Lichen Populations Research Articles

Evidence for the translocation of fixed N in the N2-fixing lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum.

The fruticose lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum is among the most abundant and widespread lichens in upland Britain. It typically produces cephalodia (nodules) that contain the cyanobacterium Stigonema, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, over much of England, Wales, and southern Scotland S. vesuvianum no longer produces cephalodia and does not fix nitrogen, a morphological change linked to elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition. This provided a unique opportunity to compare the 15N natural abundance signatures in N2-fixing and non-N2-fixing lichen populations, keeping in mind that fixed nitrogen has a 15N content close to that of atmospheric N2 while, in comparison, several components of atmospheric combined N (e.g. nitrate and ammonium in precipitation) tend to be 15N depleted. We found that in N2-fixing samples, there was a steep gradient in 15N relative abundance in the terminal 15 mm of thallus branches (pseudopodetia), changing from 15N depleted tissues at 10-15 mm below the tips to values close to that of atmospheric N2 at the apices while in non-N2-fixing samples thallus branches were uniformly 15N depleted. The 15N gradient in N2-fixing material could not be explained by the presence of cephalodia since these are more abundant towards branch bases. The data provide the first evidence in lichens of translocation of recently fixed N to sink regions of active growth and production of asexual reproductive propagules, bringing lichens into line with N source-sink relationships in N2-fixing plant symbioses.

Inventarisasi Awal Liken Langka, Sensitif dan Toleran sebagai Bioindikator Polutan di Kabupaten Belitung Barat

The existence and population conditions of the rare, sensitive or tolerant lichens of Lobaria, Coccocarpia, Coenogonium, Dictyonema, Pseudocyphellaria, Sticta, Usnea, Leptogium, and Parmotrema tinctorum are not yet known in West Belitung Regency, so this research needs to be carried out. The method used in this research was exploratory descriptive with survey techniques and purposive sampling. The number of target lichen thallus was calculated from the entire area of the tree trunk with a height of 0-1.5 m. The lichens found in the Gunung Tajam area were Coccocarpia sp. with the highest number of thallus and the highest frequency of thallus (0.8%), followed by Coenogonium sp., Leptogium sp., and Usnea sp. with the same frequency of thallus (0.4%) while in the Batu Mentas area lichens were not found as the research target, but was dominated by fruticose lichen. Parmotrema tinctorum, the tolerant lichen, was not found at either location. The presence of sensitive lichens and the absence of tolerant lichens does not indicate that the locations have good air quality. It is recommended that the lichen population, especially P. tinctorum, be studied further so that air quality can be easily confirmed through the diversity and population of the lichens.

The non-native Quercus rubra does not substitute the native Quercus robur and Q. petraea as substrate for epiphytic lichens and bryophytes

Climate change will cause alterations in tree species ranges. Non-native tree species are likely to be increasingly used in production forests, due to their often better adaptation to a warmer climate and their lower susceptibility to pests and pathogens. Trees form an important habitat for numerous species, many of which are more or less specialised regarding tree species. Thus, the tree-associated flora and fauna may be heavily impacted if non-native trees replace native ones. Risk assessments from the introduction of non-native trees must rest on a solid knowledge base, including insights into the potential of such trees to function as biodiversity substitutes, i.e. to host similar biodiversity as closely related native tree species. In a study in temperate Sweden, we inventoried epiphytic lichens and bryophytes on ten random trees in each of 28 stands (14 stands of North American red oak Quercus rubra and 14 stands of native oak Q. robur/petraea), to compare species richness and composition. Overall, 101 lichen taxa and 35 bryophyte taxa were identified, and we found a generally higher diversity for native oak. The regional species richness (gamma diversity) for both lichens and bryophytes was higher in native oak than in red oak, and the lichen species richness at stand level (alpha diversity) was nearly significantly higher. Lichen composition differed between the two oak species, while there was no difference for bryophytes. More lichens were strongly associated with native oak than red oak, while most bryophyte species were generalists with no specific preference for either oak taxa. Bark structure was an important explanatory variable separating the lichen epiphytes, with species preferring smooth bark largely confined to red oak. In conclusion, our study suggests that substituting native oak with red oak could have adverse consequences for epiphytic lichen populations associated with native oak, resulting in a decline of several species. However, certain lichen and bryophyte species were exclusively found on Q. rubra, implying that incorporating a proportion of red oak stands in southern Swedish landscapes may enhance diversity. Further research is needed to explore the overlap between species associated with Q. rubra and other deciduous tree species that possess similar smooth bark. Our findings indicate that red oak may not be an appropriate alternative host tree for epiphytic lichens typically found on native oak, while the implications for bryophytes remain less clear.

