Zealand Lichens Research Articles

A Genomic Survey of the Natural Product Biosynthetic Potential of Actinomycetes Isolated from New Zealand Lichens.

Actinomycetes are prolific producers of industrially valuable and medically important compounds. Historically, the most efficient method of obtaining compounds has been bioactivity-guided isolation and characterization of drug-like molecules from culturable soil actinomycetes. Unfortunately, this pipeline has been met with an increasing number of rediscoveries, to the point where it is no longer considered an attractive approach for drug discovery. To address this challenge and to continue finding new compounds, researchers have increasingly focused on alternative environmental niches and screening methods. Here, we report the genetic investigation of actinomycetes from an underexplored source, New Zealand lichens. In this work, we obtain draft genome sequences for 322 lichen-associated actinomycetes. We then explore this genetic resource with an emphasis on biosynthetic potential. By enumerating biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in our data sets and comparing these to various reference collections, we demonstrate that actinomycetes sourced from New Zealand lichens have the genetic capacity to produce large numbers of natural products, many of which are expected to be broadly different from those identified in previous efforts predominantly based on soil samples. Our data shed light on the actinomycete assemblage in New Zealand lichens and demonstrate that lichen-sourced actinobacteria could serve as reservoirs for discovering new secondary metabolites. IMPORTANCE Lichens are home to complex and distinctive microbial cohorts that have not been extensively explored for the ability to produce novel secondary metabolites. Here, we isolate and obtain genome sequence data for 322 actinomycetes from New Zealand lichens. In doing so, we delineate at least 85 potentially undescribed species, and show that lichen associated actinomycetes have the potential to yield many new secondary metabolites, and as such, might serve as a productive starting point for drug discovery efforts.

A genomic survey of the natural product biosynthetic potential of actinomycetes isolated from New Zealand lichens.

A genomic survey of the natural product biosynthetic potential of actinomycetes isolated from New Zealand lichens.

A new Ocellularia (lichenized Ascomycota: Graphidaceae) from New Zealand indicates small-scale differentiation of an Australasian species complex

ABSTRACT Ocellularia (Graphidaceae) is a genus of crustose lichens comprising c.200 species, four known from Australia and New Zealand. Based on recent collections from northern North Island, we describe a fifth species Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae, which is a member of the O. bicuspidata complex. This complex is characterised by peculiar, appendiculate ascospores and a psoromic acid chemistry. Two further undescribed species of this complex, one from North Island and one from South Island, are discussed but left undescribed pending further study. Based on our findings, we provide a revised assessment of New Zealand Ocellularia. Of the four species included in the most recent Flora of New Zealand Lichens from 2007, three do not belong in that genus and the identification of the fourth is incorrect; instead, the following four taxa are recognised: O. jacinda-arderniae, O. aff. dolichotata, O. aff. bicuspidata (a) (South Island; OTA 58820) and O. aff. bicuspidata (b) (North Island; UNITEC 10818). This leads to the somewhat unusual situation that a presumably known genus biota in New Zealand is entirely replaced by names of a new species and three provisional identifications. The following new combination is introduced: Schizotrema concentricum (Stirt.) Lücking comb. nov. In addition, the name Thelotrema manosporum (C. Knight.) Hellb. is given as the correct name for the New Zealand taxon previously identified as T. monosporum Nyl., and the name T. monosporoides Nyl. [syn.: O. monosporoides (Nyl.) Hale] is established as a taxonomic synonym of T. manosporum, leaving two New Zealand species of Thelotrema with large, brown ascospores, namely T. manosporum and T. saxatile C. Knight. The situation of the genus Ocellularia highlights the need for detailed taxonomic revision of understudied lichen groups in New Zealand, especially as these and related genera in the Graphidaceae are excellent indicators of forest health and can be used for monitoring purposes.

A trio of endemic New Zealand lichens: Pannaria aotearoana and P. gallowayi, new species with a new chemo-syndrome, and their relationship with P. xanthomelana

A trio of endemic New Zealand lichens: Pannaria aotearoana and P. gallowayi, new species with a new chemo-syndrome, and their relationship with P. xanthomelana

Phylogenetic congruence of lichenised fungi and algae is affected by spatial scale and taxonomic diversity.

