Ramalina Species Research Articles

Tyrosinase Inhibition Activities of Depsides Isolated from Ramalina Species

Three depsides, namely sekikaic acid (1), homosekikaic acid (2), and 4′-O-demethylsekikaic acid (3) were isolated from acetone fraction of Ramalina spp. The structures were characterized by using spectroscopic techniques like 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI MS and IR. The quantitative determinations of these compounds were conducted by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (LC-PDA). The developed assay method could be considered as a suitable quality control method for Ramalina spp. The content on percentage dry basis of these compounds were 1.39%, 0.98% and 0.58% for compound 1, 2 and 3, respectively. It is the first time report for tyrosinase inhibition activity for depsides. All of these compounds exhibited inhibition for tyrosinase enzyme with the IC50 values 110.3±3.5, 90.1±1.4, and 206.4±5.1 µg/mL by the compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The structure activity relationship of despides showed that the methoxy group at ring A might have enhanced the inhibitory activity. Therefore, these compounds may have their potential use in cosmetics with further studies.

Analyzing the Impact of Ramalina digitellata, R. fastigiata, R. fraxinea, and R. polymorpha's Usnic Acid Concentration on Antioxidant, DNA-Protective, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Properties.

The present study is focused on the antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and DNA protective effects of methanol extract obtained from R. digitellata, R. fastigiata, R. fraxinea, and R. polymorpha species that are distributed in Turkey. The highest total phenol content was determined in R. digitellata (144.6 mgGAE/gextract ), and the highest total amount of flavonoids was found in R. fastigiata (20.40 mgGAE/gextract ). The content of usnic acid was determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the highest amount was found in R. digitellata. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzathiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] radical scavenging methods were used for antioxidant activity. R. fraxinea showed the highest DPPH⋅ and ABTS+ ⋅ scavenging activity. In addition, the DNA protective effect was investigated using pBR322 plasmid DNA, and; all studied species were found to have DNA protective effects. The antibacterial activity was investigated using the disc diffusion method, and the R. digitellata methanol extract showed the best results with a 12.35 mm zone on Proteus mirabilis. On the human lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines, cytotoxic activity was assessed using an MTT assay. All lichen extracts were found to have a significant cytotoxic effect on both cancer cell lines at 1000 μg/mL concentration. These results suggest that Ramalina species may be potential candidates for developing new phytopharmaceuticals and functional components.

Cover of Ramalina species as an indicator of habitat quality in threatened coastal woodlands

Coastal forests in the Mediterranean area are threatened habitats due to intense human influence. In the context of global change, a rapid tool is needed for the evaluation of habitat quality in woodlands by calculating lichen cover on twigs rather than weight biomass. We selected epiphytic Ramalina species as indicators of habitat quality and evaluated them in threatened woodlands dominated by Olea europea var. sylvestris on the island of Menorca, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Mediterranean area. We measured species richness, percentage cover and dry weight in nine sites grouped into urban, rural and naturalized areas to evaluate the effect of land uses, and regressed dry weight against percentage cover. Percentage cover, dry weight, species richness of Ramalina and of its species varied depending on land use, reaching higher rates in naturalized and rural areas rather than in urban areas. In addition, we showed for the first time that field estimates of Ramalina cover at the field were related to dry weight by applying a logarithmic transformation to dry weight. Percentage cover of Ramalina was a good indicator of land uses and will be a rapid, easy and non-destructive tool to assess the quality of woodland habitats in the coastal zone.

