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biodiversity hotspots, with up to 100 different species of bryophytes and lichens growing on a single tree, including numerous rare and en
dangered species, such as Rudolph’s trumpet moss (Tayloria rudolphiana).
Kiebacher found a total of 264 bryo
phyte species under trees in the grove, which is equal to about a quarter of all known species in Switzerland.
Preserving the bryophyte and lichen El Dorado
Sycamore groves also used to play an important economic role. In the Reichenbach Valley (canton of Bern), for example, the right to use the leaves of sycamore trees as bedding in cowsheds was auctioned off each year. These parklike groves now face the same fate as other traditional cul
tural landscapes: a growing scarcity due to over or underuse. This has to change. Kiebacher says: “We will present our findings to a larger audi
ence in a book being published as part of the Bristol publication series.
The aim is to draw more attention to this neglected habitat and its organ
isms.” Thanks to Kiebacher’s work, a project to conserve sycamore groves is already underway in the Diemtig
tal Nature Park (canton of Bern). The researcher hopes to advance other projects through the book. (chu)
Photo: Julia Ecker, Innsbruck
B I O D I V E R S I T Y
Sycamore groves – tracing a traditional
cultural landscape
The man who looks like Tarzan clam
bering in a tree is Thomas Kiebacher.
Kiebacher has dedicated himself to sycamore trees, or more precisely sycamore groves – a traditional cul
tural landscape in the Swiss Alps.
The biologist’s disser tation presents research into the biodiversity and cultural history of these habitats.
Over the course of two years, he tested random samples of bryophyte (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) and lichen growth on 90 trees in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
He also examined ground vegeta
tion and interviewed 22 locals about their experiences related to sycamore groves.
The initial findings show that freestanding sycamores are real
To determine which species grow on sycamores, Thomas Kie- bacher collected a total of 20,000 bryophyte and lichen samples.
