Towards a Red List of the terricolous lichens of Italy. (7th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gheza, Gabriele; Di Nuzzo, Luca; Nimis, Pier Luigi; Benesperi, Renato; Giordani, Paolo; Vallese, Chiara; Nascimbene, Juri
• Is Part Of: Plant biosystems. Volume 156:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 824
• Page End: 825
• Publication Date: 2022-07-07
• Subjects: Biodiversity -- conservation -- floristics -- historical collections -- lichen biota -- Natura 2000 Network; Botany -- Periodicals; Biological systems -- Periodicals; Plants -- Periodicals; 581
• DOI: 10.1080/11263504.2022.2065379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1126-3504

Abstract

Abstract: Terricolous lichens, threatened in many areas of Europe, have been greatly overlooked in conservation policies. This work provides a provisional Red List of the terricolous lichens of Italy, to favour their inclusion in conservation policies. The taxa were assigned to IUCN categories according to a simplified assessment procedure based on their rarity and past/current distribution in the administrative regions and ecoregions of Italy. We evaluated 162 species: 30 were listed as regionally extinct, 22 critically endangered, 16 endangered, 49 vulnerable, 27 near-threatened, 7 least-concern, and 11 data deficient. A quarter of the terricolous lichens of Italy is likely to be threatened, but a rigorous assessment is hindered by the scarcity of data. Further field work is needed for more precise assessments of their conservation status.