Distribution Of Lichens Research Articles

Organisms with high dispersal ability as a proxy for biogeographical characterisation of the Mediterranean biome

The Mediterranean biome offers a diverse range of habitats, particularly rocky environments, known for their long-term stability and persistence. Adapted to these rocky surfaces, chasmophytes thrive in this region, benefiting from reduced competition and human interference. The distribution of stress-tolerant cryptogams with generally broad niches represents a significant gap in the biogeography of the region. This study investigates whether complex symbiotic organisms with a potential for long-distance dispersal could serve as biogeographic indicators for delimitation of the Mediterranean biome's boundaries. Through comprehensive chorology data research, saxicolous lichen congeners of the genus Solenopsora were mapped across the Mediterranean Basin as a model area. Environmental predictors (climate and geology) were employed to predict suitable habitats, shedding light on the lichens' ecological niches. Habitat suitability models consistently aligned with the Mediterranean's geographical area, indicating a tight link between lichen distribution and Mediterranean climate classification. While climate change may pose vulnerabilities, no significant range shifts beyond the latitudinal limit of the Mediterranean were predicted. Despite overlapping climatic niches, differences in microhabitat preferences in terms of insolation were observed among studied taxa. Vulnerable regions with potential habitat decreases were identified under future scenarios, emphasizing the importance of environmental heterogeneity in securing local species persistence. This study supports the hypothesis that these lichen symbiotic systems are restricted to the Mediterranean Basin, highlighting their potential to reflect Mediterranean climate, environmental stability, and indicate the boundaries of the Mediterranean biome. Our investigation demonstrates that collection-based research can yield significant contributions to current biogeography.

Understanding physiological, elemental distribution and bioaccumulation responses of crustose and foliose lichens in the vicinity of coal-based thermal power plant, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India

Environmental pollution, especially from coal-based thermal power plants, poses significant risks to human respiratory health and the environment. This study evaluates the diversity of lichens in the areas. Physiological and bioaccumulation responses of two crustose lichens (Bacidia incongruens and Rindoina sophodes) and one foliose lichen (Pyxine cocoes) in the vicinity of the Feroz Gandhi Unchahar National Thermal Power Corporation, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India were also assessed. These lichens, exposed to emissions including fly ash, greenhouse gases, metals, and particulate matter were analyzed for metal accumulation and physiological responses. Changes in physiological parameters and metal profiles concerning distance from the coal-based thermal power plant to the outskirts were analyzed for B. incongruens, R. sophodes and P. cocoes by utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study identified 18 lichen species from 12 genera and 10 families in the area, with Pyxine sorediata newly recorded in Uttar Pradesh. The dominant species, B. incongruens, P. cocoes, and R. sophodes, preferred substrates like Mangifera indica, Acacia nilotica, and Azadirachta indica bark. Physiological analyses revealed variations in pigment concentrations, with significant differences in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and chlorophyll degradation, while protein content remained stable. Metal accumulation studies showed nine metals with distinct patterns, B. incongruens had higher concentrations in the west (52730.61 µg g-1) and P. cocoes in the east (23628.32 µg g-1). Correlation analyses indicated significant relationships between paired elements, suggesting specific sources of environmental contamination. This research highlights the significance of integrating physiological and environmental factors to understand lichen responses to coal based thermal power plant.

Materials for the distribution of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in Poland, 4

Materials for the distribution of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in Poland, 4

Lichen diversity and taxonomy in Bukit Barisan Grand Forest Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Atni OK, Munir E, Siregar ES, Saleh MN. 2024. Lichen diversity and taxonomy in Bukit Barisan Grand Forest Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1623-1630. Located in Bandar Baru Village, Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra, Bukit Barisan Grand Forest Park stands out for its uniqueness and high biodiversity, including lichens. This study aims to identify and map lichen diversity in the research area. Surveys were conducted from January to February 2024 using an exploratory method along designated tracks. Therefore, 57 lichen species from 23 families and 38 genera were found. Based on their thallus types, 26 lichen species were identified as crustose, 17 as foliose, 6 as squamulose, 5 as fruticose, and 3 as filamentous. Reproductive structures varied, 13 species possessed apothecia, soredia, and lacked distinguishable reproductive structures, 10 had lirellae, 7 had perithecia, and 2 had isidia. Graphidaceae emerged as the most prevalent family with 8 species, predominantly growing on bark substrates. Although lichen distribution correlated with pH levels, its correlation with the preference for lower pH levels was low. Host trees from the Pinaceae and Lauraceae families were the most populated by lichens in this study. Research on lichen diversity in Bukit Barisan Grand Forest Park is crucial, considering the increasing development and deforestation in North Sumatra. A more comprehensive study of lichens is urgently required.

