Search

Amandinea lobarica, a new corticolous lichen species, is described from high elevations in Guatemala. It is characterized by a thin, granulose, brownish thallus containing lobaric acid, small, convex lecideine apothecia, filiform conidia and large, narrowly ellipsoid ascospores with roughly ornamented walls. The new species is compared with other Buellia s. lat. taxa that possess rather large and strongly ornamented ascospores, such as Buellia hypothallina, here placed in synonymy with Gassicurtia vaccinii, Amandinea leucomela, A. mediospora, A. megaspora, A. subduplicata and five very closely related taxa treated here as belonging to the Amandinea incrustans group. Two tables summarizing the main differences between these species and a key are provided. New data on the chemistry of A. leucomela and a new record of A. montana for Guatemala are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the optimum conditions for culturing Anaptychia ciliaris mycobionts in vitro and analyzing their ontogenetic development while in culture. After the testing of two germination and four development media, results of germination and growth were evaluated. We here recommend the use of basal medium without additional carbon source for germination process. Mycobiont growth was possible in all organic media tested. The maximum mycobiont growth was observed in Lilly and Barnet medium enriched with 3% glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monerolechia norstictica Elix from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland (Australia) is described as new to science. In addition, the new combinations Monerolechia californica (H.Magn.) Elix and M. glomerulans (Mull.Arg.) Elix are made and a key is provided for these three species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichens are important in many modern terrestrial ecosystems, but their fossil record has been very sparse. This has limited the chances for finding any evidence of their interactions with animals in past ecosystems. Recently, the fossil record of lichens has improved significantly with the discovery of numerous new inclusions from European Palaeogene ambers. Here, we report the first fossil evidence of animal–lichen interactions from one new fossil from Bitterfeld amber of central Germany. A foliose fossil lichen, possibly belonging to the Physciaceae, exhibits three feeding marks and co-preserved invertebrate faecal pellets. To gain insights into this Palaeogene lichen-invertebrate interaction, we compared the fossil grazing damage and faecal pellets to those obtained from several extant lichen feeders, including mites, collembolans, psocopterans, coleopteran larvae and gastropods. The results of the grazing experiments suggest that gastropods and mites most likely caused the feeding marks preserved in the fossil lichen. • We report the first fossil evidence of animal–lichen interactions. • Bitterfeld amber preserved a lichen with feeding marks and invertebrate frass. • We performed comparative experiments with extant lichen feeders. • Gastropods and mites most likely caused the fossil feeding marks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A world key is given to the species of Pyxine with lichexanthone in the upper cortex. Pyxine pustulata Aptroot & Jungbluth is described as a new corticolous species of Pyxine from São Paulo State in Brazil, with lichexanthone in the cortex, upper surface K−, a yellow to ochraceous medulla and clusters of laminal polysidiangia. Brazil is clearly the centre of Pyxine diversity, with 34 out of c. 70 species known worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred and seven lichen species are newly reported from Sri Lanka, eight of which were previously thought to be endemic in India; 91 species are new to the Indian subcontinent, and four to Asia, and three are described here as new to science: Astrothelium nitidulum which has 7-septate ascospores with diamond-shaped lumina, mostly simple ascomata in shiny olive pseudostromata and an inspersed hamathecium; Heterodermia queensberryi which is similar to Heterodermia propagulifera but with a corona of lobules around the apothecia; and Malmidea papulosa, which is similar to Malmidea granifera but has regular warts and lacks medulla in the excipulum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cratiria burleighensis Elix, C. streimannii Elix and C. verdonii Elix are described as new to science and C. amphorea (Eckfeldt) Marbach is reported from Queensland and New South Wales, Australia for the first time. The new combination Cratiria subtropica (Elix) Elix is made and this species is reported as new to Queensland. In addition, C. lauricassiae (Fée) Marbach and C. obscurior (Stirt.) Marbach & Kalb are reported as new to New South Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following new species are decribed from Sri Lanka: Heterodermia rubrotricha which is similar to Heterodermia leucomela but with red, K + purple pigment on the cilia. Malmidea sanguineostigma, which is similar to Malmidea chrysostigma but has red anthraquinone in the thallus medulla, yellow xantholepinone in the excipulum medulla and smaller ascospores. Protoparmelia megalosporoides which is unique in the genus by the lecideine apothecia resembling those of Megalospora. A key to the species of Heterodermia in Sri Lanka is provided, applying a chemically and morphologically strict species concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of the lichen genus Dirinaria (Tuck.) Clem. are recognized in the South Korean lichen mycota, viz: D. applanata and D. picta. Descriptions of each species with their morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics together with molecular analysis and a key to known Dirinaria species are presented. D. picta is recorded from South Korea for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buellia subericola, a new corticolous species characterized by a brown, blastidiate thallus without secondary chemistry and triseptate to occasionally submuriform ascospores, is described from the southern Iberian Peninsula. The species occurs on Quercus suber in grass-woodlands of cork-oak in the mesomediterranean belt with a warm mediterranean climate and oceanic influence. It is compared with other known Buellia s. lat. taxa which also reproduce asexually and have similar ascospores. