Field Studies on Growth and Regenerative Capacity in the Foliose Macrolichen Xanthoria parietina (Teloschistales,Ascomycotina)

Growth and development of the foliose macrolichen Xanthoria parietina and adjacent lichen and bryophyte spp. was photographically monitored over a period of five years. This association developed on a plane quadrangle on the top surface of a sandstone block in the botanical garden of the University of Zürich. Line tracings of the thalline outlines were used for a quantitative estimation of laminal growth by means of gravimetric morphometry. Average radial growth of approximately 6 mm yr^?1 was recorded, with maxima around 7 mm yr^?1. The oldest, apothecia-covered central parts of the thalli lost contact with the substratum and broke off along stress cracks but the blank substratum was rapidly re-colonized by new thallus lobes which regenerated along the wound margins, to our present knowledge a peculiarity of X. parietina and few related species among the Teloschistales. Approximately 50% of the surface area of the experimental plot was covered by X. parietina at the beginning and again at the end of this five years period, with significant fluctuations in the time between. New growth in the range of 87% of the total surface area almost compensated the losses of approximately 90% per surface area in five years. New growth and losses within these five years accounted for more than 170% of the initial coverage. X. parietina gains a significant ecological advantage from its very remarkable regenerative capacity.