<p><strong>The genus <em>Ramalina</em> Acharius </strong><strong>(Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes, Ramalinaceae) </strong><strong>in northern South America</strong></p>

Fifty three taxa of Ramalina Acharius have been found in northern South America (including Colombia and Venezuela), with 8 varieties and 48 species. Seven species and four varieties are described as new to science viz. R. anteojina V. Marcano & A. Morales sp. nov. (Venezuela), R. canaguensis V. Marcano & A. Morales var. colombiana Marcano & Morales var. nov. (Colombia), R. canaguensis Marcano & Morales var. guascasensis Marcano & Morales var. nov. (Colombia), R. canaguensis V. Marcano & A. Morales var. mucumpisensis V. Marcano & A. Morales var. nov. (Colombia and Venezuela), R. reducta Krog & Swinscow var. colombiana V. Marcano & A. Morales var. nov. (Colombia), R. maegdefraui V. Marcano & A. Morales sp. nov. (Venezuela), R. mirandensis V. Marcano & A. Morales sp. nov. (Venezuela), R. subcalcarata V. Marcano & A. Morales sp. nov. (Venezuela), R. tenaensis V, Marcano & Morales sp. nov. (Colombia), R. venezuelensis V. Marcano & A. Morales sp. nov. (Venezuela), and R. victoriana V. Marcano & L. Castillo sp. nov. (Venezuela); 8 taxa are reported for first time from Venezuela: R. anceps Nylander, R. bogotensis Nylander, R. chilensis Bertero, R. holstii Krog & Swinscow, R. rigida Persoon ex Acharius, R. sorediosa (Bouly de Lesdain) Landrón, R. subfraxinea Nylander var. subfraxinea, and R. tenella Müller Argoviensis, whereas 5 taxa are reported for the first time from Colombia: R. africana (Stein) Dodge, R. asahinae W. Culberson & C. Culberson, R. subfraxinea Nylander var. confirmata, R. tenuissima V. Marcano & A. Morales and R. vareschii V. Marcano & A. Morales. A key to the species is presented together with data on morphology, anatomy, chemistry, variation, taxonomy, habitat and distribution. The chemical analyses show that the sekikaic (24 taxa), boninic (16 taxa) and homosekikaic (15 taxa) acids are the most common depsides found. Divaricatic acid is present in 10 of the taxa but is frequently replaced by sekikaic acid and its aggregates. The most common depsidones are salazinic acid (22 taxa), and protocetraric acid (25 taxa). The distribution of the secondary compounds reveals they are able to produce quite different substances which appears be not dependent to the habitat where occur the species, neither to the occurrence of minute morphological or anatomical differences at similar species. Often, several chemical strains (chemosyndromes) can be recognized within a single population of a particular species, but have no correlation with morphology or ecology. Biogeographic data indicate that of the 53 taxa known from northern South America, 28.3% (15) are known only from Venezuela, 7.5% (4) are known only from Colombia and 18.9% (10) are known only from Venezuela and Colombia. Of the 50 taxa known from Venezuela, 70% (37) of the taxa have their main distribution in the Andean region. The high concentration of Ramalina species seen in the Andes indicates that this region constitutes an important centre for speciation and endemism of Ramalina both in northern South America but also throughout the world.

Two new lichen species of the genus Ramalina (Ramalinaceae) from China

Two corticolous species of Ramalina are described as new to science from China. Ramalina ailaoshanensis is described from Mt. Ailaoshan in southwest China. It is characterized by dichotomous narrow branches with sparse raised or tuberculate pseudocyphellae, without warts, absence of chrondroid tissue in the cortex, the tips of branchlets becoming thin, terete and curled backwards, and lacking soredia and isidia. Ramalina qinlingensis is described from Mt. Qinling in northwest China. It is characterized by broad branches with distinct pseudocyphellae, many warts and branchlets, the discontinuous chrondroid tissue in the cortex, and lacking soredia and isidia. Both species were recovered as monophyletic and well-supported in a maximum-likelihood phylogeny inferred from ITS sequence data.

Rare epiphytic lichens in phytocenoses of anthropogenic disturbed territories and their application in bioindication (Moscow region)