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two new species of Pyxine with yellow medulla from saxicolous habitats are described as new to science. The new species P. punensis has an isidiate, UV+ yellow thallus with 0·3–0·6 mm wide lobes. Pyxine yercaudensis has smaller ascospores (13–16×6–7 µm), lacks vegetative propagules and lacks lichexanthone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In North America, the widespread sorediate lichen known as Hyperphyscia adgiutinata is shown to be heterogeneous. It contains two distinct species, one with primarily laminal soralia and another with marginal soralia. The latter taxon is here described as the new species H. confusa. Hyperphyscia adgiutinata and H. confusa have broadly overlapping distributions in North America, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains states. Where they are sympatric, H. confusa is generally the more common of the two. Descriptions and discussions for H. adgiutinata and the two other sorediate North American species, H. minor and H. pyrithrocardia, are also included, along with a key for separation of the four species. Hyperphyscia pyrithrocardia is reported for the first time from North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isidiate, xanthone-producing species, Rinodina chrysidiata, is described and compared in detail with R. xanthophaea, a species with which it co-occurs in eastern Asia. The two species have an identical chemistry but are clearly separated by their differing lichenized diaspores, thallus morphology and ascospore type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the type and additional material of Buellia andicola, B. hypophana and B. reagens has shown that these taxa are conspecific with B. thiopoliza. Buellia thiopoliza is a muscicolous species growing at middle to high altitudes in the mountains of both hemispheres. It is easily recognized by its K+ purple-red yellow pigment mainly concentrated in the hypothecium, and by the presence of xanthones in the thallus and the apothecial tissues. The new combination Tetramelas thiopolizus is proposed. A key to all known Tetramelas species is included. The also muscicolous Buellia hypoleuca is reduced to synonymy with Phaeorrhiza sareptana var. sphaerocarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-three species of the lichen genus Heterodermia in South America, mainly from Ecuador and Peru, are defined. Morphology, anatomy, chemistry, habitat, distribution and interrelation between the species are discussed. A key to the treated species is presented. Five species are described as new; Heterodermia andina, H. arvidssonii, H. badia, H. fertilis and H. parva. One new combination is proposed; H. spinigera. Two species are reported as new to South America, H. spathulifera and H subcitrina, and H. palpebrata is reported as new to USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the type specimens of Buellia sequax revealed that the current concept of this species is erroneous and instead corresponds to B. abstracta. By contrast, B. sequax s. str. is characterized by the same diagnostic characters as presently accepted for B. excelsa. Consequently, they represent one and the same taxon. Since B. sequax is the older name, B. excelsa is reduced to synonymy. Buellia lepidastroidea is also reduced to synonymy with B. sequax s. str . Buellia sequax s. str. (= B. excelsa and B. lepidastroidea) contains diploicin and atranorin, has a hymenium inspersed with oil droplets, and ascospores which develop with type-B ontogeny. This combination of characters suggests that B. sequax s. str. is closely related to the genera Diploicia and Endohyalina but B. boergesenii does not belong to this group. New data on the chemistry and distribution of B. sequax s. str. are provided and amended descriptions of this species and B. abstracta (= B. sequax auct.) are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decrease in lichen diversity is an important biometric tool to assess the prevailing environmental condition in an area. An attempt has been made to explore the utility of lichen diversity in the monitoring of air pollution in the city of Pauri and Srinagar, Garhwal Himalayas, Uttaranchal. Eighty five lichen species were recorded from Pauri and Srinagar (Garhwal) in June 2005. It was observed that polluted sites had very low lichen diversity, mostly dominated by members of lichen family Physciaceae. Kiyonkaleshwar area is the site with maximum lichen diversity (46 lichen taxa) located in a more or less pollution-free area of Pauri city. Two-dimensional principal components analysis plot revealed significant positive contribution of natural (unaltered) sites towards lichen biodiversity, thus affirming the utility of lichen diversity in biomonitoring