TY - CHAP
T1 - The influence of environmental factors on the growth of lichens in the field
AU - Armstrong, Richard A.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The majority of studies of the effects of environmental factors on lichen growth have been carried out in the field. Growth of lichens in the field has been measured as absolute growth rate (e.g., length growth, radial growth, diameter growth, area growth, or dry weight gain per unit of time) or as a relative growth rate, expressed per unit of thallus area or weight, e.g., thallus specific weight. Seasonal fluctuations in growth in the field often correlate best with changes in average or total rainfall or frequency of rain events through the year. In some regions of the world, temperature is also an important climatic factor influencing growth. Interactions between microclimatic factors such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture are particularly important in determining local differences in growth especially in relation to aspect and slope of rock surface, or height on a tree. Factors associated with the substratum including type, chemistry, texture, and porosity can all influence growth. In addition, growth can be influenced by the degree of nutrient enrichment of the substratum associated with bird droppings, nitrogen, phosphate, salinity, or pollution. Effects of environmental factors on growth can act directly to restrict species distribution or indirectly by altering the competitive balance among different species in a community.
AB - The majority of studies of the effects of environmental factors on lichen growth have been carried out in the field. Growth of lichens in the field has been measured as absolute growth rate (e.g., length growth, radial growth, diameter growth, area growth, or dry weight gain per unit of time) or as a relative growth rate, expressed per unit of thallus area or weight, e.g., thallus specific weight. Seasonal fluctuations in growth in the field often correlate best with changes in average or total rainfall or frequency of rain events through the year. In some regions of the world, temperature is also an important climatic factor influencing growth. Interactions between microclimatic factors such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture are particularly important in determining local differences in growth especially in relation to aspect and slope of rock surface, or height on a tree. Factors associated with the substratum including type, chemistry, texture, and porosity can all influence growth. In addition, growth can be influenced by the degree of nutrient enrichment of the substratum associated with bird droppings, nitrogen, phosphate, salinity, or pollution. Effects of environmental factors on growth can act directly to restrict species distribution or indirectly by altering the competitive balance among different species in a community.
KW - lichen
KW - radial growth rate
KW - dry weight gain
KW - relative growth rate
KW - climate
KW - substratum
KW - nutrient enrichment
KW - competition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943594249&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-81-322-2181-4_1
U2 - 10.1007/978-81-322-2181-4_1
DO - 10.1007/978-81-322-2181-4_1
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84943594249
SN - 978-81-322-21800-7
VL - 1
SP - 1
EP - 18
BT - Recent advances in lichenology
A2 - Upreti, Dalip Kumar
A2 - Divakar, Pradeep K.
A2 - Shukla, Vertika
A2 - Bajpal, Rajesh
PB - Springer
CY - New Delhi (IN)
ER -