Lichen Biota Research Articles

Checklist of the lichenized and lichenicolous fungi in Bulgaria

A checklist of all taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi recorded from Bulgaria is presented. The lichen biota as currently known includes 1137 taxa (1115 species, 5 subspecies, and 17 varieties) of lichenized fungi, 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 28 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. Lepra corallina is reported for the first time from Bulgaria. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1761 infrageneric names.

Do the natural dynamics of West Carpathian forests affect the diversity of epiphytic lichens on Norway spruce?

Over the last decades the West Carpathian spruce and mixed forests with a share of Picea abies, have been undergoing intensified dynamic changes, determined by windstorms and European spruce bark beetle outbreaks. Those changes should have a decisive effect on the survivability of species and shifts in epiphytic lichen communities on this phorophyte. Research conducted in the Gorce Mts (West Carpathians, Poland) in 1993, 2013 and 2018, on the same 186 spruce trees at 33 sites, revealed an increase in the species diversity of lichen communities in a long-term perspective (25 years). At the same time, there was a decrease in the coverage of the dominant species. Such changes are a result of long-term tree composition processes: the natural thinning of upper mountain spruce forests and the increase of lower mountain forests density after a decrease in the share of Norway spruce. The former prefers photophilous epiphytes, and the latter leads to an increase in the share of shade-tolerant species. The analysis of lichen communities by means of the principal components analysis (PCA) method for all three study periods combined showed that long-term changes were the most significant for this lichen biota, and short-term changes had no considerable effect. The conducted Redundancy Analysis (RDA) revealed, that the forest plant association was a stronger factor affecting the lichen community composition and coverage than tree stand density and saplings density in each observation term. The changes taking place in stands under bark beetle and wind disturbances should be treated differently in different types of forest associations, but in both, they cause differentiation of niches used by more specialized species of epiphytic lichens.

Современная и историческая лихенобиота Карельского перешейка: пример предлагаемой особо охраняемой природной территории Моторное-Заостровье (Ленинградская область, Россия)

The revealed lichen diversity of the proposed protected area Motornoe-Zaostrovje counts 452 species, including 400 lichens, 34 lichenicolous fungi, four facultatively lichenicolous fungi, and 14 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Micarea synotheoides and Tremella hypocenomycis are new to Russia; Rhizocarpon sublavatum is new to European Russia; Absconditella celata, Biatora albidula, Cyphobasidium hypogymniicola, Karschia talcophila, Micarea melanobola, Pyrenula laevigata, Sclerococcum microsporum, Sphinctrina anglica, and Trapeliopsis glaucolepidea are new to North-Western European Russia; Arthrorhaphis alpina, Lecaimmeria cupreoatra, Micarea nowakii, Protothelenella petri, Pycnora xanthococca, and Sagedia simoënsis are new to the Leningrad Region. Of particular interest are lichens of old-growth spruce forest in the Rytovka stream valley in its middle course. The lichen biota of Motornoe-Zaostrovje is one of the richest lichen biotas known in the Leningrad Region. It comprises 32 red-listed species, 20 habitat specialists (i. e., species restricted to biologically valuable forests) and 24 indicator species, and deserves protection on the regional level.

An enumeration of lichen diversity from Ultapani Forest Range of Kokrajhar District, Assam with <i>Ocellularia calvescens</i> and<i>Rhabdodiscus</i> <i>subcavatus</i>, two new records in India

The occurence of 52 species of lichens belonging to 25 genera and 14 families from Ultapani, Saralpara and Labanyapur of Ultapani Forest Range of Kokrajhar district, Assam (India) is provided. The majority of the species are crustose with 43 species, foliose with seven species and fruticose and squamulose with one species each. This study added two new records <italic>Ocellularia calvescens</italic> (Fée) Müll. Arg. and <italic>Rhabdodiscus subcavatus</italic> (Nyl.) Rivas Plata, Lücking &amp; Lumbsch for the first time to the Indian lichen biota. The family Diploschistaceae and Graphidaceae show luxuriant growth in the area followed by Pyrenulaceae and Trichotheliaceae. The genera <italic>Ocellularia</italic> is dominant with seven species followed by <italic>Pyrenula</italic> and <italic>Porina</italic> with six and four species respectively. Among the three areas, Ultapani showed maximum diversity of lichens compared to the other two. The dominance of Diploschistaceae and Graphidaceae members indicates semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forest as well as smooth bark trees in the region that provides healthy forest with ecological continuity.