studies in a wide geographical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buellia rhizocarpica is described fromMexico. This corticolous species is characterized by a yellowish, granulose thallus, the presence of rhizocarpic acid and an unknown pulvinic acid derivative, apothecia containing large amounts of micromera-green together with yellow crystals which react K+ pinkish and by the presence of very small, Buellia-type ascospores. It grows in a well-preserved Pinus hartwegii forest at c. 4000 m altitude at the base of the volcano Popocatepetl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-developed ascospores of Rinodina flavosoralifera have been observed for the first time. The ascospores are described and illustrated and new data on the chemistry and distribution of this species are provided. New chorological data on Rinodina disjuncta are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the phylogenetic position of phenotypically peculiar species in the Physciaceae we generated 47 new sequences (26 of nrITS region and 21 of mtSSU rDNA) from 19 crustose taxa of Physciaceae mainly from the genus Rinodina. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the Buellia and Physcia groups. The analysis revealed a considerable variability of characters traditionally used for classification, especially in the delimitation of the genera Buellia and Rinodina. While ascus types agree well with the distinction of the Buellia and Physcia groups, none of the other traditional characters, including excipulum type and ascospore thickening, were consistent within subclades of the Physcia group. We suggest that both excipulum type and ascospore characters are rather dynamic in the evolution of Rinodina species and only appear consistent in morphologically more complex foliose and fruticose groups, which are characterized by thallus characters not present in the crustose groups. Two recent taxonomic changes are supported by molecular characters: Endohyalina insularis (syn. 'Rinodina' insularis) and Rinodina lindingeri (syn. 'Buellia' lindingeri). In addition Rinodina parvula (syn. 'Buellia' parvula) is reinstated. New records for Endohyalina brandii, E. diederichii, E. insularis and Rinodina albana are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, types of species in the genus Buellia described by J. Steiner are reviewed. Previously ignored holotypes of B. alboatra var. epipolioides, B. caesioatra, B. leptina, B. procellarum var. continuior, B. skutariensis f. compacta and B. skottsbergii are identified, lectotypes and isolectotypes of B. gotlandica, B. saxorum var. flavescens, B. skutariensis, B. skutariensis f. geographica and B. subtumida are designated, and the presumed holotypes of B. incrustans, B. sardiniensis, B. tergestina, B. trifracta and Diplotomma epipolium var. reagens are corrected to lectotypes. Further, the typification of B. stillingiana is reassessed. Amandinea skottsbergii (J. Steiner & Zahlbr.) Şenkard. and B. flavescens (J. Steiner) Şenkard. are proposed as new combinations. It is argued that the varieties Buellia alboatra var. epipolioides, B. procellarum var. continuior, B. subdisciformis f. compacta (=B. skutariensis f. compacta) and B. subdisciformis f. geographica (=B. skutariensis f. geographica) should no longer be recognized but regarded as synonyms of these species. Buellia leptina is regarded as a synonym of Diploicia subcanescens and B. subtumida is reduced to being a synonym of B. dispersa. Finally, new locations are provided for B. flavescens from Italy and B. sardiniensis from France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buellia nordinii, a new muscicolous or lignicolous species characterized by a blastidiate thallus containing atranorin, apothecia with a fine granular surface, markedly enlarged paraphyses tips and large triseptate ascospores is described from Venezuela. The species grows in very humid situations near the ground in open paramo vegetation at high elevations. It is compared with other known asexually reproducing and triseptate Buellia taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rinodina fuscoisidiata, a muscicolous isidiate species with large isidia and Pachysporaria-type ascospores is described from Venezuela. This species contains an unknown terpene as a major secondary metabolite in addition to traces of atranorin. It is compared with the four known isidiate Rinodina taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rinodina brasiliensis, a corticolous isidiate species with large Pachysporaria -type ascospores is described from south-eastern Brazil. The new species is closely related to R. dolichospora and to R. guianensis. Rinodina confinis is a synonym of R. dolichospora. Notes on the taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, chemistry and distribution of these three taxa are given. Descriptions and iconography are provided. A key to species is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silicicolous lichen species, Rinodina etayoi Giralt & van den Boom, is described as new from inland localities of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote (Canary Islands). It is characterized by a crustose, whitish thallus containing atranorin, zeorin, chloroatranorin and stictic acid, hemispheric pseudolecanorine apothecia containing, a proper exciple inspersed with numerous and large oil drops, and by ascospores of the Mischoblastia -type. The joint occurrence of pannarin, stictic acid and Mischoblastia -type ascospores makes R. etayoi unique within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of