Long-term dynamics of the iconic old-forest lichen Usnea longissima in a protected landscape

Long-term data on spatial dynamics of epiphytic lichens associated with old-growth forests are fundamental for understanding how environmental factors drive their extinction and colonization in heterogeneous landscapes. This study focuses on Usnea longissima, a flagship species for biodiversity conservation. By using a long-term data set (37 yr.) of U. longissima in old Picea abies forests in Skuleskogen National Park, Sweden, we examined changes in the number of host trees, population size (sum of thallus length), extinction, colonization, dispersal, and distribution in a protected landscape. We surveyed the lichen in 1984–1985 by applying a line transect inventory and a total population inventory and tagged 355 occupied trees with an aluminium plate buried in the ground. We repeated the survey in 2021 using a metal detector and recorded GPS-position of host trees, tree and lichen population characteristics. We also measured the structure and age (tree-ring data) of the forest to understand how disturbance history influenced lichen populations. Usnea longissima occurred on 66 of the tagged trees and we recorded 141 new host trees. The number of host trees decreased with 41.7% and the population size with 41.9%. One third of the decline was caused by deterministic extinction (treefalls) and two thirds by stochastic extinction on standing trees. The probability of stochastic extinction on live trees decreased with population size in logistic regression. The decline in the sites with largest populations (35–87% loss) was more influenced by limited colonization than extinction. Colonization was highest in humid north-facing hillslopes with multi-layered forests driven by gap dynamics. The lichen was strongly dispersal-limited, with a median effective horizontal dispersal of only 3.8 m in 37 yr., explaining its strong dependence of long continuity of forest cover. The populations were clustered and had substantial local turnover, yet with stable distribution at landscape scale. The tree-ring index, growth releases and gap recruitments indicate extensive harvesting ∼ 1860–1900, but without major disturbances during the last 70–80 yr. Instead, the decline of U. longissima was probably driven by air pollution, climate change (autumn/winter mortality and heatwaves) and denser forests. Our findings highlight that the long-term survival of this lichen may be at risk even in forests having a strong level of protection.

Lichenometric Analysis Applied to Bedrock Fault Scarps: The Sencelles Fault and the 1851 CE Mallorca Earthquake (Balearic Islands, Spain)

The Sencelles Fault constitutes the main extensional structure of Mallorca Island (Spain), holds a NE-SE orientation, and has been identified as the possible seismic source of the 1851 CE Palma earthquake (VII EMS.) The SE termination of the fault (Sta. Eugenia Segment) features a linear bedrock fault scarp of a maximum of 3.15 m height. The last 840 m of this rocky scarp display a significant horizontal banding, with up to five differentially weathered ribbons colonized by lichens. The lichenometric analysis is based on the measurement of 155 specimens of Aspicilia calcarea (Ac) and Aspicilia radiosa (Ar) in tombstones and funerary monuments (with inscribed dates) from the nearby cemeteries of Sta. María del Camí, Sta. Eugenia and Sencelles, to obtain the local lichen growth rates (LGR), with the two last graveyards being directly located in the fault zone. Lichens were measured on variously oriented (N, S, NE, SW, etc…) horizontal and vertical surfaces, generating differentially oriented lichen populations (DOLPs) to be compared with the Ac and Ar specimens colonizing the studied fault scarp (38 measured individual specimens). After successive trial and error regression tests, vertical DOLPs resulted in the best appropriate groups for the analysis, with LGR of 0.23–0.31 mm/yr. Horizontal ones reached widths of up to 20 cm, with LGR up to 0.84 mm/yr, which were clearly oversized. The application of the selected LGR points to a human-induced origin for the thin basal lichen ribbon of the scarp (10–13 cm), which should have developed during the middle 20th century (c. 1950–1966) because of documented ground leveling works. However, the second ribbon of the scarp (23–47 cm) shows exposure dates of 1852 ± 40 (Ar) and 1841 ± 59 (Ac), overlapping the date of the 1851 CE earthquake. The study is complemented with data from a fault trench excavated in the year 2002 at the toe of the scarp. The combined data of lichenometry, fault trenching, and the length of the analyzed fault scarp (c. 840 m) indicate that the studied segment of the fault cannot be considered a co-seismic surface faulting related to the 1851 CE event as a whole, but a relevant secondary earthquake effect on a pre-existing fault scarp (e.g., sympathetic ground ruptures).