The article analyzes the ecology and distribution of species of genera: Bryoria Brodo et D. Hawksw., Ramalina Ach., Usnea Dill. ex Adans., found in Moscow region and listed in the red book of the region (2018). It is based onliterature materials and monitoring data that we conducted as part of the «Verkhovye» Nature protection Fund in 2010–2019.In the period from 1906 to 1995, a greater number of Ramalina species were cited for Moscow region than at present,some of the finds of Usnea species were made on the outskirts of Moscow and in the near Moscow region, meanwhile thedistribution of genus Bryoria was not studied. Currently, the most favorable conditions for the development of lichens areformed in the North, West and North-West of the Moscow region, where the largest number of finds of various specieswith maximum abundance is noted. In the South-east, their settlement is probably hindered by dust, increased dryness ofthe air and the presence of harmful compounds in the atmosphere. In their distribution, lichens prefer intact habitats withhigh humidity and minimal air pollution: large fragments of preserved protected old-growth forests (spruce and sprucesmall-leaved), swampy forests and forest swamps.For the most common species with a high abundance (Bryoria fuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw. и B. capillaris (Ach.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea hirta (L.) Weber ex F. H. Wigg.и др.), it is possible to track the dynamics ofchanges in the environment. The rarest species are recommended to keep category 1–2 in the Red book of the Moscow region (Bryoria nadvornikiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. vrangiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. osteola(Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea lapponica Vain. и др.).

The fruticose genera in the Ramalinaceae (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes): their diversity and evolutionary history.

We present phylogenetic analyses of the fruticose Ramalinaceae based on extensive collections from many parts of the world, with a special focus on the Vizcaíno deserts in north-western Mexico and the coastal desert in Namibia. We generate a four-locus DNA sequence dataset for accessions of Ramalina and two additional loci for Niebla and Vermilacinia. Four genera are strongly supported: the subcosmopolitan Ramalina, the new genus Namibialina endemic to SW Africa, and a duo formed by Niebla and Vermilacinia, endemic to the New World except the sorediate V. zebrina that disjunctly occurs in Namibia. The latter three genera are restricted to coastal desert and chaparral where vegetation depends on moisture from ocean fog. Ramalina is subcosmopolitan and much more diverse in its ecology.We show that Ramalina and its sister genus Namibialina diverged from each other at c. 48 Myrs, whereas Vermilacinia and Niebla split at c. 30 Myrs. The phylogeny of the fruticose genera remains unresolved to their ancestral crustose genera.Species delimitation within Namibialina and Ramalina is rather straightforward. The phylogeny and taxonomy of Vermilacinia are fully resolved, except for the two youngest clades of corticolous taxa, and support current taxonomy, including four new taxa described here. Secondary metabolite variation in Niebla generally coincides with major clades which are comprised of species complexes with still unresolved phylogenetic relationships. A micro-endemism pattern of allopatric species is strongly suspected for both genera, except for the corticolous taxa within Vermilacinia. Both Niebla and saxicolous Vermilacinia have chemotypes unique to species clades that are largely endemic to the Vizcaíno deserts.The following new taxa are described: Namibialinagen. nov. with N. melanothrix (comb. nov.) as type species, a single new species of Ramalina (R. krogiae) and four new species of Vermilacinia (V. breviloba, V. lacunosa, V. pustulata and V. reticulata). The new combination V. granulans is introduced. Two epithets are re-introduced for European Ramalina species: R. crispans (= R. peruviana auct. eur.) and R. rosacea (= R. bourgeana auct. p.p). A lectotype is designated for Vermilacinia procera. A key to saxicolous species of Vermilacinia is presented.

Ramalina sarahae (Ramalinaceae), a new species from the Channel Islands of California, U.S.A.

Ramalina sarahae is described as new to science and considered to be closely related to the widespread R. lacera. It has a cortex without chondroid strands but differs from R. lacera in having a densely caespitose thallus of thin branches with only pseudocyphellae. The species is considered to be naturally rare, occurring in a small area of San Miguel Island in southern California, and on San Nicolas Island. Currently eight species of Ramalina are known from the Channel Islands.

