The Effects of Edaphic and Climatic Factors on Secondary Lichen Chemistry: A Case Study Using Saxicolous Lichens

Diversity of secondary lichen metabolites and their relationship to substrate and environmental parameters were studied in saxicolous lichens in the Middle and South Urals of Russia. Atranorin, usnic acid, gyrophoric acid, zeorin, norstictic acid, antraquinones and stictic acid were found in 73, 42, 41, 37, 36, 35 and 32 species, respectively, of 543 taxa collected. One hundred and ninety six species (i.e., 36% of total species documented) contained no secondary metabolites. Spectra of secondary metabolites of crustose lichens varied on different rock types, while in fruticose and foliose groups only those species without lichen acids were dependent on the substrate type. In Canonical Correspondence Analysis, secondary lichen metabolites were subdivided into groups depending on the concentration of Ca and metals in the substrate. Gyrophoric, lobaric, psoromic, rhizocarpic and stictic acids were common in crustose lichens in metal-poor habitats; species with antraquinones and lichens without any secondary metabolites were most abundant on limestone (alkalic and metal-poor), while other common lichen metabolites had no to minimal dependence on the chemistry of the substrate. The two additional abiotic factors affecting the composition of secondary metabolites were the maximum temperature of the warmest month and elevation. Our results suggest a range of possible relationships exist among lichen acids, rocks and climatic parameters. Furthermore, the same metabolite may affect both accumulation of metals and stress tolerance under unfavorable conditions.

Catalogue of saxicolous lichens (Ascomycota) of the archaeological area of Siega Verde (Salamanca, Spain)

We here present the partial results of a research project focusing on the lichen diversity and lichen-induced biodeterioration processes in two archaeological places -Siega Verde, Spain, and Foz-Côa, Portugal, both declared World Heritage sites by the UNESCO-. In this article the floristic results corresponding to the area of Siega Verde -Salamanca- are presented. In total, 97 taxa of lichens and two lichenicolous fungi have been identified. The presence of Peltula lobata J.Marques & al., Cyphelium lecideinum (Nyl.) Trevis., Variospora cancarixiticola (Nav.-Ros. & al.) Arup & al., and the lichenicolous fungus Llimoniella phaeophysciae Diederich & al. is particularly relevant. Somedifferences have been observed between the floristic composition of this area and that of the neighbor of Foz-Côa, attributable to the eutrophicationof Siega Verde.

New species and records of saxicolous lichens from the Kodar Range (Trans-Baikal Territory, Russia)

Fifty-six species of saxicolous lichens are reported for the first time from the Kodar Range. Circinaria scyphulifera is described as new to science. Aspicilia nikrapensis and Fuscidea submollis are new for Russia; Aspicilia sublapponica, Lepra monogona and Thelignya lignyota are new for southern Siberia; and 35 species of saxicolous lichens are reported for the first time for the Stanovoye Nagor’e highlands. Fuscopannaria ahlneri alredy appears in the Red Data Book of the Trans-Baikal Territory.

Lichen diversity in Amadiya and Rowanduz disricts in Iraq

The lichen biota of the Amadiya and Rowanduz districts in the Mountain physiogeographic region in Iraq was sampled in 2013. The samples provided 47 species belonging to 29 genera and 14 families. Among them 37 species are new records for Iraq. All species except Lichinella cribellifera and Thelidium sp. were found in Amadiya district whereas only 13 species occurred in Rowanduz district. Most of the species (59.5%) were crustose, while 27.6% were foliose, 12.7 % squamulose and none fruticose. The three most species-rich genera are Caloplaca with 7 species, Collema with 5 species and Aspicilia with 3 species; 6 genera were represented by 2 species and 20 by single species. All saxicolous lichens were calciphilic while the corticolous lichens were acidophilic. The most common and dominant species is Lecanora muralis, found in all 17 studied locations.Keywords: Lichens; Iraq; Physiogeographic regions; Mountain region.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24(1): 23–32, 2017 (June)