CORRELATION BETWEEN EPIPHYTIC LICHENS AND FOREST DECLINE IN THE NORTHERN BLACK-FOREST

The relation between the quality of the epiphytic lichens and the dama ge class of the trees could be investigated by intensive mappings, whi ch took place in the Klosterreichenbach forest-district, northern Blac k Forest. In this district the favourable constellation for our invest igations were found in the combination of huge forest areas with sympt oms if the novel forest decline besides stands, where a local emitter caused classical sulphuric damages. In the surrounding of this emitter a strongly impoverished flora of lichens is paralleled by a high dama ge class of the trees, caused by the intensive yellowing and loss of n eedles. In the other areas of the forest-district, which show typical symptoms of the novel forest decline a quantitatively good lichen-flor a occurred despite of a high damage class of the stand, but depending on the age of the trees and the altitude of the stand. Some representa tives of the there thrieving lichen-flora are very sensitive against a ir pollution. The results, a good developed lichen-flora in combinatio n with a seriously damaged tree, point against the fact, that air poll ution is the only cause for the novel forest decline.