A new riparian species of Ramalina (Ramalinaceae) from Brazil, with a key to neotropical saxicolous species

AbstractThe new species Ramalina fleigiae from Brazil is described growing on rocks in riverbeds in high altitude grasslands of southern Brazil. It grows in areas with constant water flow, sometimes almost immersed, and always in exposed habitats. Through an integrative approach, the detailed description of R. fleigiae includes morphological, anatomical, ecological, chemical and molecular data. Ribosomal DNA-based phylogenies suggest that R. fleigiae is more closely related to a species that shares its habitat preference (R. laevigata) than to the morphologically and chemically similar R. exiguella and R. gracilis. Ramalina fleigiae and R. laevigata can be distinguished by thallus morphology (irregularly flat branches in R. fleigiae vs. flat to canaliculate in R. laevigata) and pattern of chondroid tissue, as genetic distances between them are compatible with the interspecific range. It is possible that many species of Ramalina still remain hidden within the morphological or chemical variation of currently accepted species. Combining ecological, anatomical and molecular data will improve our future understanding of this genus.

Виды рода Ramalina и их охрана на территории Московской области

After the publication of the second edition of the Red Book of Moscow region (2008), work on the monitoring of Ramalina species listed in the Red Book continued, as well as the search for new locations of these species, and the identification of species of this genus, rarely found in the region. The analysis of the obtained data allowed to estimate modern distribution of Ramalina species on the territory of the region, their coinciding with certain types of plant communities, substrate and to identify the most rare species of the genus. The Mapinfo program contains a database and maps of all Ramalina species findings. The key for identification of Ramalina species in Moscow region is given.

ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THREE RAMALINA SPECIES

Lichens are an association of a photobiont (an alga or a cyanobacterium) and a mycobiont (a fungus). The lichen genus Ramalina is one of the cosmopolitan lichen genera and is characterized by fruticose thallus. In the present study, an antibacterial and antifungal activity of an extract of three Ramalina species (Ramalinaceae) viz. R. hossei Vain, R. conduplicans Vain and R. pacifica Asahina obtained by maceration process were investigated. The lichens were collected from different places of Shivamogga district, Karnataka, India and identified on the basis of morphological, anatomical and chemical tests. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of lichen extracts was carried out by Agar well diffusion and Poisoned food technique respectively. Overall, B. cereus and E. coli were inhibited to higher extent and least extent respectively by extracts of Ramalina species. R. pacifica and R. hossei inhibited bacteria to highest and least extent respectively. In the case of antifungal activity, marked and least inhibitory activity was shown by an extract of R. hossei and R. pacifica respectively. Among fungi, Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp. were inhibited to highest and least extent respectively. The observed antimicrobial potential could be ascribed to the presence of secondary metabolites such as usnic acid, salazinic acid and sekikaic acid present in the Ramalina species. Key words: Lichens, Ramalina , Antimicrobial, Agar well diffusion, Poisoned food technique

Biopharmaceutical Potential of Two Ramalina Lichens and their Metabolites.

This paper studies the phytochemical analysis of the acetone extracts of the Ramalina fraxinea and Ramalina fastigiata lichens and the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumour activities of these species and their constituents. The phytochemical analysis of two Ramalina species was evaluated using HPLC-UV test. The depsides (evernic acid, obtusatic acid, sekikaic acid and atranorin), depsidones (protocetraric acid) and dibenzofurane (usnic acid) were identified from these lichens. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay, reducing power assay and by measuring the amounts of total phenolics in extracts. Antimicrobial activity was tested towards five bacterial and 10 fungal species, using broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration. Cytotoxic activity was tested using MTT method on the human epithelial carcinoma (Hela), human lung carcinoma (A549) and human colon carcinoma (LS174) cells. As a result of the study, tested samples showed strong free radical scavenging activity with I50 values within the range of 285.45-423.51 μg/mL. Absorbance for reducing power was found to be from 0.0043 to 0.1747. The total amount of phenol concentrations in extracts of Ramalina fraxinea and Ramalina fastigiata was 32.63 and 33.49 μg PE/mg, respectively. Methyl evernate showed the strongest antimicrobial properties with the least measured MIC value being 0.125 mg/mL. In addition, all samples exhibited strong anticancer activities against tested cells (I50 values were between 24.63 and 161.37 μg/mL). These results indicate that lichen appears to be a possible natural biopharmaceutical.