Лихенобиота национального парка «Кыталык»(Аллаиховский район, Якутия)

The lichen biota of the Kytalyk National Park was studied for the first time ever. In total, 136 species of lichens and 1 lichenicolous fungus Sclerococcum deminutum were identified, among which 17 species were newly recorded for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The data on new species distribution in the neighboring regions as well as in the studied area are given.

Новые данные о разнообразии лишайников Амурской области и Российского Дальнего Востока

The lichen biota of the Amur Region (southern Russian Far East) was studied in the course of several geobotanical expeditions. In total 38 species of lichens and three lichenicolous fungi are reported for the first time for the Amur Region. Among them four species (Fulgidea oligospora, Peltigera frippii, Psora globifera, and Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans) are new to the Russian Far East and nine more — to the southern Russian Far East. Four and 38 species are new to the Zeya Reserve and Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park, respectively.

Species Composition of the Lichen Biota in Industrially Polluted Territories of Leninsky District of Irkutsk

In the context of the development of infrastructure in Siberian cities, the issues of the state of the areas with accumulated environmental damage is especially relevant. It is mentioned in the article that lichen indication is an efficient method of passive monitoring of environment for industrial pollutants caused by morphological changes occurring in sensitive objects. The results of the lichen floristic research of Leninsky district of Irkutsk are presented, a list of revealed lichens including 9 genera and 12 species is given, a taxonomic list of this area is discussed. Lichenological objects were mapped. Distribution of lichens in the area of research is investigated with regard to the presence of recreational and residential zones. The authors draw a conclusion about the presence of «lichens deserts» which are caused both by the absence of the respective substratum and high concentration of pollutants. High concentration of pollutants is caused by complex influence of different enterprises on the quality of air.

Contemporary State of Preservation of the Lichen Biota in the Eastern Part of the “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży” Ecological Area

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the contemporary conditions of the lichen biota in the eastern part of the “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży” ecological area in the Sudetes Foothills. The studies were carried out at three localities selected from 10 sites that were designed to protect the Asplenium fern genus. A total of 47 lichen species were found in the three localities. For each of the recorded species, the state of preservation in the Ślęża Massif area was assessed according to three factors: frequency at all three localities, general viability of the thalli, and stability in occurrence on the habitat. Stability was defined based on contemporary and historical data. From the analysis, most of the species (17) were classified as taxa with “moderate preservation status” in the study area. However, the preservation status of the 18 newly recorded taxa was defined as “insufficient data” due to the lack of previous records. Other species received a “very good preservation status” (three taxa) and “good preservation status” (nine taxa). The analyses allowed us to document the current number of taxa, determine their health condition, and indicate trends in the transformation within the lichen biota of the serpentinite rocks in the study area. Moreover, some actions were proposed to actively protect the valuable lichens in the ecological area of “Paprocie Serpentynitowe w Masywie Ślęży.”

A preliminary investigation of the lichen biota associated with recently deglaciated terrain in southeastern Alaska

Glaciers worldwide are currently retreating at unprecedented rates, revealing large tracts of newly exposed rock and till. We present the results of a preliminary, qualitative investigation of the lichen diversity of transient habitats near three glaciers in southeastern Alaska: Muir Glacier within Glacier Bay National Park, and Baird and Patterson Glaciers in the Tongass National Forest. This work is noteworthy as it (i) documents previously undescribed lichen species and communities within rapidly changing glacier habitats, (ii) illustrates the importance of cryptogams (lichens, bryophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria) in the primary colonization of recently deglaciated terrain, (iii) sets apart the lichen biota of recently deglaciated terrain in southeastern Alaska from that of other glacial regions worldwide (e.g., the European Alps, Svalbard, and southern South America) and even other parts of Alaska (e.g., Brooks Range), and (iv) emphasizes the importance of more lichen studies that focus on this rapidly changing habitat. The lichen biotas found at different successional stages near these glaciers are described and compared. The role of lichens and other cryptogams in post-glacial vegetation initiation, the threats to the lichen biota, and suggestions for the possible origins of the lichen propagules that colonize these newly exposed surfaces are also discussed.