Ecological preferences and abundances of populations of protected lichens in linden forests on the Salair Ridge in Altai Territory

Ecological preferences and abundances of populations of protected lichens in linden forests on the Salair Ridge in Altai Territory

Influence of canopy structure and light on the three-dimensional distribution of the iconic lichen Usnea longissima

Forest canopies modify microclimates and create habitats for nonvascular epiphytes, but we need to better understand the mechanisms regulating their vertical and horizontal distributions. Here we examine how canopy structure and light environment influence the 3D distribution of Usnea longissima, the world’s longest lichen, and associated with old-growth forests. We quantified forest structure, vertical profile of light (PPFD transmittance fraction), and horizontal as well as vertical distribution of the lichen in a 1 ha plot dominated by Picea abies. The forest had a multi-layered canopy with mortality driven by small-scale gap dynamics. The population size of the lichen had an approximate log-normal distribution with host trees showing strong clustering. The lichen extended up to mid-canopy and had a rather sharp upper limit. Population size increased with DBH and upper limit but did not correlate with basal area. The vertical profile of light was steeper in dead than in live trees, with the lichen occurring in a zone with low-intermediate light. The horizontal distribution was linked to the vertical distribution through short-distance asexual dispersal. The lichen’s 3D distribution was shaped by various interacting functional mechanisms. Its absence from the upper canopy was mainly explained by sensitivity to high light when desiccated and limited capacity for upward migration. The population dynamics was driven by source trees hosting large populations in mid-canopy. The lichen’s strong association with humid, old-growth forests is explained by narrow niche preferences and dispersal limitation, and not by slow growth. Protection of multi-layered forests with long continuity of tree cover is needed to secure substrates and suitable microclimates for development of viable lichen populations. Our study highlights that the 3D distribution of lichens in forest canopies is driven by forest dynamics, canopy structure, microclimate, and lichen functional traits.

The use of tissue culture method for the study of lichenized fungi (Lobariaceae Chevall., Parmeliaceae Zenker.) of the European part of Russia

Lichenized fungi as a multicomponent biological system are an interesting but difficult research object. In view of the complex interaction of the myco- and photobiont, the slow growth of natural thalli, their exceptional exactingness to environmental factors, the study of the biological characteristics of lichens is significantly difficult. This article discusses the problem of studying the anatomical and morphological structure of the myco- and photobiont of lichenized fungi using the tissue culture method on the example of rare species (Lobaria pulmonaria) and species with pharmaceutical potential (Usnea dasopoga, Cetraria islandica). The authors proposed a method for cultivating of myco- and photobionts of these species on synthetic nutrient media for the purpose of further research on the characteristics of lichenized fungi. Fragments of thalli, apothecia (for C. islandica), and soredia (for U. dasopoga and L. pulmonaria) were used as donor material. For the introduction of the photobiont under sterile conditions, a homogenate of the thallus region was prepared. Pure cultures of the myco- and photobiont of L. pulmonaria, U. dasopoga, and C. islandica were obtained on three types of hormone-free nutrient media, namely MS nutrient medium, modified MS medium with a reduced nitrogen content, Czapek medium. The verification of the research results was carried out taking into account the microscopy of the obtained cultures of myco- and photobionts. Using microscopy, the dimensional characteristics of the obtained mycobionts were determined. The diameters of the hyphae of L. pulmonaria, U. dasopoga, and C. islandica were 4.3–4.4 µm, 4.6 µm, and 4.1–4.3 µm, respectively, which corresponds to the size of the hyphae in natural samples. The use of the tissue culture method makes it possible to study and analyze the biological characteristics of lichenized fungi as a multicomponent biological system, as well as to contribute to the preservation of rare species and their components in the Red Data Book; while optimizing the method of cultivating myco- and photobiont on synthetic nutrient media, to reduce the anthropogenic load on natural populations of lichens when using them as medicinal raw materials.