Influence of Orographic Factors on the Distribution of Lichens in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago.

During a geobotanical study of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, 111 lichen species were recorded on 130 sample plots. The significance of orographic factors in the distribution of lichens was assessed using principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis. It was found that the absolute altitude and distance from the glacier are of the greatest importance for crustose lichens, while for fruticose lichens, the most critical factors were the slope exposure and steepness. Along the altitudinal gradient, the number of species decreased (from 88 to 25). The highest number of species (90) was recorded at distances of 0.1 to 1.0 km from the glacier edge, which is explained by the unstable species composition of areas recently released from under the glacier. The number of species in all groups generally decreased (from 81 to 52) with increasing slope steepness. With an increasing heat supply of slopes (on a gradient from northern to southern), the number of species steadily increased in all groups (from 39 to 75). The low sum of the explained variance values for the first two PCA components (21%) characterizes the specificity of the natural environment of polar deserts, where there is no leading environmental factor.

Current state of the species composition of mycobiota in South-East Kazakhstan

To date, no information has been available on the species composition of fungi in southeastern Kazakhstan, the center of agrobiodiversity but also home to rare and endemic species. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the diversity of fungi, fungus-like organisms, and lichens in southeastern Kazakhstan. The scientific and practical significance of the work is to obtain data on the species composition of mycobiota, which will allow planning measures for its monitoring, protection and restoration. The material for the article served as the authors’ own collections, conducted in 2021-2023. The study and identification of fungi were carried out according to the standard methodology. In the study area 2864 species of fungi, fungus-like organisms and lichens from 3 kingdoms, 22 classes, 84 orders, 260 families and 770 genera were found. Among them, 36 species were new to southeastern Kazakhstan, and 8 species were new to Kazakhstan. It is worth noting that the Karasay region had the largest number of species (1547) when analyzing the distribution of fungi, fungus-like organisms, and lichens. The study’s value and practical significance lies in the data obtained on the species composition of fungi, fungus-like organisms, and lichens, including their distribution and confinement to different types of substrates.

Лишайники и лихенофильные грибы северо-западной части Краснознаменского округа Калининградской области

This article is dedicated to the study of lichen biota as part of the research and conservation of biodiversity in the Kaliningrad region. Biological studies of little-known territories are a crucial component of the ecologically oriented development of the Kaliningrad region, especially for areas with heavily transformed landscapes. Expanding the understanding of the diversity and distribution of lichens plays an important role in nature conservation and supporting the biodiversity of the Kaliningrad region. The aim of the study was to examine the lichen biota of the northwestern part of the Krasnoznamensk municipal district (part of the Sheshupe ancient alluvial plain). This is the first such study for the Krasnoznamensk district. Field research was conducted in the vicinity of the western part of the Neman forest and the Velikoe bog in 2022 and 2023. Laboratory processing of the collected materials with species identification was carried out using standard methods. The collected field materials significantly enriched the lichen collection of the KLGU herbarium with new specimens. As a result of the study, one hundred and five species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi were identified for the northwestern part of the Krasnoznamensk district, eighty-two of which are reported for the first time for the district. Among the discovered species are rare lichens of the Kaliningrad region, as well as indicator species of minimally disturbed and old-growth forest communities. These data make a significant contribution to the understanding of lichens in the Kaliningrad region, filling long-standing gaps in lichen biota research in the area. Consequently, the number of known taxa in the lichen biota of the Krasnoznamensk district increased to one hundred and thirty-one species. Based on our results, further study of the lichen biota of the Krasnoznamensk district appears promising.

The importance of taxonomy for determining species distribution: a case study using the disjunct lichen Brodoa oroarctica

Species-focused conservation requires a thorough understanding of species’ distributions. Delineating a species’ distribution requires taxonomic knowledge and adequate occurrence data. For plants and fungi, herbaria represent a valuable source of large-scale occurrence data. Advances in digital technology mean that data from many herbarium collections worldwide are now easily accessible. However, species concepts can change over time requiring herbarium records to be re-examined and databases updated, which does not always occur synchronously across all collections. Therefore, non-critical use of these data can promote inaccuracies in understanding species distributions. Taxonomic revisions are common in understudied organisms, such as lichens. Here, we illustrate how changing taxonomy and non-critical acceptance of online data affects our understanding of disjunct distributions, using the lichen Brodoa oroarctica (Krog) Goward as an example. Defining the distribution of the arctic lichen B. oroarctica is confounded by changing taxonomy and uncertainty of herbarium records that pre-date taxonomic revisions. We review the distribution of this species in the literature and in aggregate occurrence databases, and verify herbarium specimens that represent disjunct occurrences in eastern North America to present an updated account of its distribution and frequency in eastern North America. We show that knowledge of changing species taxonomy is essential to depicting accurate species distributions.