Pyrenocarpous lichens in Goa with five new records to India

The pyrenocarpous lichens are the one which produces perithecial ascocarps. They are one of the prominent groups of lichens in tropical forests. Frequent incidence of pyrenocarpous taxa in lichen biota of Goa prompted us to take up the exclusive study of this group in the State. The study revealed the occurrence of 79 species belonging to 15 genera and seven families. The family Pyrenulaceae had the maximum number of 23 species, while 20 belonged to the family Porinaceae. In comparison to North Goa, South Goa is fairly well explored for lichens representing 71 species from 11 localities. The following five species are reported as new to India — Porina exserta, P. siamensis, Pyrenula dissimulans, P. pyrenastrospora and P. rinodinospora. With the addition of five new records, the Goa State now represents 165 species of lichens, out of which 48% is represented by pyrenocarpous lichens. The present study will be useful for monographic studies on pyrenocarpous lichens and for environmental monitoring studies in the area, as this can be considered as a key indicator species.

Refining the picture: new records to the lichen biota of Italy.

Based on the analysis of both historical and recent collections, this paper reports an annotated list of taxa which are new to the lichen biota of Italy or of its administrative regions. Specimens were identified using a dissecting and a compound microscope; routine chemical spot tests and standardized thin-layer chromatography (TLC or HPTLC). The list includes 225 records of 153 taxa. Twenty taxa are new to Italy, the others are new to one or more administrative regions, with 15 second records and 5 third records for Italy. Some of the species belong to recently-described taxa, others are poorly known, sterile or ephemeral lichens which were largely overlooked in Italy. Several species are actually rare, either because of the rarity of their habitats (e.g. old-growth forests), or because in Italy they are at the margins of their bioclimatic distribution. The picture of the lichen biota of Italy has now new pixels, but its grain is still coarse. Further analysis of historical collections, increased efforts in the exploration of some areas, and the taxonomic revision of critical groups are still necessary to provide more complete distributional data for new biogeographic hypotheses, taxonomic and ecological research, and biodiversity conservation.

New Distributional Records of the Genus Usnea (Lichenized Ascomycota) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

The genus Usnea Dill.ex Adans. is worked out based on the new collections and represented by 29 species in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, a biodiversity hotspot in north-east India. Six species viz. Usnea angulata Ach., U. compressa Taylor, U. himalayana Bab. U. montisfuji Motyka, U. perplexans Stirt., U. picta (J. Steiner) Motyka are new additions to the state lichen biota. Two species namely U. cineraria Motyka and U. thomsonii Stirt. are endemic to the Himalayan region. The genus is a potent source of phytomedicine and has multifarious ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance. An identification key to all the species is provided to facilitate their identification while new additions to the state are dealt briefly along with their photographs and a table showing the distribution of species within the state. Indian species of Usnea need thorough phytochemical screening to record their unique uses for the human benefits.

Phaeorrhiza (Physciaceae), a new lichen genus record to China

The genus Phaeorrhiza is reported as new for the Chinese lichen biota, including the two species, Phaeorrhiza nimbosa (Fr.) H. Mayrhofer &amp; Poelt and P. sareptana var. sphaerocarpa. (Tr. Fr.) H. Mayrhofer &amp; Poelt. The genus grows on soil in alpine meadows, morphologically characterized by a squamulose to subfoliose thallus, rhizohyphae, and Beltraminia-type ascospores. P. nimbosa has cryptolecanorine to eulecanorine apothecia, while P. sareptana var. sphaerocarpa has lecideine apothecia. Descriptions, a key and a phylogram of these species are provided.

