Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A System to Monitor Climate Change with Epilithic Lichens

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The issue of biological monitoring of the local consequences of anticipated global climate change is considered for the Central Negev Highlands, Israel. Epilithic lichens are suggested as biological monitors. The proposed methodology of such monitoring consists of a sampling scheme, including lichen measurement along transects on flat calcareous rocks, and construction of a trend detection index (TDI). TDI is a sum of lichen species cover with coefficients chosen so as to ensure maximum ability to detect global climate trends. Coefficients have been estimated in a study of lichens along an altitudinal gradient from 500 to 1000 m a.s.l. The gradient study demonstrated that the TDI index is performed better than other integrated indices. Recommendations on this system to monitor climate change with epilthic lichens are given. Measuring, for instance, a hundred transects in fifty plots (two transet per plot scheme) allows one to detect a climate-driven change in the epilithic lichen community corresponding to a 0.8 °C shift in annual mean temperature. Such resolution appears sufficient in view of global warming of 2.5 °C considered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a realistic prediction for the end of the next century.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ben-David, R. and Mazor, E.: 1988, 'Stages in the Evolution of Makhtesh Ramon', Isr. J. Earth Sci. 37, 125–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brawer, M. (ed.): 1992, The New Israeli University Atlas. Yavneh Publishing House Ltd., TelAviv (in Hebrew).

    Google Scholar 

  • Danin, A.: 1983, Desert Vegetation of Israel and Sinai, Cana Publishing House, Jerusalem, pp. 1–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galun, M.: 1970, The Lichens of Israel, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem, 116 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galun, M. and Mukhtar, A.: 1996, 'Checklist of the Lichens of Israel', Isr. J. Plant Sci. 44, 195–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates, D. M.: 1993, Climate Change and its Biological Consequences, Sinaner Associates Inc. Publishers, Sunderland, MA, 280 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holten, J. I. and Carey, P. D.: 1992, Responses of Climate Change on Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems in Norway. Norsk Institutt for Naturforskning, 59 pp.

  • Houghton, J. T., Meira Filho, L.G., Callander, B. A., Harris, N., Kattenberg, A. and K. Maskell (eds.): 1996, Climate Change 1996. The Science of Climate Change. Published for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge, University press, 572 pp.

  • Huckaby, L. S. (ed.): 1993, 'Lichens as Bioindicators of Air Quality', USDA Forest Service. General Technical Report RM224 131 pp.

  • Insarov, G. and Insarova, I.: 1995, 'The Lichens of Calcareous Rocks in the Central Negev, Israel' Isr. J. Plant Sci. 43, 53–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Insarov, G. and Insarova, I.: 1996, 'Assessment of Lichen Sensitivity to Climate Change', Isr. J. Plant Sci. 44, 309–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Insarov, G. E. and Semenov, S. M.: 1993, 'Evaluation of Epiphytic Lichen Monitoring data', in: Cerny, J. (ed.), Symposium on Ecosystem Behavior: Evaluation of Integrated Monitoring in Small Catchments, Prague, Published by Czech Geological Survey, Prague, pp. 136–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Insarov, G. E., Semenov, S.M. and Filippova, L.M.: 1986, 'The Methods of Assessment of Epiphytic Lichenoflora State in Relation to Background Natural Environment Pollution', in: Research on Environmental Pollution and Its Effects on the Biosphere. Proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the International Working Group on UNESCO MAB Project 14, pp. 127–131.

  • Insarova, I.: 1993, 'Epiphytic Lichens and Climate Factors', in: Gilmanov, T. et al. (eds.). Global Change and Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystems: An International Conference, 21-26 August, 1993. Oppdal, Norway, p. 113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Insarova, I. D., Insarov, G. E., Brakenhielm, S., Hultengren, S., Martinson, P.O. and S. M. Semenov.: 1992, 'Lichen Sensitivity and Air Pollution', Swedish Environment Protection Agency, Report 4007, Uppsala, pp. 1–72.

  • Izrael, Yu. A., Filippova, L.M., Insarov, G. E., Semevsky, F. N. and Semenov, S.M.: 1986, 'Methodological Aspects of Implementing Terrestrial Biota Background Monnitoring', in: Problems of Ecological Monitoring and Ecosystem Modelling, St. Petersburg, Gidromereoizdat 9, 7–21 (in Russian, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, P.A.: 1991, 'Scale and Precipitation Patterns in the EasternMediterranean in a CO2-Warmed Climate', in: Regional Implications of Future Climate Change. Abstracts of International Workshop, Rehovot, Israel, April 28-May 2, 1991.