Compound hazards of climate change, forestry, and other encroachments on winter pasturelands: a storyline approach in a forest reindeer herding community in Northern Sweden

The impacts of climate change on rural cultures and livelihoods depend on how the resulting complex biophysical processes may transform people’s land use practices. We argue that research can incorporate local concerns of compound hazards through deterministic rather than probabilistic approaches to better understand the multiple causations involved in such climate change impacts. We apply mixed methods within a storyline approach to examine how a forest reindeer herding community in Northern Sweden copes with and experiences basal ice formation on their winter pasturelands under the influence of climatic and environmental change. Our results show that the detrimental impact of basal ice formation on the availability of winter forage for reindeer is amplified by the directional effects of climate change and encroachments, especially particular forestry practices and their surrounding infrastructure. On the one hand, we show that policy action can address local concerns through ecological interventions that improve the amount and distribution of ground and pendulous lichens at the pastoral landscape scale. On the other hand, we show that policy inaction can threaten the community’s desired experience of human-animal relations in their landscape, which was inextricably connected to ecological conditions for natural pasture-based reindeer pastoralism.

Inventarisasi Lichen Crustose Epifit pada Tanaman Teh di Kecamatan Ngargoyoso Kabupaten Karanganyar

Lichens or lichens are organisms that are the result of a symbiotic relationship between algae (photobionts) and fungi (mycobionts). Because it is very sensitive to pollution, epiphytic lichen is often used as a bioindicator of air pollution in a location. This study aims to determine the types of epiphytic crustose lichen on tea plants in Ngargoyoso District, Karanganyar, Central Java. This study used a population of lichens in the Kemuning Ngargoyoso Tea Plantation, Karanganyar. The sample used was epiphytic crustose lichen at the Kemuning Ngargoyoso Tea Plantation, Karanganyar, and the sampling technique was purposive sampling. In determining the location is divided into 3 stations. Station 1 (900 m asl), station 2 (1,000 m asl), and station 3 (1,100 m asl). Lichen distribution is affected by altitude, therefore more and more lichen colonies are found at higher altitudes. The parameters used in this study were crustose lichen, crustose lichen morphology and crustose lichen habitat. This type of research is descriptive exploratory. The research data obtained were analyzed descriptively qualitatively by presenting them in the form of tables and figures.

Influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on water storage capacity of two lichens species

Abstract The wide variability in functional traits that enable the cosmopolitan distribution of lichens often includes the water storage capacity, S, of their thallus. Lichen S in forest canopies can be large enough to intercept and evaporate significant amounts of rainwater, contributing to the runoff-reduction ecosystem services provided by urban forests; however, S is likely influenced by the presence of air pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) in urban areas. PAHs, being both chemically hydrophobic and damaging to lichen thalli, are expected to reduce lichens’ S and, thereby, limit their contribution to hydrologic ecoservices of urban forests. Hence, the relationship between PAH accumulation and rainwater uptake was examined for two lichen species, common in urban forests around the world – Platismatia glauca and Pseudevernia furfuracea. Samples were collected from an area of low air pollution and another area in a highly urbanized city centre with high air pollution exposure (Kraków, Poland). Lichen S was determined using laboratory-simulated rainfall. PAH bioaccumulation differed between species and among the samples from clean and polluted environments. After exposure to polluted air, the concentration of PAHs was higher in P. glauca than P. furfuracea. Samples from the non-urban setting, however, showed no differences between the two species. In the case of P. glauca, S decreased from 35.8% in samples from clean environment to 8.3% after six months of exposure in the urban setting. The respective S values for P. furfuracea were 25.4% and 12.4%. Results strongly suggest that PAH exposure reduces S in both lichen species. The obtained results are important both in ecohydrology and microclimatology and are part of the research on the condition of urban forests.