R amalina Lichens and Their Major Metabolites as Possible Natural Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

Three lichen species of Ramalina (R. farinacea, R. fastigiata and R. fraxinea) were examined. Evernic, fumarprotocetraric, lecanoric, stictic and usnic acid levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. Acetone, methanol and ethanol were used to examine the efficiencies of different solvent systems for the extraction of lichen acids. The total phenol contents in the extracts were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant capacities were determined by the ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) method. The methanol extracts of the Ramalina species showed the highest antioxidant capacities. Broth microdilution testing was performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the methanol extracts of the three Ramalina species. The MIC values of all extracts ranged from 64 to 512 μg/mL for all bacterial strains tested in this study. Practical Applications Lichens and their natural products are used worldwide for decorations, brewing and distilling, food, fodder, spice and natural remedies, and in the perfume and dying industries. Lichens produce a large number of phenolic compounds, such as depsides, depsidones and dibenzofurans. Lichens with antioxidant activity have increased abilities to scavenge toxic-free radicals due to their phenolic groups. In recent years, many lichen substances have been found to have several biological activities. This article evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and lichen acids of three Ramalina species. This is the first study to determine the stictic acid level in a R. farinacea extract and fumarprotocetraric acid and lecanoric acid levels in an R. fastigiata extract. The results of this study will contribute significantly to current knowledge regarding the utility of antimicrobial and antioxidant materials.

A Note on the Lichen Genus Ramalina (Ramalinaceae, Ascomycota) in the Hengduan Mountains in China

On the basis of extensive field investigation and a series of herbarium specimen identifications, we present and discuss the descriptions and distribution of 22 species of Ramalina found in the Hengduan Mountains of southwestern China. In this revisionary study, representatives of the Ramalina genus, including R. americana, R. confirmata, R. dendriscoides, R. obtusata, R. pacifica, R. pentecostii, R. peruviana, R. shinanoana, and R. subcomplanata are found for the first time in this area. In addition, R. holstii is reported for the first time China. Finally, a newly described species identified as Ramalina hengduanshanensis S. O. Oh & L. S. Wang is reported. It is characterized as growing from a narrow holdfast, solid, sparsely or richly and irregularly dichotomously branched, palmate and flattened lobes with distinctly dorsiventral appearance, surface rugose to reticulate, surface rugosely cracked, dense chondroid tissue, helmet shaped soralia at the tip. The species grows on rock and tree at the highest elevations in this area. Although very few lichen species belonging to the genus Ramalina have been collected above 4,000 m, this new species is found at this elevation. We present detailed morphological, anatomical, and chemical descriptions of this species along with molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences.

A new endemic Ramalina species from the Canary Islands (Ascomycota, Lecanorales)

Ramalina alisiosae (Ramalinaceae), found on trees in the laurel forests of the Canary Islands is described as new to science. A description of the species is given together with notes on its chemistry, distribution, ecology, and taxonomy. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of ITS sequences showed a close relation of the new species with R. implectens and R. farinacea. Morphological and anatomical differences with these related lichen taxa are discussed.

Monophyly of some North American species ofRamalinaand inferred polyketide synthase gene function

Ramalina thrausta (Ach.) Nyl., Ramalina roesleri (Hochst. Ex Schaerer) Hue, and Ramalina dilacerata (Hoffm.) Hoffm. are three common North American species that have not been placed in a phylogeny and are sympatric in their distribution leading to uncertainty about monophyly. Species characters include secondary metabolites (polyketides) in Ramalina that may be both hereditary and influenced by environmental conditions, but little is known about the function of polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. The main goal of this study was to examine the monophyly among some of the more common species in northern North America and secondarily to compare potential PKS gene function with the phylogeny. Nucleotide sequences of two genes, the internal transcribed spacer 1 of ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial small subunit, were used to infer a phylogeny. Gene function was inferred from three PKS genes by the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN:dS) ratios. Although seven species of Ramalina are highly supported in monophyletic clades, two other species form clusters with low support: Ramalina americana Hale is paraphyletic, and Ramalina pollinaria (Westr.) Ach. is polyphyletic. Three PKS genes were inferred to be functional but were not present in all samples. Functional PKS genes could enable adaptation to new habitats and facilitate species diversification.

