The lichen-rich fells and woods of the Finnish north are well-known beyond its borders; yet lichens are among the most poorly-known and threatened groups in Finland, with their situation worsening. Little is known about their biodiversity, especially in extreme habitats like the subarctic, and almost nothing is known about how climate change will affect them. This study pays special attention to crustose microlichens and will enable more effective conservation. I will look beyond species presence to understand which aspects shape communities. What ecological factors are most important and what role plays snow cover in particular? In combination with extensive ecological data, I will model species distributions now and under warming scenarios to predict their responses to climate change.