The role of species’ interactions in structuring biological communities remains unclear. Mutualistic symbioses, involving close positive interactions between two distinct organismal lineages, provide an excellent means to explore the roles of both evolutionary and ecological processes in determining how positive interactions affect community structure. In this study, we investigate patterns of co-diversification between fungi and algae for a range of New Zealand lichens at the community, genus, and species levels and explore explanations for possible patterns related to spatial scale and pattern, taxonomic diversity of the lichens considered, and the level sampling replication. We assembled six independent datasets to compare patterns in phylogenetic congruence with varied spatial extent of sampling, taxonomic diversity and level of specimen replication. For each dataset, we used the DNA sequences from the ITS regions of both the fungal and algal genomes from lichen specimens to produce genetic distance matrices. Phylogenetic congruence between fungi and algae was quantified using distance-based redundancy analysis and we used geographic distance matrices in Moran’s eigenvector mapping and variance partitioning to evaluate the effects of spatial variation on the quantification of phylogenetic congruence. Phylogenetic congruence was highly significant for all datasets and a large proportion of variance in both algal and fungal genetic distances was explained by partner genetic variation. Spatial variables, primarily at large and intermediate scales, were also important for explaining genetic diversity patterns in all datasets. Interestingly, spatial structuring was stronger for fungal than algal genetic variation. As the spatial extent of the samples increased, so too did the proportion of explained variation that was shared between the spatial variables and the partners’ genetic variation. Different lichen taxa showed some variation in their phylogenetic congruence and spatial genetic patterns and where greater sample replication was used, the amount of variation explained by partner genetic variation increased. Our results suggest that the phylogenetic congruence pattern, at least at small spatial scales, is likely due to reciprocal co-adaptation or co-dispersal. However, the detection of these patterns varies among different lichen taxa, across spatial scales and with different levels of sample replication. This work provides insight into the complexities faced in determining how evolutionary and ecological processes may interact to generate diversity in symbiotic association patterns at the population and community levels. Further, it highlights the critical importance of considering sample replication, taxonomic diversity and spatial scale in designing studies of co-diversification.

Conservation status of New Zealand lichens

The first listing of the conservation status of lichens indigenous to the New Zealand Botanical Region (excluding Macquarie Island) is presented. The list comprises 1799 formally accepted taxa placed in the following categories: ‘Threatened’, 11 taxa (comprising 4 taxa Nationally Critical, 4 Nationally Endangered, 3 Nationally Vulnerable); ‘At Risk’, 176 taxa (comprising 173 Naturally Uncommon and 4 Declining taxa); and 975 ‘Data Deficient’ taxa. A further 636 taxa were considered ‘Not Threatened’. A further five lichens are listed as ‘Taxonomically Indeterminate’, being lichens which may warrant further conservation attention once their taxonomic status is clarified. A concordance of lichen names is provided. A brief analysis of the patterns of threat and rarity exhibited by New Zealand lichens listed is also presented.

Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Cytotoxic Activity of New Zealand Lichens

A total of 69 species of lichens have been collected from various locations around New Zealand. Screening of extracts of these species for antimicrobial, antiviral and cytotoxic activity showed a high proportion with biological activity. Active extracts were generally from species known to contain phenolic compounds. Bioactivity-directed isolation work on Cladia retipora, Pseudocyphellaria glabra and P. homoeophylla led to the identification of usnic acid as the main antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiviral component in these three species.

New Zealand Lichens: Checklist, Key, and Glossary

New Zealand Lichens: Checklist, Key, and Glossary

New Zealand Lichens

New Zealand Lichens

A phytochemical register of New Zealand lichens

New Zealand lichens contain many unique chemical constituents which are of considerable chemotaxonomic importance. New Zealand lichens from which chemicals have been reported are listed and the chemical constituents have been cross-indexed according to type.

