Biomass of arboreal lichens and its vertical distribution in a boreal coniferous forest in central Finland

The biomass of lichens and its vertical distribution on trees were investig ated in a >100-year-old boreal forest in central Finland. The lichen biomas s on individual trees was 1292-3669 g tree(-1) on Picea abies and 742 g tre e(-1) on Pinus sylvestris. More than half of the biomass occurred on dead b ranches. The proportion of Hypogymnia physodes appeared to rise with the ca nopy height while the other lichens (Platismatia glauca, Bryoria spp. and P seudevernia furfuracea) decreased. Mean total lichen biomass for sampled tr ees on an aerial basis was 163 g m(-2). The standing crop of litter lichen deposited on ground was about 9 g m(-2). (C) 2000 The British Lichen Societ y.