Adaptions of photosynthesis in sun and shade in populations of some Afromontane lichens

AbstractPhotosynthetic organisms have evolved a great variety of mechanisms to optimize their use of sunlight. Some of the clearest examples of adaptations can be seen by comparing photosynthesis in different species and in different individuals of the same species that grow under high and low light levels. While the adaptations of sun and shade higher plants have been relatively well studied, much less information is available on the photobionts of lichenized Ascomycetes. An important adaptation that can protect photosynthetic organisms from the potentially harmful effects of excess light is non-photochemical quenching (NPQ); NPQ can dissipate unused light energy as heat. Here we used chlorophyll fluorescence to compare the induction and relaxation of NPQ and the induction of electron transport (rETR) in collections of the same lichen species from exposed and from more shaded locations. All species have trebouxioid photobionts and normally grow in more exposed microhabitats but can also be readily collected from more shaded locations. Shade forms display generally higher NPQ, presumably to protect lichens from occasional rapid increases in light that occur during sunflecks. Furthermore, the NPQ of shade forms relaxes quickly when light levels are reduced, presumably to ensure efficient photosynthesis after a sunfleck has passed. The maximal relative electron transport rate is lower in shade than sun collections, probably reflecting a downregulation of photosynthetic capacity to reduce energy costs. We also compared collections of pale and melanized thalli from three species of shade lichens with Symbiochloris as their photobiont. Interestingly, NPQ in melanized thalli from slightly more exposed microhabitats induced and relaxed in a way that resembled shade rather than sun forms of the trebouxioid lichens. This might suggest that in some locations melanization induced during a temporary period of high light may be excessive and could potentially reduce photosynthesis later in the growing season. Taken together, the results suggest that lichen photobionts can flexibly adjust the amount and type of NPQ, and their levels of rETR in response to light availability.

Phorophyte specificity of lichen community, with ecological taxation in Suruli watershed, Southern Western Ghats

The Lichens is an essential component of all kinds of ecosystems. They are one of the flora's dominant components, and it accumulates about eight percent of the terrestrial ecosystem. India is an assorted vegetative tropical country. Four major ecological factors produce several microclimatic niches for the growth of lichens in the Western Ghats. First attempt to correlate the lichen population and species richness with the natural and silviculture challenges. During collection, surprisingly uninformed rainfall has observed in the summer season too. Eco-lichenological ranks premeditatedly founded on altitude, geo-specificities, substrates or habitats and morpho-types. The environmental variables revealed that the lichen density was more about spring to summer (27.3 to 25.5%), 23.5 to 18.5% during the winter and late autumn periods. The luxuriant growth of lichen thalli has notified on the rainy and Autumn seasons. Meanwhile, the crustose group of fruiting bodies flourished during the summer season. The terrestrial forest habits occurring on the cryptogamic and phanerogamic plants, including lichens. Most forests hold with the tribal and ethnic community; they suffered from terrestrial human and motor vehicle movements and forest fires, landslides, and more, including endangered species. Natural and manmade forestation practises to be regulating to conserve forest and dependences.

