Investigation of lichen populations and their similarity analysis in Serif Yuksel Forest, Turkey.

Sorensen similarity indices of lichen species in Serif Yuksal forest ranged between 0.29 and 0.84. A linear relation was found between species number sum of two lichen populations and their similarity indices. The linear equation is Y=0.0076x + 0.1467 and the R2 of the equation is 0.2476 which is significant at p<0.001. There has been identified a linear relation between the average similarity index of the sites and fir participation percentage. The obtained equation is Y=0,0009x + 0,5271 and the R2 of the equation is 0,2853 which is significant at p<0.002. In the pure fir stands there has been found a linear relation between the altitude difference and similarity index. The obtained equation is Y= -0.0011x + 0.6962 and the R2 of the equation is 0.1755 which as significant at p<0.001.

Analysis of the distribution of epiphytic lichens on Cedrus libani in Elmali Research Forest (Antalya, Turkey).

In order to evaluate environmental factors limiting distribution of species, diversity of epiphytic lichens was studied in 34 sites along an altitudinal gradient from 1300 to 1900 m on north-facing and south-facing slopes of Elmali Cedar Research Forest (Antalya province, Turkey) regarding the dispersion of lichens in different tree-diameter classes (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-45 cm, 45-60 cm and >75 cm). The results showed that the relationship between diameter classes with the number of lichen species was R2=0.6022. The highest number of species was in the diameter class of 30-45 cm. There was a clear relationship between all parameters, diameter, altitude and aspect, with species richness. Changes in the community structure of the epiphytic lichen vegetation were detected along an altitudinal gradient revealing the highest species richness in the highest zone. The elevation affected both the number and the composition of the lichen communities and the relationship between the altitudinal zones with number of lichen species was designated as R2=0.6462. The number of species was higher in the north aspects than in the south aspects in all diameter classes. The species number depending on the altitude was also higher in the north-facing slopes than in the south-facing slopes.