High-light damage in air-dry thalli of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria—interactions of irradiance, exposure duration and high temperature

High-light damage in air-dry thalli of Lobaria pulmonaria were measured in the laboratory as reductions in maximal PSII efficiency (FV/FM) after a 48 h recovery in a hydrated state at low light to account for permanent damage. Thalli treated with the lowest light dose (90 mol photons m-2) recovered normal FV/FM-values with increasing irradiances (400—700 nm) up to 1000 μmol photons m-2 s-1. Doubling this dose lowered the threshold level for damage from 1000 to 320 μmol photons m-2 s-1, and reduced FV/FM at 1000 μmol photons m-2 s-1 by more than 50%. A second doubling of the dose to 360 mol photons m-2 caused damage at 200 μmol photons m-2 s-1, and a nearly complete cessation of PSII efficiency occurred at 1000 μmol photons m-2 s-1. No reciprocity of irradiance and duration of illumination for PSII function was found. The measured time-dependent decrease in FV/FM was remarkably similar for the naturally coupled, but artificially separated, light and temperature factors. Therefore, the damage of high light on desiccated L. pulmonaria seemed to be an additive effect of high irradiance and high temperatures. Air-dry thalli were highly heat susceptible, being affected already at temperatures around 40 °C. Logging operations in forests are likely to raise the solar radiation at remaining lichen sites to destructive levels.