Establishment of GLORIA sites in Indian Himalayan Region: diversity and distribution of lichens

Establishment of GLORIA sites in Indian Himalayan Region: diversity and distribution of lichens

The pattern of photosynthetic response and adaptation to changing light conditions in lichens is linked to their ecological range

Epiphytic lichens constitute an important component of biodiversity in both deforested and forest ecosystems. Widespread occurrence is the domain of generalist lichens or those that prefer open areas. While, many stenoecious lichens find shelter only in a shaded interior of forests. Light is one of the factors known to be responsible for lichen distribution. Nevertheless, the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis of lichen photobionts remain largely unknown. We investigated photosynthesis in lichens with different ecological properties in relation to light as the only parameter modified during the experiments. The aim was to find links between this parameter and habitat requirements of a given lichen. We applied the methods based on a saturating light pulse and modulated light to perform comprehensive analyses of fast and slow chlorophyll fluorescence transient (OJIP and PSMT) combined with quenching analysis. We also examined the rate of CO2 assimilation. Common or generalist lichens, i.e. Hypogymnia physodes, Flavoparmelia caperata and Parmelia sulcata, are able to adapt to a wide range of light intensity. Moreover, the latter species, which prefers open areas, dissipates the excess energy most efficiently. Conversely, Cetrelia cetrarioides considered an old-growth forest indicator, demonstrates definitely lower range of energy dissipation than other species, although it assimilates CO2 efficiently both at low and high light. We conclude that functional plasticity of the thylakoid membranes of photobionts largely determines the dispersal abilities of lichens and light intensity is one of the most important factors determining the specificity of a species to a given habitat.

Sunscreening pigments shape the horizontal distribution of pendent hair lichens in the lower canopy of unmanaged coniferous forests

AbstractHair lichens are distinctive for their capillary growth and typically arboreal occurrence, especially in temperate and boreal forests. They consist of two morphogroups based on cortical pigments: a brown-black group with fungal melanin and a pale yellow-green group with usnic acid. Here we test the hypothesis that these morphogroups are ecologically distinct and thus appropriately regarded as functional groups. We examine their respective horizontal occurrence in the lower canopy of 60-year-old conifer forests on a 250 m tall volcanic cone in south-central British Columbia. Trees on open south-facing slopes and near the summit were found to support mainly melanic hair lichens (Bryoria and Nodobryoria), whereas more densely spaced trees on north-facing slopes and at the base had higher cover values of usnic lichens (especially Alectoria sarmentosa and Ramalina thrausta). The cover of melanic hair lichens was strongly correlated with canopy openness but not for their usnic counterparts. We suggest that investment in light-absorbing melanic pigments is an extreme form of specialization for high light, favouring persistence in dry, sun-exposed canopies of otherwise cool forests. By contrast, the cortex of pendent usnic hair lichens appears to facilitate optimum light transmission to underlying photobionts in shaded sites, though at the cost of sensitivity to light in open habitats, especially in rather dry regions.

Lichen and Lichenicolous Fungal Communities Tested as Suitable Systems for the Application of Cross-Taxon Analysis

Lichens are outstanding examples of fungal symbioses that form long-lived structures, the lichen thalli, in which a multiplicity of other microorganisms are hosted. Among these, microfungi seem to establish diverse trophic relationships with their lichen hosts. The most specialised of these fungi are the parasitic lichenicolous fungi, of which the diversity has hardly been explained as a proxy for the diversity of lichen species. Here, we used an exemplar dataset of a well-studied alpine lichen community composed of 63 lichen and 41 lichenicolous fungal species and tested it to verify the strength of the co-occurrences of the two species groups with predictive co-correspondence analyses. The results showed that the distribution of lichen abundances affects the abundance and variation of lichenicolous fungi and supports our hypothesis to use lichens as surrogates for lichenicolous fungi in surrogacy analysis.

Frequency, Abundance and Distribution of Lichen In National Botanical Garden, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

An investigation was carried out to study lichen flora of National Botanical Garden, Dhaka, during the tenure of May 2018 to April 2019. Seven genera of lichens namely Chrysothrix, Cladonia, Cryptothecia, Herpothallon, Parmelia, Pertusaria and Usnea were recorded from 15 blocks of the Garden. Lichens were abundantly grown and their number increased from June to October, whereas from November to April the number of lichens gradually decreased. The maximum frequency percentage (36.52) of the association found in Parmelia while minimum frequency percentage was recorded 2.48 in Usnea. Among three different heights, the highest number of lichens was recorded within 2 to 4 feet. Most exclusively, Parmelia was found in all the studied blocks, whereas other identified lichens were observed randomly. The present investigation will be helpful to enrich the knowledge on lichen biota of Bangladesh. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 31(2): 273-280, 2022 (July)