Inverse modeling of lichen growth curves and implications for lichenometric dating

Lichenometric dating represents a quick and affordable surface exposure dating method that has been widely used to provide a minimum age constraint on tectonic and geomorphic landscape changes as well as buildings and anthropogenic landscape changes in various settings during the late Holocene. Despite its widespread usage, this method has several limitations. Major problems relate to the sampling of lichen population on any given rock surface and the modeling of growth curves. In order to overcome these issues, it has been suggested to subdivide the rock surface into some areas and measure the largest lichen thallus on each one. However, how to express the data in terms of a probability distribution function and link it to an age of last exposure of the rock surface are still a matter of debate. Here, we propose a novel approach to the modeling of lichen growth curves by treating lichen growth as a continuous-time Markov process with a time-varying rate and additive Brownian noise. Given the growth rates, the probability distribution of the lichen population at any time can then be obtained by solving the Fokker–Planck equation. This method is illustrated using a dataset from the Huashan area of eastern China, which consists of measurements of the largest thalli on 12 rock surfaces of known age. We first build up the probability distribution of the lichen population for each rock surface based on extreme value theory and then use these to optimize the growth curve by minimizing the Jensen–Shannon divergence. A new method is also proposed to use the growth curve to map a sample of size data from an undated rock surface to the calendar age domain so as to yield a fully probabilistic estimate of the exposure age of the undated rock surface rather than a point estimate. • We propose a novel approach to lichenometric dating. • Lichen growth is modeled using a continuous-time Markov process. • Extreme-value theory is used to model the size distribution. • A MATLAB package for implementing the model is provided.

Diversity and distribution of lichens from the Cerro Duida and adjacent areas, Alto Orinoco, Amazonas, Venezuela

Increasing temperature and changing land-use in the Guayana Shield and Amazonia result in an accelerated decline of sensitive lichen populations. Monitoring of these populations by biological plot inventories in particularly vulnerable sites is urgently needed. In order to know the diversity and distribution of lichen species at the Alto Orinoco, Parque Nacional Duida-Marahuaca and nearby areas from Amazonas state, Venezuela, lichens were sampled during four expeditions in more than 40 plots located from 200 m (premontane forest) to more than 1500 m elevation (altotepuyana vegetation). Additional data were obtained from literature and herbaria. Our assessment, although incomplete, revealed 205 described species, 150 undescribed species, 84 genera and 27 families. Among the described species 162 were observed in the basimontane vegetation, 38 in the montane vegetation, 24 in the altotepuyana vegetation, while 20 appear to be endemic to the study area. Sixty-nine species are new records for the Cerro Duida. A checklist with taxonomic and ecological data is presented. Five new species and one new variety are described: Cladonia duidana V.Marcano & A.Morales sp. nov. (Cladoniaceae), Pertusaria orinoquensis V.Marcano sp. nov., Sticta kunuhana V.Marcano sp. nov. (Lobariaceae), S. spruceana V.Marcano sp. nov. (Lobariaceae), Xanthoparmelia esmeraldensis V.Marcano & A.Morales sp. nov. (Parmeliaceae), and Lepraria arbuscula (Nyl.) Lendemer & Hodk. var. fumarprotocetrarica V.Marcano var. nov.

The comparison of population structure and distribution of thalli <i>Evernia prunastri</i> (L.) Ach. along the trunk of Tilia cordata in a shaded floodplain lime-tree forest for 2008–2017

The research was carried out in shaded flooded lime-tree forest on the territory of the Mari El Republic. Population density, ontogenetic structure of populations and thalli vitality of E. prunastri were explored on 19 marked trees of heart-leaved linden on different tree trunk heights (00,5 m, 0,51 m, 11,5 m, 1,52 m) and on different expositions (north, east, south, west). For the period from 2008 to 2017 an increase in the population density of E. prunastri was founded. These differences appear at the trunk height of 1,52 m. Thalli were not founded at the height of 00,5 m. No changes in the distribution of thalli by exposure in different years were revealed. The most of E. prunastri thalli grow on the northern exposure. In 2017 in the population the specimens share of v₁, v₂ and g₂v of ontogenetic states increases and the specimens share of g₁v decreases. The average vitality of E. prunastri thalli decreases, the deterioration of vitality is more pronounced among individuals in g₁v-ss ontogenetic states. An increase in the population density, a decrease in the size of the E. prunastri thalli and Hypogymnia physodes, a rejuvenation of the ontogenetic structure of the E. prunastri thalli were shown earlier for the illuminated floodplain lime forest. Similar processes in different environmental conditions and in different species indicate regular changes in the populations of epiphytic lichens, which can be caused by climate warming.

