Epiphytic macrolichens in spruce plantations and native birch forests along a coast-inland gradient in North Norway

Around 10% of the natural coastal birch forest in North Norway has been converted to spruce plantations. However, little is known about the effects on the affected ecosystems. Our objective was to evaluate differences in macrolichen communities between spruce plantations and native birch-dominated forests. Canonical correspondence ordination shows that birch forests and spruce plantations host distinct macrolichen species compositions. Mean yearly temperature is the most important explanatory environmental variable. Sitka spruce plantations had the lowest recorded species number and diversity, which probably is a result of low-light conditions caused by very long branches. Mixed birch―Norway spruce stands had both highest species number and diversity. Oceanic sites generally have different species composition, and higher species number and bark pH than continental sites. Plantations cause changes in species compositions and partly also declines in species number and diversity, and hence, plantations are far from optimal for conservation of native epiphytic lichen communities.