Host growth form underlies enemy-free space for lichen-feeding moth larvae

1. Natural enemies may direct the host use of herbivorous insects on those hosts that ensure highest survival, thus creating enemy-free space. Host structure may contribute to enemy-free space if the current host ensures better refuge from natural enemies than other potential hosts. So far, however, direct evidence of the role of host structure for enemy-free space is lacking. 2. This study looks at the effect of physical host structure on the previously demonstrated enemy-free space of a lichen-feeding moth, Cleorodes lichenaria by manipulating the structure of host lichens and the access of natural enemies to larvae in the field. It was predicted that if larvae receive enemy-free space on Ramalina lichens because of their shrubby appearance, larvae should survive better on shrubby than on flat lichens in the presence of natural enemies but not in the absence of natural enemies. 3. Larvae survived better on shrubby than flat lichens and when the access of natural enemies to larvae was prevented than in the presence of them. According to the prediction, larvae in the presence of natural enemies survived better on shrubby compared with flat thalli but not in the absence of natural enemies. Thus, shrubby host structure promotes survival of larvae and underlies the enemy-free space on Ramalina species in natural conditions. 4. Host structure as a mechanism for enemy-free space and the direct impact of host structure for the performance of C.lichenaria larvae are discussed. Other potential reasons, such as lichen secondary chemicals and host-induced colouration of larvae as a basis of enemy-free space, are also discussed.

Enemy-free space and the host range of a lichenivorous moth: a field experiment

According to the enemy-free space hypothesis (EFS), parasites and predators create a selective force for a specialization on a host that assures better protection against natural enemies than other potential hosts. Few studies have found support for EFS and none of them have covered the whole larval period in natural conditions. I studied the growth and survival of lichen-feeding moth larvae on five lichen species with and without their natural enemies in natural conditions covering the whole larval period. All the three following EFS predictions gained support. First, natural enemies caused significant mortality of larvae. Second, when natural enemies were present, larval survival was highest on preferred Ramalina lichens. Third, larvae attained higher mass on non-preferred Parmelia sulcata than on Ramalina species, indicating fecundity cost to feed on Ramalina species instead of P. sulcata. EFS for C. lichenaria larvae on Ramalina species is likely a consequence of shrubby appearance of Ramalina species which provide better larval protection from predation than other hosts.

A two-gene phylogeny shows the lichen genus Niebla (Lecanorales) is endemic to the New World and does not occur in Macaronesia nor in the Mediterranean basin

The generic segregates of the widespread fruticose genus Ramalina (mostly based on empirical data on morphology, cortex anatomy and secondary metabolites) are studied using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of nuclear LSU and ITS sequences. The species examined include the three species aggregates within Niebla from the western coasts of North America, all species except one assumed to belong to the same genus from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean basin, the type species of Dievernia and Ramalina, and representatives of the genus Fistulariella. The genus Niebla is strongly supported when restricted to species from the New World, and all species referred to it from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean basin belong to Ramalina ( R. bourgeana, R. crispatula, R. cupularis, R. hamulosa, R. portosantana, R. rosacea, R. subwebbiana and R. webbii). No support is found for the genera Dievernia and Fistulariella. The internal topology of the large genus Ramalina is unresolved and needs further studies.