  • Kappen, L. and Lange, O. L.: 1978, 'Life Forms and Physiology of Desert Lichens', II International Congress Of Ecology Abstracts 2, 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kullman, L.: 1979, 'Change and Stability in the Altitude of the Birch Tree Limit in the Southern Swedish Scandes 1915-1975', Acta Phytogeographica Suecica 65, 1–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. E., Cassel, D. L., Cline, S. P., Alexander, S. A., Stolte, K. W. and Smith, W. D.: 1995, 'Selecting and Testing Indicators of Forest Health' in: Aguirre Bravo, Celedonio, (ed.), North American Workshop on Monitoring for Ecological Assessment of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems, Mexico City, September 18-22, 1995. General Technical Report RMGTR284. USDA Forest Sevice, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experimental Station. Fort Collins, CO, USA. pp. 140–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magurran, E. A.: 1991, Ecological Diversity and its Measurement, Chapman & Hall, London, New York, Tokyo, Melbourne, Madras, pp. 1–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manual for Integrated Monitoring. Programme Phase 1993-1996. UN ECE Convention on Longrange Transboundary Air Pollution. International Cooperative Programme on Integrated Monitoring on Air Pollution Effects. Published by: Environment Data Center, National Board of Waters and Environment, Helsinki, 1993, pp. 1–114.

  • McCune, B.: 1994, 'Lichen Communities', in: TallentHassel, N. G. (ed.), Forest Health Monitoring 1994 Field Method Guide, EPA/620/R94/ 027. US EPA, Washington DC, pp. 2–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead, R., Curnow, R. N. and Hasted, A. M.: 1993, Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology', Chapman & Hall, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monitor 1985. The National Swedish Environmental Monitoring Program. National Swedish Environmental Protection Board, 1985, pp. 1–207. 298 G. INSAROV ET AL.

  • Richardson, D. H. S.: 1992, Pollution Monitoring with Lichens, Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd., Slough, UK, 76 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safriel, U.: 1992, 'LongTerm Ecological Research in Israel. The Ecology of Global Climate Change in a Desert/Non Desert Ecotone', LTER Network News 11, 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenov, S.M.: 1995, 'Changes in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Natural Variability, Sensitivity and Trend Detection', in: Global Change and Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecosystem Research Report - 10. European Commission, EUR 15519EN, pp. 25–29.

  • Semenov, S. M. and Zakharchenko, J. V.: 1995, 'Can Biodiversity Indices Help Detect the Smooth Changes in Air Pollution?', in: Forsius, M. and Kleemola, S. (eds.), Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on Integrated Monitoring Sites. Proceedings from an International Workshop in Oslo, 6-7 March, 1995. ICP IM Programme Centre. Finnish Environmental Agency, Helsinki, pp. 123–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semenov, S. M. and Zakharchenko, J. V.: 1996, 'A Statistical Model of Occurrence and Estimating Biodiversity of Epiphytic Lichens', in: Problems of Ecological Monitoring and Ecosystem Modelling, St. Petersburg, Gidromereoizdat 16, pp. 247–276 (in Russian, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmida, A.: 1985, 'Biogeography of Desert Flora', in: Hot Desert and Arid Shrublands, Elevier Press, Amsterdam, pp. 23–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor, G. W. and Cochran, W. G.: 1967, Statistical Methods, Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takhtajan, A. L.: 1986 Floristic Regions of the World, California University Press, 522 pp.

  • Ward, D. and Olsvig-Whittaker, L.: 1993, 'Plant Species Diversity at the Junction of Two Desert Biogeographic Zones', Biodiversity Letters 1, 172–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, D., Olsvig-Whittaker, L. and Lawes, M.: 1993, 'Vegetation-Environment Relationship in a Negev Desert Erosion Cirque', Journal of Vegetation Science 4, 83–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R. T., Zinyowera, M. C. and Moss, R. H. (eds.).: 1996, Climate Change 1996. Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigation of Climate Change: ScientificTechnical Analyses, Published for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge, University Press, 877 pp.

  • Wilson, J. B., Wells, T. C. E., Trueman, I. C., Jones, G., Atkinson, M. D., Crawley, M. J., Dodd, M. E. and Silvertown, J.: 1996, 'Are There Assembly Rules for Plant Species Abundance? An Investigation in Relation to Soil Resources and Successional Trends', Journal of Ecology 84, 527–538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zangvil, A.: 1996, 'Six Years of Dew Observations in the Negev Desert, Israel', Journal of Arid Environment 32, 361–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeltyn, S. A. and Insarov, G. E.: 1993, 'A Database of Epiphytic Lichen Background Monitoring', in: Problems of Ecological Monitoring and Ecosystem Modelling, St. Petersburg, Gidrometeoizdat, 15, pp. 247–263 (in Russian, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zohary, M.: 1962, Plant Life of Palestine, Ronald Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Gregory E. Insarov*
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Serguei M. Semenov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Irina D. Insarova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Insarov*, G.E., Semenov, S.M. & Insarova, I.D. A System to Monitor Climate Change with Epilithic Lichens. Environ Monit Assess 55, 279–298 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005909427138

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005909427138

Search

Navigation