EDP Foz-Tua: Lichen flora – Complementary Studies [2011] and Ecological Monitoring Program [2012-2015]

Study Extent

Data were collected from 549 field sampling points along the Tua lower valley (Northeast Portugal), in the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Vila Flor and Mirandela.

Sampling

Sampling was designed not only to obtain data for Complementary Studies [2011] but also for the Ecological Monitoring Program (2012-2015) which included two general objectives: (1) Evaluation of the direct and indirect impacts of the dam construction on the lichen flora and (2) Evaluation of the effect of the implementation of minimization and compensation measures within the scope of the Tua dam construction on the lichen flora. Depending on the objectives defined for each of the 52 sampling points, one or more techniques of sampling were applied at each location:
a) A prospective area of ​​approximately 2,500 m2 (25 m in all perpendicular directions from the sampling area centroid), whenever possible and in the absence of natural barriers, to (1) explore all lichen habitats and obtain the total inventory of Tua’s watershed lichen diversity (fieldwork for the Complementary Studies), and (2) to assess the importance of micro-reserves for the conservation of priority conservation taxa and lichen target communities; b) Three permanent squares with 50cm2 were located on homogeneous rock vertical surfaces at each sampling point to assess the indirect impact of the presence of the dam reservoir on the composition of mesophytic, xerophytic and hyper-xerophytic saxicolous lichen habitats; c) Ten 50 cm bands (measured from the base of the trunk) covering the entire perimeter of the trunk on ten selected trees at each sampling point to evaluate the effect of measures for the recovery and planting of native riparian vegetation on lichen epiphytic flora. The parameters taken in each sampling procedure included (1) list of taxa, (2) list of priority conservation taxa, (3) percentage cover for each species, and (4) frequency of occurrence of each taxon in each lichen community. However, in this dataset, all taxa are presented in the presence/absence format only. Whenever possible, all specimens were identified in the field. Sterile or untypical specimens were identified at the laboratory using microscopic diagnosis. Lichen specimens were classified down to the lowest possible rank.

Quality Control

All taxa were identified by an experienced researcher. The herbarium specimens originated during fieldwork are available for consultation at PO Herbarium collection at the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto (MHNC-UP).

Method steps

1. To be completed

The taxonomic coverage of this dataset spans 1 phylum, 4 classes, 12 orders, 33 famillies, 68 genus and 161 species or infra-specific categories.

1. Ascomycota
   rank: phylum
2. Eurotiomycetes
   rank: class
3. Lecanoromycetes
   rank: class
4. Lichinomycetes
   rank: class
5. Sordariomycetes
   rank: class
6. Verrucariales
   rank: order
7. Acarosporales
   rank: order
8. Baeomycetales
   rank: order
9. Candelariales
   rank: order
10. Lecanorales
    rank: order
11. Lichiniales
    rank: order
12. Ostropales
    rank: order
13. Peltigerales
    rank: order
14. Pertusariales
    rank: order
15. Sordariomycetidae incertae sedis
    rank: order
16. Telochistales
    rank: order
17. Umbilicariales
    rank: order
18. Verrucariaceae
    rank: family
19. Acarosporaceae
    rank: family
20. Candelariaceae
    rank: family
21. Catillareaceae
    rank: family
22. Cladoniaceae
    rank: family
23. Collemateaceae
    rank: family
24. Graphidaceae
    rank: family
25. Lecanoraceae
    rank: family
26. Leprocaulaceae
    rank: family
27. Lichiniaceae
    rank: family
28. Massalongiaceae
    rank: family
29. Megasoporaceae
    rank: family
30. Mycoblastaceae
    rank: family
31. Nephromataceae
    rank: family
32. Obryzaceae
    rank: family
33. Ochroleciaceae
    rank: family
34. Pannariaceae
    rank: family
35. Parmeliaceae
    rank: family
36. Peltigeraceae
    rank: family
37. Peltulaceae
    rank: family
38. Pertusariaceae
    rank: family
39. Phlyctidaceae
    rank: family
40. Physciaceae
    rank: family
41. Placynthiaceae
    rank: family
42. Psoraceae
    rank: family
43. Ramalinaceae
    rank: family
44. Rhizocarpaceae
    rank: family
45. Stereocaulaceae
    rank: family
46. Telochistaceae
    rank: family
47. Trapeliaceae
    rank: family
48. Umbilicareceae
    rank: family
49. Vahiellaceae
    rank: family
50. Verrucariceae
    rank: family

Data and specimens were collected along the valley of the River Tua (Northeast Portugal), from the river mouth to about 67 km upstream in the river Tuela and about 68 km upstream in the river Rabaçal, as well as in a Tua tributary (to about 27 km upstream in the Tinhela river), encompassing sampling areas in Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Region (sampling points in the municipalities of Alijó, Murça, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Vila Flor and Mirandela).