Lichens as an Indicator of Sea-Level Rise

Coastal areas around the globe are threatened with sea-level rise (SLR). Many of these areas support coastal forests, and determining the threat is complicated by wind patterns and sea floor and shoreline variability, beyond simple elevational concerns. Lichens can be used as indicators of SLR at site specific locations. Developing vegetative indicators of SLR could assist land managers, municipalities, and homeowners in evaluating the risk of building homes, roads, and other structures in some locations. The absence of salt sensitive lichen species can be an indicator of SLR potential. We base this on lichen distribution patterns within two Florida state parks – one a barrier island, the other on the nearby mainland. Rapidly colonizing lichen taxa with asexual reproductive structures are poor indicators of SLR, because of their ability to quickly recolonize following storm events and other disturbances. Knowledge of lichen distribution patterns in combination with reproductive traits help facilitate the development of lichen indicator guidelines. We have learned that Coccocarpia palmicola, Dirinaria picta, and Heterodermia albicans do not appear to be salt-tolerant but have abundant asexual propagules and recolonize rapidly. Sites lacking salt sensitive lichens such as Bulbothrix laevigatula, Cryptothecia rubrocincta, Leptogium cyanescens and Parmotrema rampoddense could indicate areas that are at high risk to SLR at a fine scale. Such areas should be avoided for the construction of homes, roads, and other structures. Lichens make good indicator species and could help guide management of coastal areas in Florida and much of the U.S. southeast Coastal Plain.

Lichen - rock interaction in a temperate environment: A case study from a Panzipora area, Kashmir, India

The diversity of Saxicolous lichens with their rock strata has been investigated in the rural area of Kashmir to enrich the lichen inventory in the region. The study also focuses on the quantification of the regional distribution of lichens. A total of 32 lichens belonging to 10 families and 15 genera, with each species having an average 60–70% of consistency, were found occurring on the sedimentary rocks. The diversity and relationship of particular lichen groups (e.g. Nitrophytic, Acidophytic, Neutrophytic) with growth forms (e.g. crustose, foliose, fructicose) and substratum, and with environmental variables in the habitat suggest that Lichens can act as an indicator of environmental quality in the given area. The significant variability in the spatiotemporal patterns of lichen diversity and growth indicates the crucial role of microhabitat conditions and associated micro-environmental conditions, which in turn drive the biodiversity of saxicolous lichens in the region.

Species Diversity and Distribution Area of Lichen in Baturraden Botanical Garden, Banyumas

Lichen is a symbiotic organism between fungi and algae which is used as a bioindicator of air pollution. This study aims to determine the diversity of species and distribution areas of lichen in Baturraden Botanical Garden, Banyumas Regency by using purposive random sampling method. Sampling was carried out at three stations, namely flora of Java forest (Javanese mountain plants), resin tree forest (damar forest), and natural forest. Based on the results of the research at the three observation stations, 10 species of lichen were found. The lichens found belonged to 8 families including Cryptothecia striata (Family Arthoniaceae), Dirinaria picta (Family Caliciaceae), Graphis scripta and Diorygma poitaei (Family Graphidaceae), Parmotrema austrosinense and Parmotrema perlatum (Family Parmeliaceae), Psilolechia lucida (Family Psilolechiaceae), Lepraria caeosioalba (Family Stereocaulaceae), Normandina pulchella (Family Verrucariaceae), Opegrapha atra (Family Opegraphaceae). The thallus types of lichen found were foliose, crustose, and squamulose species. The average value of the species diversity index from the three stations is H' = 1.493 in the moderate abundance category. The distribution of lichens in Baturraden Botanical Garden is influenced by climatic factors (light intensity, air temperature, humidity), topographic factors (altitude) and environmental conditions.

The distribution of lichens and mosses at Edward VII Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica

AbstractThis is the first detailed study of the distribution of mosses and lichens at Alexandra Mountains and Rockefeller Mountains, Edward VII Peninsula, Antarctica. A total of 418 samples was collected on 21 nunataks in the summer of 1987–1988. Lichens included 44 taxa, bringing the total known from Edward VII Peninsula to 50. Ten lichen species were new records for the Continental Antarctic zone, whilst only six were endemic to that zone. There were six species and one variety of moss, bringing the total known from Edward VII Peninsula to seven species and one variety. These included the first record of a species of Orthotrichum in Continental Antarctica. Two other species and a variety were new records for Edward VII Peninsula. Overall, the flora was species rich for a Continental Antarctic region and was comparable with the species-rich sites of Botany Bay and Kar Plateau, which are at approximately the same latitude (77°S) in southern Victoria Land. This rich flora was probably supported by a reliable summer water supply from melting snowfall and snowdrift and by the range of microenvironments at nunataks with different degrees of nutrient enrichment from nesting birds.