Lichens are characteristic organisms in the Amazonian rain forests, thus are sensitive to environmental changes, and are considered effective bioindicators of forest disturbance. We analyzed the response of epiphytic lichens to forest succession in the Amazonian forests of Yasuni National Park (Ecuador). We assessed species richness and composition of cryptogams on the bases of trees (442) in three stage of forest succession (early, intermediate, late), using generalized linear mixed models and multivariate analysis. We registered 50 species of lichens and major changes in species richness and composition were correlated with changes in canopy openness relative to the shift from early to late stages of forest succession. Finally, we demonstrate for the first time the importance of tree species richness for lichen epiphyte richness in Amazonian rain forests.
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