The lichens of Pukhtolova Gora (St. Petersburg, Russia)

The lichen diversity of the proposed protected area Pukhtolova Gora counts 252 species, including 232 lichenized, 12 lichenicolous, and 8 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Micarea laeta, M. pusilla, and Pyrenidium actinellum s. lat. are new to North-Western European Russia; Parmelia serrana, Rhizocarpon cinereovirens, and Stereocaulon taeniarum are new to St. Petersburg. Altogether 13 species recorded in the study area are red-listed in St. Petersburg, with two of them known only from historical collections. Pukhtolova Gora is an area with a high conservation value; the lichen biota of this area is one of the richest within the city limits due to the well-preserved forest habitats.

Additions to the lichens, allied fungi, and lichenicolous fungi of the Ottawa region in Ontario and Quebec, with reflections on a changing biota

The inventory of lichens, allied fungi, and their parasites in the Ottawa region has grown from 391 in 1988 to 543 today, almost entirely because of the discovery of species overlooked in previous years and the inclusion of fungal parasites. In addition, almost 140 names have changed with reclassifications and re-identifications. These changes are presented here together with a list of synonyms updating the 1988 list. Vouchers are cited for all new records, and notes are presented for many species neither described nor keyed out in easily accessible literature. Reference is made to the new, complete list of lichens and lichenicolous fungi available online. The new checklist includes one species new for North America (Tremella christiansenii); five species and one variety new for Canada (Caloplaca parvula, Caloplaca reptans, Cladonia petrophila, Enchylium tenax var. ceranoides, Leprocaulon adhaerens, and Merismatium peregrinum); four new for Ontario (Caloplaca reptans, Kiliasia tristis, Lempholemma chalazanum, and Rinodina fimbriata); and nine new for Quebec (Arthonia helvola, Arthonia hypobela, Caloplaca parvula, Cladonia petrophila, Lempholemma chalazanum, Leprocaulon adhaerens, Merismatium peregrinum, Rimularia badioatra, and Tremella christiansenii). Although the climate of the region is warming, especially with higher minimum temperatures in winter, the lichen biota has not increased as a result but, in fact, may be threatened by the effects of climate change on the health of the forests and the trees that support lichens. Air quality has improved in recent decades, allowing numerous lichens to again become established in urban areas. Local areas of especially rich lichen diversity can be found on both the Ontario and Quebec sides of the region, and some of these “hot-spots” are mentioned. Other factors influencing the decrease or increase of lichen cover are also discussed.

Shifts in Lichen Species and Functional Diversity in a Primeval Forest Ecosystem as a Response to Environmental Changes

Research highlights: shifts in the composition and functional diversity of lichen biota reflect changes in the environment caused by climate warming and eutrophication. Background and objectives: studies on lichen functional diversity and refinement in the functional traits of lichen biota under the pressure of changing environmental factors are currently of great scientific interest. The obtained results are interpreted in relation to specific habitat properties and their modifications due to the potential effects of climate change and atmospheric pollution. The aim of the work was to investigate changes in lichen species composition and functional diversity, as well as to identify factors responsible for them at different forest ecosystem scales. Materials and Methods: we identified factors responsible for changes in lichen biota in a unique Białowieża Forest ecosystem by analyzing shifts in species optima and functional diversity at the forest community, tree phorophyte, and substrate levels. We examined individual lichen species’ responses and temporal shifts in the species composition for each historical and resampled dataset using a community-weighted means of functional lichen traits and Wirth ecological indicator values. Results: the most evident change took place at the level of individual species, which shifted their realized optima: 25 species demonstrated a shift to co-occur with lichens of higher nitrogen demands, 15 demonstrated higher light demands, 14 demonstrated higher temperature preferences, and six demonstrated lower moisture preferences. At the level of forest communities, biota shifted towards the higher proportion of nitrogen-demanding and the lower proportion of moisture-demanding species. At the level of phorophyte species, biota changed towards an increased proportion of lichens of higher temperature preferences. For the substrate level, no directional shifts in lichen species composition were found. Conclusions: climate change has influenced lichen biota in Białowieża Forest, but the main driver of lichen species composition was found to be eutrophication. We suppose that other overlapping factors may contribute to biota shifts, e.g., the extinction and expansion of phorophyte tree species.