Rinodina specimens from the Cape Verde Islands revealed three new species, which are described here: Rinodina capeverdeana Giralt & van den Boom, R. inspersoparietata Giralt & van den Boom and R. polymorphaespora Giralt & van den Boom. Additional information is given for six further species, of which five are new records for the archipelago. Rinodinapunctosorediata Aptroot & Sparrius was found to be conspecific with R. stictica Sheard & Tonsberg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“First line” defence mechanisms, such as phytochelatin biosynthesis, and “second line” mechanisms, such as stress protein induction, were investigated in cadmium-exposed cells of Trebouxia impressa Ahmadjian, a green microalgal species that is a common photobiont of the lichen Physcia adscendens (Fr.) H. Olivier. When T. impressa cells were exposed to 0, 9 and 18μM Cd for 6, 18 and 48h, glutathione and phytochelatins efficiently protected the cells against Cd damage. By contrast, the highest Cd concentration (36μM) at the longest exposure-time (48h) caused marked drops in glutathione and phytochelatin content, several types of ultrastructural damage, and decreases in cell density and total chlorophyll concentration. In this case, induction of stress proteins was observed, but only long after the induction of phytochelatins. Thus, stress proteins could represent a “second line” mechanism to counteract Cd stress, activated when there is a decline in the “first line” mechanism of Cd detoxification given by phytochelatins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report the draft genome sequence of the model moss Physcomitrella patens and compare its features with those of flowering plants, from which it is separated by more than 400 million years, and unicellular aquatic algae. This comparison reveals genomic changes concomitant with the evolutionary movement to land, including a general increase in gene family complexity; loss of genes associated with aquatic environments (e.g., flagellar arms); acquisition of genes for tolerating terrestrial stresses (e.g., variation in temperature and water availability); and the development of the auxin and abscisic acid signaling pathways for coordinating multicellular growth and dehydration response. The Physcomitrella genome provides a resource for phylogenetic inferences about gene function and for experimental analysis of plant processes through this plant's unique facility for reverse genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nova Acta Científica Compostelana is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: A phylogenetic and taxonomic study of the Physconia distorta morphotype complex was undertaken using ITS nu-rDNA as a molecular marker to re-evaluate this group. The analysis incorporated several samples of European P. distorta and also of American and European populations, recently named as P. americana. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. distorta and the European population of P. americana form two monophyletic and partially sympatric species and that both are distinct from the American species P. americana. Because differences in upper cortex anatomy had been used in establishing P. americana as distinct from P. distorta, the anatomy of the upper cortex was restudied in all three of these taxa, and notable differences were revealed. Our study confirmed that the upper cortex of P. distorta is prosoplectenchymatous with thick hyphal cell walls and narrow lumina, and that American specimens of P. americana have a typical paraplectenchymatous upper cortex. The cortex anatomy of both of these looks essentially the same in both longitudinal and transverse sections. Conversely, the European specimens that have been called P. americana are different from both of these. The cells of the upper cortex are rather thin walled, and in transverse lobe sections the cortex closely resembles a paraplectenchyma. However, in longitudinal lobe sections these thin walled cells can be seen to be elongate and ramified, obviously hyphal in nature, and better meeting the criteria of a prosoplectenchyma. The results confirmed the evolutionary pattern and taxonomic assessment of the anatomy of the upper cortex in the genus Physconia and revealed a common undescribed species (P. thorstenii sp. nov.) that can be added to the North African and Southern Euro-Asiatic lichen flora. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The progeny of meiosis of eight Parmeliaceae, two Ramalinaceae and seven Physciaceae were subjected to fingerprint analysis using RAPD-PCR applied to single spore isolates. The sample set included common and widespread rarely fertile species (Parmelia sulcata, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Physcia tenella), local to common, infrequently fertile species (Melanelixia glabra, Parmelina tiliacea, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, X. stenophylla, Anaptychia runcinata, Diploicia canescen, Physconia distorta), local to rare, infrequently or regularly fertile species with declining distributions (Parmelina carporrhizans, P. quercina, Ramalina fastigiata, R. fraxinea, Anaptychia ciliaris), and local to common, regularly fertile species (Physcia aipolia, P. stellaris). All species turned out to be heterothallic, polymorphisms among RAPD markers ranging from 10–87%. The significance of these findings for population genetics and conservation biology, and potential reasons for infrequent ascoma formation in some of the species are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]