VDI 3957 Blatt 20:2015-07

Since climate changes affect living systems in multiple ways and therewith influence agriculture and forestry, there is a considerable interest not only to determine climate changes themselves but also their effects on creatures and ecosystems. Lichens can hereby act as sensitive model and early warning systems. The standard describes the standardised determination of the epiphytic lichen species occurring in an investigation area which are classified as climate change indicators. The determination of the temporal changes within the spectrum of lichen species enables detection, evaluation and documentation of climate change impacts on the biologically active environment related to a specific local or regional area. Since lichens do react promptly on climate changes by retraction or immigration they are exemplary for other members of ecosystems. Thus, climate-related changes, e.g. in the range of biodiversity, can also be expected for other groups of organisms.