State of the Usnea filipendula lichen population on the territory of the reserve “Section of the Protva river valley between the villages of Kuprovo and Bartenevo” (Moscow region)

State of the Usnea filipendula lichen population on the territory of the reserve “Section of the Protva river valley between the villages of Kuprovo and Bartenevo” (Moscow region)

Diversity of lichens in the paramos of El Batallón and La Negra, General Juan Pablo Peñaloza National Park

Increasing temperatures and changing land-use in the Venezuelan Andes result in an accelerated decline of sensitive lichen populations. Monitoring of these populations by biological plot inventories in particularly vulnerable sites is urgently needed. In order to know the diversity and distribution of lichen species occurring in the paramos El Batallón and La Negra, General Juan Pablo Peñaloza National Park, in the Venezuelan Andes, we carried out various collections along an altitudinal gradient including montane forest (2100–3000 m) and paramo vegetation (3200–3650 m). The results showed a total of 104 species and 40 genera, 44 species from the montane forest, 82 species from the paramo, six new records for Venezuela, and 31 new records for the southwest of the Venezuelan Andes (Táchira State). A checklist with taxonomic, morphological and ecological data is provided for the most relevant species. Bunodophoron portachuelense V. Marcano & L. Castillo (Sphaeorophoraceae) is described from the paramo. Increasing forestry exploitation, livestock and cultivation during decades from the montane forest would explain the highest diversity found in the paramo.

Genetic variability in thePhysconia muscigenagroup (Physciaceae, Ascomycota) in the Northern Hemisphere

AbstractThe principal goal of our study was to test whether ecologically and chemically different populations of lichens in thePhysconia muscigenagroup belong to a single, or multiple, species. We used sequence data from three markers (ITS rDNA, mtSSU rDNA and TEF1-α) for the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees based on a sampling of mostly European and Canadian populations ofP. muscigena(Ach.) Poelt,P. muscigenavar.bayeri(Nádv.) Poelt andP. isidiomuscigenaEssl. In addition, we sought any possible geographical or ecological trends among chemotypes and haplotypes. Results show that: 1) sequence data of ITS rDNA and TEF1-α show large genetic variation in thePhysconia muscigenagroup, which does not correlate with geographical distribution or thallus chemistry; 2)Physconia muscigenavar.bayeriandP. isidiomuscigenaappear undifferentiated withP. muscigenain our phylogenetic trees, and the three species cannot be distinguished on the basis of ITS rDNA, mtSSU rDNA and TEF1-α sequences. We therefore synonymizedPhysconia muscigenavar.bayeriwithP. muscigenaand we recombineP. isidiomuscigenaas a variety ofP. muscigena.

Microclimatic refugia in riparian woodland: A climate change adaptation strategy

There is increasing interest in the role that microclimatic refugia might play in moderating the response of biodiversity to climate change. A key question is how habitat management can proactively generate microclimatic refugia to maintain locally favourable conditions despite macroclimatic change. This study uses woodland epiphytes as a case-study, to answer this question. Field sampled data documented a cross-scale response of the conservation-priority lichen – Lobaria pulmonaria – to macroclimate, and, representing microclimates, the distance to watercourse and bryophyte association. The field sampled response was tested against experimental growth rates in a factorial design with respect to two climatically-contrasting sites (Benmore and Dawyck Botanic Gardens, in northern Britain), four watercourse distances, for lichens with and without bryophyte association. When measured for a summer dry period, the sites, watercourse distances and bryophyte associations had significantly different vapour pressure deficit (VPD) experienced by the lichen thalli, and therefore affecting physiological response. Furthermore, the field sampled response and growth rates were consistent, supporting the use of riparian woodland with a buffer of c. 500 m as an adaptation option that would allow lichen populations to adjust position (further or nearer from a watercourse) as they migrate locally into microclimatic space when responding to macroclimatic change. Microhabitat complexity (areas with and without bryophytes) would facilitate this process. These results are relevant to rare and threatened conservation priority epiphytes – including temperate rainforest species – lending additional support to the bundle of ecosystem services provided by riparian woodland.

