The investigation of lichens on soil, plant debris and terricolous mosses in the glacier forefield of the Rötkees yielded 31 lichen taxa (29 species and 2 varieties) and one lichenicolous fungus. Micarea incrassata Hedl. (Lecanorales) is new to Italy. Three sampling sites were established at increasing distance from the glacier, in order to compare species diversity, abundance and composition.
Keywords: Lichenes. – Biodiversity; Lichenized Ascomycetes; alpine belt; ecology; flora; floristics. – Alps; glacier forefield; glacier retreat.