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Lamacraft, D.M. 2022: Lichen survey of Cae Gwyn, Bronaber, Meirionnydd. - Natural Resources Wales Evidence Report 620: 1-92. [RLL List # 275 / Rec.# 44583]
Abstract: The aim of the survey was to form a baseline survey of the lichen assemblage - mainly but not exclusively - on trees at Cae Gwyn, specifically: • To inform the planned floodplain restoration along Afon Eden, where some trees will be cut, and the embankment reprofiled. • To search the wider NRW property of Cae Gwyn for lichens, prioritising the sparsely wooded area to the southeast of the site, but including all other potential lichen hotspots, and then the wider site as time limits allow. Tag where relevant, to allow future monitoring, and report as above. The site was surveyed on three days in March and April 2022. 158 taxa were recorded of which 39 are notable species, including: • 10 red-listed in Wales at NT or higher • 1 red-listed at the GB level at NT or higher • One Section 7 species and 1 Section 7 community • 8 International Responsibility species • 18 Southern Oceanic Woodland Index (SOWI) taxa, • 11 Upland Rainforest Index (URI) species Species recorded included: • Lobarina scrobiculata CR Wales, IR, S7 Lobarion • Opegrapha fumosa VU Wales, NS, IR • Sticta fuliginoides • Sticta fuliginosa s. str. • Arthonia vinosa NT Wales, S7 Lobarion, SOWI • Catinaria atropurpurea NT Wales, S7 Lobarion • Cetrelia cetrarioides / Cetrelia olivetorum s. lat. NT Wale • Hypotrachyna sinuosa NT Wales, IR • Parmeliella parvula NT Wales, IR, S7 Lobarion • Sticta limbata NT Wales, IR, S7 Lobarion • Sticta sylvatica NT Wales, IR, S7 Lobarion • Usnea florida NT GB, S7 • Phaeographis inusta NS This interest is mostly associated with the base-rich bark community (on ash, old oak, willow, rowan and hazel), the acid-bark community (on oak, birch and willow) and the smooth-bark communities (mostly on hazel, willow and rowan). The interest is indicative of sites with a long-standing ecological continuity i.e. continuity of woodland cover, and of well-lit conditions. The survey of trees in the floodplain restoration area did reveal some interest and trees were tagged accordingly, these are detailed in Appendix 2. Page 10 With reference to the relevant SSSI criteria the site scores 18 on the Southern Oceanic Woodland Index (SOWI), 11 on the Upland Rainforest Index (URI) and 3 on the Pinhead Index (PI). Whilst these fall short of the thresholds for consideration for SSSI notification (30, 15 and 10 respectively), the former two indices are supposed to be applied to sites of at least 100ha of woodland cover, so these scores for Cae Gwyn are impressive for such a small site. Management recommendations are made for the riverbank trees in the floodplain restoration area and for the wider site. These mostly focus on maintaining and expanding the well-lit open-grown tree habitats.
Countries/Continents: Wales/United Kingdom/Europe
URL: https://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/media/695261/nrw-evidence-report-620-lichen-survey-of-cae-gwyn.pdf
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