Microsatellite based genetic diversity of the widespread epiphytic lichen Usnea subfloridana (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in Estonia: comparison of populations from the mainland and an island.

Understanding the distribution of genetic patterns and structure is an essential target in population genetics and, thereby, important for conservation genetics. The main aim of our study was to investigate the population genetics of Usnea subfloridana, a widespread lichenised fungus, focusing on a comparison of genetic variation of its populations amongst three geographically remote and disconnected regions, in order to determine relationships amongst environmental data, variation in lichen secondary chemistry and microsatellite data in genotyped populations. In all, 928 Usnea thalli from 17 populations were genotyped using seven specific fungal microsatellite markers. Different measures of genetic diversity (allelic richness, private allelic richness, Nei’s unbiased genetic diversity and clonal diversity) were calculated and compared between lichen populations. Our results revealed a low genetic differentiation of U. subfloridana populations amongst three distant areas in Estonia and also a high level of gene flow. The results support suggestion of the long-range vegetative dispersal of subpendulous U. subfloridana via symbiotic propagules (soralia, isidia or fragments of thalli). Our study has also provided evidence that environmental variables, including mean annual temperature and geographical longitude, shape the genetic structure of U. subfloridana populations in Estonia. Additionally, a weak but statistically significant correlation between lichen chemotypes and microsatellite allele distribution was found in genotyped specimens.

Short Communication: Species diversity of corticolous lichens in the arboretum of Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor, Indonesia

Abstract. Kusmoro J, Mayawatie B, Budiono R, Noer IS, Permatasari RE, Nurwahidah A, Satriawati R, Arum D, Saragih DE, Widya R, Jatnika MF, Makarim A, Partasasmita R. 2019. Short Communication: Species diversity of corticolous lichens in the arboretum of Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1606-1616. The lichen flora of tropical areas is still much under explored, Java in general and the Arboretum in West Java in particular, are no exceptions. The Arboretum of the main campus of Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia is representative of a typical man-made lowland tropical rain forest ecosystem in Java. It is planted with peculiar and rare species of plants, such as Antidesma bunius, Syzygium cumini, Durio zibethinus, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Tectona grandis, Albizzia falcataria, Swietenia mahagoni, Alstonia scholaris, Jatropha multifida, Sterculia foetida, Diospyrus blancoi, Hura crepitans and Rauvolfia serpentina. We explored the lichen flora of this Arboretum using species of corticolous macrolichens as indicator taxa. Lichen survey was performed by exploring the different zones, such as zones for rare species, industrial plants, medicinal plants and fruit plants. Lichen diversity on 23 trees spread in 12 ha area was documented based on morphological and anatomical features, and also chemical tests. A total of 68 species of lichens, distributed in 38 genera and 12 families, were enumerated during the study. The crustose and foliose forms contributed 62% (42 species) and 37% (25 species) of the total species, respectively. Graphidaceae with 28 species and Parmeliaceae with 15 species were the dominant families, which together constituted more than 50% of the lichen populations. Graphis librata and Parmeliopsis sp. were the dominant and co-dominant species and Drinaria picta was another common species.

Cladonia leporina (Cladoniaceae), a new macrolichen for New York State and northern range extension found in Brooklyn, New York City1

A sizable population of the jester lichen, Cladonia leporina Fr., is here reported from dune habitat in Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY. Marking a new record for New York, and the northernmost known record of this species, this study is a reminder that the Atlantic Coast likely still holds hidden diversity in its urban lichen communities.