The importance of a domestic garden in the conservation of corticolous macrolichens in Veracruz, Mexico

Fragmentation of mountain cloud forest is the result of land use change to establish agricultural, livestock and human settlements, which has led to a decline in biodiversity; however, urban areas, parks and private domestic gardens protect some of that biodiversity. Lichens are among the groups most vulnerable to deforestation and ecosystem transformation. We studied the richness of corticolous macrolichens recollected during 16 years from fallen branches and trees of species such as Quercus xalapensis, Q. laurina, Platanus mexicana, Inga jinicuil and Ulmus mexicana, in a private garden with trees characteristic of the cloud forest in Zoncuantla, municipality of Coatepec, in the central region of Veracruz. The results obtained were compared with the phorophytes and lichen richness recorded in a remnant of cloud forest in La Cortadura, Coatepec, Veracruz. In the garden, we found tree species such as Platanus mexicana, Inga jinicuil and Ulmus Mexicana that were not mentioned in previous studios from La Cortadura. With respect to the lichen community, 44 species included in fifteen genera and six families were registered. Light and wind-tolerant species were found in the garden, as well as indicators of urban areas and heavy metal pollution. The results of this study show that domestic garden in urban areas can function as biodiversity conservation areas.

Automated summary

The study of lichen populations shows that private gardens in urban areas can harbor unique species that are influenced by urban environments and heavy metal pollution, and these gardens can to some extent protect biodiversity.