Checklist of New Zealand Lichens

Checklist of New Zealand Lichens

Nitrogen Analyses of New Zealand and Antarctic Lichens

AbstractThe results of nitrogen (N) analyses of 14 New Zealand and 23 Antarctic lichens are reported. Eight percent of the total lichen N occurs in the form of amino sugars, 5° as nucleic acids and 80° as proteins and amino acids. It is concluded that when lichens decompose they may represent a good N resource that may be important in ecosystems.

Investigations on carotenoids in lichens XXVIII carotenoids of some New Zealand lichens

Abstract Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of seventeen lichen species from New Zealand: ε-carotene, α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3′-epilutein, zeaxanthin, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, canthaxanthin, α-doradoxanthin, astaxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, auroxanthin, mutatoxanthin, azafrin, and apo-12-violaxanthal. Azafrin is reported for the first time from lichens in Pseudocyphellaria coronata. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 15.16 μg g-1 dry wt in Pseudocyphellaria chloroleuca to 298.78 μg g-1 dry wt in Pseudocyphellaria coronata.

Flora of New Zealand Lichens

Flora of New Zealand Lichens

Flora of New Zealand Lichens.

Flora of New Zealand Lichens.

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. General editors A. Friday and D. S. Ingram. The Physiological Properties of Plant Protoplasts. Ed. by P. E. Pilet. Plant Leaf Optical Properties in Visible and Near Infra‐Red Light. By H. W. Gausman. Regulation of Sources and Sinks in Crop Plants. British Plant Growth Regulator Group Monograph No. 12. Ed. by B. Jeffcoat, A. F. Hawkins and A. D. Stead. The Biochemistry and Physiology of the Lemon and Other Citrus Fruits. By W. B. Sinclair. Developmental Biology of Higher Fungi. British Mycological Society Symposium No. 10. Ed. by D. Moore, L. A. Casselton, D. A. Wood and J. C. Frankland. Flora of New Zealand Lichens. By D. J. Galloway. Physiological Ecology of Seaweeds. By C. S. Lobban, P. J. Harrison and M. O. Duncan. Insects and Flowers. The Biology of a Partnership. By F. G. Barth. Translated from the German by M. A. Biederman‐Thorson.

Flora of New Zealand Lichens.

Flora of New Zealand Lichens.

Flora of New Zealand: Lichens

Abstract David Galloway has produced an outstanding account of the New Zealand lichen flora, a landmark volume in lichenology, arguably the most significant southern hemisphere lichen flora yet produced. Such an effort is never the result of a single worker, and Dr Galloway acknowledges his historical debt to such distinguished workers on New Zealand lichens as Knight, Nylander, Stirton and Hellbom in the nineteenth century, and Zahlbruckner, Murray and Martin more recently. A strength of the work is the number of genera for which treatments have been written by specialists, including Hawkesworth, Hafellner, Tibell, Coppins, James and Mayrhofer. Cooperation has included others in addition to these, resulting in a work which is an admirable statement of the art of lichen classification, not only for New Zealand, but for the world.

Flora of New Zealand Lichens

Flora of New Zealand Lichens

NITROGEN FIXATION BY MEMBERS OF THE STICTACEAE (LICHENES) OF NEW ZEALAND

SUMMARYForty‐four species of New Zealand lichens, including 22 species of Pseudocyphellaria and seven of Sticta, were assayed for nitrogenase activity by acetylene reduction. Nitiogen fixation was confirmed by 15N enrichment studies. Ten species, all with green algal phycobionts, showed no detectable nitrogenase activity; the remainder, including all species of Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta, assayed positively. Fixation rates were found to be species specific ranging from 0·2 to 52 nmol g‐1 min‐1. Nitrogen fixing lichens showed a species specific range of total nitrogen content and all had greater values than non‐fixing species. Further analysis of nitrogen fixation in Sticta and Pseudocyphellaria species by plotting a graph of acetylene reduction against nitrogen content showed a highly significant positive relationship; also species of like chemical strain grouped together, and in any one chemical strain lichens with solely blue‐green phycobionts possessed higher rates. The possibility exists that these lichens could provide a significant input of nitrogen into some native forests in New Zealand.