Tree trunk lichen cover and its relation with cardinal orientation in parks of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica.

• Main Authors: Víctor Hugo Méndez, Carlos Andrés Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) 2015-12-01
• Series: Cuadernos de investigación UNED
• Subjects: Trade winds; temperature; precipitation; biomarkers; dry season and rainy season.
• Online Access: https://revistas.uned.ac.cr/index.php/cuadernos/article/view/1159

The geographical position of Costa Rica at 11 ° north latitude produces varying temperatures and two seasons, wet and dry, that are clearly established. Tree trunk lichens are greatly affected by humidity and air pollution, factors that can differ according to cardinal orientation of the substrate. We studied eight trees in each of the ten municipal parks in three central provinces: Alajuela, Cartago and San José. With a template we measured lichen cover, regardless of species during the dry and rainy seasons. The highest cover was on the north side of trunks and in the rainy season.