The Lichen Biota of Pinus sylvestris Under the Impact of Some Stand-Related Factors: A Case Study from the South-Eastern Part of Żerków-Czeszewo Landscape Park (Wielkopolska-Kujawy Lowland)

AbstractA lichenological inventory was conducted in the pine stands in the south-eastern region of Żerków-Czeszewo Landscape Park. The aim of this study was to recognize the lichen species diversity on the bark ofPinus sylvestrisby considering tree age and forest habitat type. In total, 26 species of lichenized fungi were found on the bark ofP. sylvestris. The biota comprises common and widespread species in Poland. Tree age positively and significantly influenced the species richness on the bark ofP. sylvestris. The suitability of the pine tree age for lichens evident as alpha diversity seemed to be independent from the habitat of the trees. The age of phorophytes strongly affected the presence ofHypocenomyce scalaris. Mixed fresh coniferous forests were characterized by higher beta- and gamma diversity compared to fresh coniferous forests. There was no correlation between the number of species per tree (alpha diversity) and diversification of species composition in relation to the distance between pines. The findings indicate that maintenance of a variety of phorophytes and age-diversified tree stands can prevent impoverishment of the lichen biota in the south-eastern part of Żerków-Czeszewo Landscape Park.

Additions to the lichen genus Rhizocarpon in Pakistan and their comparative analysis

As part of a comprehensive study of lichen diversity of northern areas of Pakistan using molecular and morphological approaches, we found four species of the genus Rhizocarpon. The analysis revealed two new species in the lichen biota of Pakistan namely, Rhizocarpon lavatum and Rhizocarpon petraeum, while the other two, Rhizocarpon disporum and Rhizocarpon geminatum are reported for the second time, from new localities. In comparison to literature information and GenBank sequences of the same taxa, variation in the morpho-anatomical features and nucleotide differences in the ITS marker of nrDNA have been documented. Descriptions and phylogenetic analysis of the taxa are given, along with information on ecology and distribution.

The lichens of the Majella National Park (Central Italy): an annotated checklist.

The botanical exploration of the Majella National Park has a long tradition dating back to the eighteenth century. However, the lichen biota of this area is still poorly investigated. To provide a baseline for future investigations, in this annotated checklist, we summarised all available information on the occurrence of lichens in the Majella National Park, retrieved from previous literature, herbarium material and original data produced by recent research.The checklist includes 342 infrageneric taxa. However, seven taxa are considered as dubious, thus setting the number of accepted taxa at 335, i.e. 45.8% of those currently known to occur in the Abruzzo Region. This checklist provides a baseline of the lichens known to occur in the Majella National Park, highlighting the potential of this area as a hotspot of lichen biodiversity, especially from a biogeographical point of view as indicated by the occurrence of several arctic-alpine species that form disjunct populations in the summit area of the massif.

Vanadium Stable Isotopes in Biota of Terrestrial and Aquatic Food Chains.

Vanadium, a potentially toxic metal, is enriched in the environment from anthropogenic releases, particularly during fossil fuel production and use and steel manufacturing. Metal stable isotopes are sophisticated tools to trace pollution; however, only recent analytical advances have allowed for the accurate and precise measurement of vanadium isotope ratios (δ51V). To examine its potential as a tracer in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, δ51V was measured in soil, plant, lichen, marten, and lake sediment from sites near vanadium emissions at oil sands mines (Alberta, Canada) and in the sediment and biota (algae, zooplankton, fish) from a remote subarctic lake (Northwest Territories, Canada). Samples from Alberta had distinct δ51V values with marten liver the lowest (-1.7 ± 0.3‰), followed by lichen (-0.9 ± 0.1‰), soil (-0.7 ± 0.1‰), sediment (-0.5 ± 0.2‰), and plant root (-0.3 ± 0.2‰). Average values were lower than Alberta bitumen and petroleum coke (-0.1 ± 0.1‰). Plant roots had systematically higher δ51V than the soil from which they grew (Δ51Vplant-soil = 0.4 ± 0.1‰), while δ51V of lichen and aquatic biota were lower (0.1-0.3‰) than likely crustal sources. These δ51V measurements in terrestrial and aquatic biota demonstrate promise for tracer applications, although further study of its biological fractionation is needed.