Zusammenfassung
Lichens are a key component of forest biodiversity. However, a comprehensive study analyzing lichen species richness in
relation to several management types, extending over different regions and forest stages and including information on site
conditions is missing for temperate European forests. In three German regions (Schwa¨bische Alb, Hainich-Du¨ n, Schorfheide-
Chorin), the so-called Biodiversity Exploratories, we studied lichen species richness in 631 forest plots of 400 m2 comprising
different management types (unmanaged, selection cutting, deciduous and coniferous age-class forests resulting from clear
cutting or shelterwood logging), various stand ages, and site conditions, typical for large parts of temperate Europe. We
analyzed how lichen species richness responds to management and habitat variables (standing biomass, cover of
deadwood, cover of rocks). We found strong regional differences with highest lichen species richness in the Schwa¨bische
Alb, probably driven by regional differences in former air pollution, and in precipitation and habitat variables. Overall,
unmanaged forests harbored 22% more threatened lichen species than managed age-class forests. In general, total,
corticolous, and threatened lichen species richness did not differ among management types of deciduous forests. However,
in the Schwa¨bische-Alb region, deciduous forests had 61% more lichen species than coniferous forests and they had 279%
more threatened and 76% more corticolous lichen species. Old deciduous age classes were richer in corticolous lichen
species than young ones, while old coniferous age-classes were poorer than young ones. Overall, our findings highlight the
importance of stand continuity for conservation. To increase total and threatened lichen species richness we suggest (1)
conserving unmanaged forests, (2) promoting silvicultural methods assuring stand continuity, (3) conserving old trees in
managed forests, (4) promoting stands of native deciduous tree species instead of coniferous plantations, and (5) increasing
the amount of deadwood in forests.