Recent Literature on Lichens—211

Ahti, T., S. Parnmen & P. Mongkolsuk. 2008. Three new species of Cladonia from Thailand. Drei neue Arten von Cladonia in Thailand. Sauteria 15: 15–19. [New: Cladonia homchantarae Ahti & Parnmen sp. nov. (also Indonesia and Cambodia), C. reticaulis Ahti & Parnmen sp. nov. and C. rudis Ahti & Parnmen sp. nov.; color photos on Appendix pp. I–II.] Allen, A. 2008. Lobaria pulmonaria and Teloschistes species in the Channel Islands. British Lichen Society Bulletin 102: 11–16. [Notes on recent collections.] Alstrup, V., M. Grube, J. Motiejūnaitė, A. Nordin & M. Zhurbenko. 2008. Lichenicolous fungi from the Skibotn area, Troms, Norway. Graphis Scripta 20(1): 1–8. [Report of 93 spp. with 11 new to Norway and 1 new to Greenland.] Aptroot, A. 2008. A new Scoliciosporum from Madagascar. Lichenologist 40(2): 119–122. [New: S. arachnoideum sp. nov.] ——— & F. Schumm. 2008. Key to Ramalina species known from Atlantic islands, with two new species from the Azores. Bestimmungsschlussel fur Ramalina Arten von den altantischen Inseln, mit zwei neuen Arten aus den Azoren. Sauteria 15: 21–57. [New: R. azorica sp. nov. and R. wirthii sp. nov. ‘‘... Ramalina subfarinacea is confirmed from the Canary Islands.’’ Key to 53 taxa from Iceland to the South Shetland Islands; black and white photographs are included for each species; color photograph of R. azorica is on Appendix p. II.] ———, L. Sparrius, S. LaGreca & F. Bungartz. 2008. Angiactis, a new crustose lichen genus in the Roccellaceae, with species from Bermuda, the Galapagos Islands and Australia. The Bryologist 111(3): 510–516. [New: Angiactis Aptroot & Sparrius gen. nov., A. bermudensis LaGreca sp. nov. (Bermuda), A. littoralis (Kantvilas) Aptroot & Sparrius comb. nov. (Tasmania and Western Australia), and A. spinicola Aptroot & Sparrius sp. nov. (Galapagos Islands).] Atienza, V. & D. L. Hawksworth. 2008. Lichenothelia renobalesiana sp. nov. (Lichenotheliaceae), for a lichenicolous ascomycete confused with Polycoccum opulentum (Dacampiaceae). Lichenologist 40(2): 87–96. [New: L. renobalesiana D. Hawksw. & V. Atienza sp. nov. on Verrucaria spp. from Spain and Great Britain. ‘‘The true P. opulentum is known only from the original collection on Polyblastia hyperborea from Sweden.] Awasthi, D. D. 2007. A Compendium of the Macrolichens from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra-Dun, India. 580 pp. [Treatment of 122 genera and 874 spp. with keys, synonyms, descriptions and notes; includes a list of 64 taxa reported but apparently now absent from the region. New: Flavocetrariella gen. nov., F. leucostigma (Lev.) comb. nov., F. melaloma (Nyl.) comb. nov., Lasallia freyana sp. et nom. nov., Hypotrachyna pindarensis (D. D. Awasthi & Singh) comb. nov., Hyperphyscia adglutinata var. pyrithocardia (Mull. Arg.) comb. nov., Physconia sikkimensis (Jatta) comb. nov., Pseudocyphellaria argyracea var. aspera (Lauer) comb. nov., P. diplomorpha (Mull Arg.) comb. nov., Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca var. australis (Poelt) comb. nov. and R. malanophthalma var. obscura (J. Steiner) comb. nov.] Baruffo, L., M. Piccotto & M. Tretiach. 2008. Intrathalline variation of chlorophyll a fluorescence emission in the epiphytic lichen Flavoparmelia caperata. The Bryologist 111(3): 455–462. [Study in Italy. ‘‘... all parameters were statistically higher in the marginal spots than in the central ones, suggesting that the level of photochemical activity is higher where the photobiont cells are more dense and younger.’’ Authors suggest that measuring spots for biomonitoring should be specifically selected.] Bennett, J. P. 2008. Discrimination of lichen genera and species using element concentrations. Lichenologist 40(2): 135–151. [Study of 16 element concentrations in 6 macrolichen species over 23 years in the Great Lakes region. * The cumulative database for this series is available in searchable form on the World Wide Web at http://www.nhm.uio.no/botanisk/bot-mus/ lav/sok_rll.htm. I owe special thanks to Bill Buck for providing copies of papers by other authors, which were otherwise unavailable to me, and to the cooperating authors who send reprints or electronic versions of their works to me for inclusion in this series.