260, 1754 -1761.

AMA Style

Piret Lõhmus, Kristel Turja, Asko Lõhmus. Lichen communities on treefall mounds depend more on root-plate than stand characteristics. Forest Ecology and Management. 2010; 260 (10):1754-1761.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piret Lõhmus; Kristel Turja; Asko Lõhmus. 2010. "Lichen communities on treefall mounds depend more on root-plate than stand characteristics." Forest Ecology and Management 260, no. 10: 1754-1761.

Journal article
Published: 30 April 2010 in Biological Conservation
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Live retention trees are expected to support the recovery of epiphytes in regenerating stands by retaining a part of the populations in cutover sites and receiving propagules from adjacent forests. So far, the research has been focused on immediate post-harvesting mortality caused by microclimatic stress while a broader perspective on epiphyte community dynamics is lacking. We studied lichen and bryophyte communities on the trunks of retention trees and adjacent forest trees in Estonia, where significant desiccation (particularly of bryophytes) had been documented within 2–3 years after timber harvesting. The resampling 5–6 years after harvesting indicated that, during the 3 years passed, (1) lichen species richness per surviving tree increased and bryophyte species richness stabilised, (2) there were no clear successional changes in the composition of the communities and (3) retention trees were more frequently colonised than forest trees. Most epiphyte extinctions between the sampling years were related to the death of trees (particularly in the forests because of harvesting) and stochastic disappearances of the smallest populations. Also, retention trees were very rarely colonised by species of conservation concern. We conclude that, in addition to addressing the microclimatic stress in the first post-harvesting years, crucial elements in sustaining epiphytic bryophyte and lichen populations in green-tree retention systems include careful selection of the retention trees and a supportive reserve network. The selection of the trees should assure representativity and long-term survival of local populations, while reserves should host the most demanding species and be stable colonisation sources in general.

ACS Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus. Epiphyte communities on the trunks of retention trees stabilise in 5years after timber harvesting, but remain threatened due to tree loss. Biological Conservation 2010, 143, 891 -898.

AMA Style

Asko Lõhmus, Piret Lõhmus. Epiphyte communities on the trunks of retention trees stabilise in 5years after timber harvesting, but remain threatened due to tree loss. Biological Conservation. 2010; 143 (4):891-898.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Asko Lõhmus; Piret Lõhmus. 2010. "Epiphyte communities on the trunks of retention trees stabilise in 5years after timber harvesting, but remain threatened due to tree loss." Biological Conservation 143, no. 4: 891-898.