Four lichen species new to Spain

Se presentan cuatro nuevas citas de líquenes de España, concretamente Aspicilia ruceniuro, Lecanora stenotropa, Vezdaea leprosa y Xanthoparmelia plitii. Las especies probablemente no son raras pero habían sido obviadas, bien por ser inconspicuas bien por ser similares morfológicamente a otras especies.Four species of Lichens are reported as new to Spain, namely Aspicilia moenium, Lecanora stenotropa, Vezdaea leprosa aud Xanthoparmelia plitii. The species are probably not rare, but overlooked, since they are either inconspicuous or morphologically similar to other [email protected]

Sobre las comunidades terrícolas de líquenes vagantes (Sphaerothallio-xanthoparmelion vagantis al. nova)

Se propone una nueva alianza Sphaerothaiio-Xanthoparmelion vagantis, de líquenes errantes de lugares fisiológicamente áridos (termo o crioáridos), por continentalidad o desertización higrotérmica fuertemente venteados y eútrofos. En el seno de esta alianza describimos una nueva asociación Sphaerothaiietum fruticuloso-foliaceae que se desarrolla, en España, en el piso de vegetacióji ibérico de paramera en los claros de las comunidades de tomillar-pradera de Festuco-Po ion li~giílatae, entre 1.200-1.400 m. de altitud y que, sin duda, supera el ámbito de la Región Mediterránea, encontrando tal vez un óptimo en la Irano-Turánica. Datos bibliográficos nos hacen deducir su presencia en las montañas de Astrakan, y Tauria (Rusia). Se incluye también en la alianza la asociación Parmelietum vagantis (Keller 1938) Klement 1955 enmendándola profundamente. Discutimos en el trabajo las comunidades afines a las descritas, en base a conceptos florísticos y ecológicos (Dzfrloschistion terrestris Klement 1955 y Parmelietum vagantis (Keller 1938) Klement 1955

Diversidad liquénica asociada a fenómenos post-incendio en los alcornocales valenciano-castellonenses.

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] estudia la colonización post-incendio de las cortezas quemadas de los alcornoques (Quercus suber L.), por líquenes epífitos,en los diferentes núcleos del alcornocal valenciano-castellonense (Asplenio onopteridis-Querco suberis sigmetum). Estos bosques, afectados por incendios diferentes, se localizan en las Sierras de Espadán y Calderona y en el Desierto de las Palmas y difieren en sus condiciones bioclimáticas, en la estructura del bosque y, consecuentemente, en la composición florística de las comunidades previas a los incendios. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el estado de la recolonización e identificar que factores podrían estar implicados en el proceso. La riqueza específica y la cobertura de las comunidades epífitas muestra asimetrías importantes entre áreas. Estas diferencias se relacionan con la proximidad de zonas inalteradas, que deben actuar como inóculo, y con las características bioclimáticas de cada territorio. En total, se han identificado 40 especies liquénicas: 18 crustáceas (45%), 18 foliáceas (45%) y 4 fruticulosas (10%). La sucesión secundaria está dominada por especies de amplia tolerancia ecológica que poseen estructuras de multiplicación vegetativa. Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella y Scoliciosporum chloroccocum son las que aparecen más tempranamente y las más ampliamente representadas; otras, como Evernia prunastri, P. tiliacea, P. soredians,P. subrudecta, Ramalina farinacea, etc., aparecen con mayor frecuencia y desarrollo en los alcornocales que sufrieron un incendio menos intenso y con ombroclima subhúmedo.The post-fire colonization of the burned barks of cork-oaks (Quercus suber L.) by epiphytic lichens affected by fire episodes has been studied in different areas of the Valenciano-castellonense cork-oak forests (Asplenio onopteridis-Querco suberis sigmetum). These forests, which have been affected by fires of different intensity, are located in Espadán and Calderona mountains and in the Desierto de Las Palmas and differ with respect to their bioclimate and forest structure. This facts result in a different floristic composition of the epiphytic communities prior to the occurrence of fires. The aim of this paper is to determine the recolonization state and to identify the factors involved in the process. Specific richness and coverage of the epiphytic communities show differences between areas. These differences are related with the proximity to undisturbed areas and with its bioclimatic characteristics. 40 species have been identified: 18 crustose (45%), foliose (45%) and 4 fruticose lichens (10%). Secondary succession is dominated by species with wide ecological tolerance with soredia or isidia. Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella and Scoliciosporum chloroccocum show the greatest colonization success; others, such as Evernia prunastri, P. tiliacea, P. soredians, P. subrudecta, Ramalina farinacea, etc., show higher frequency and thallus development in forests which were affected by less intense fires and with subhumid ombroclimate

Formation of photosystem II reaction centers that work as energy sinks in lichen symbiotic Trebouxiophyceae microalgae

21 p.Lichens are poikilohydric symbiotic organisms that can survive in the absence of water. Photosynthesis must be highly regulated in these organisms, which live under continuous desiccation-rehydration cycles, to avoid photooxidative damage. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence induction curves in the lichen microalgae of the Trebouxiophyceae Asterochloris erici and in Trebouxia jamesii (TR1) and Trebouxia sp. (TR9) phycobionts, isolated from the lichen Ramalina farinacea, shows differences with higher plants. In the presence of the photosynthetic electron transport inhibitor DCMU, the kinetics of Q(A) reduction is related to variable fluorescence by a sigmoidal function that approaches a horizontal asymptote. An excellent fit to these curves was obtained by applying a model based on the following assumptions: (1) after closure, the reaction centers (RCs) can be converted into "energy sink" centers (sRCs); (2) the probability of energy leaving the sRCs is very low or zero and (3) energy is not transferred from the antenna of PSII units with sRCs to other PSII units. The formation of sRCs units is also induced by repetitive light saturating pulses or at the transition from dark to light and probably requires the accumulation of reduced Q(A), as well as structural changes in the reaction centers of PSII. This type of energy sink would provide a very efficient way to protect symbiotic microalgae against abrupt changes in light intensity.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadGeneralitat ValencianaUniversidad de AlcaláComunidad de Madri

Preliminary assessment of terrestrial microalgae isolated from lichens as testing species for environmental monitoring: Lichen phycobionts present high sensitivity to environmental micropollutants

Bioassays constitute a tool for pollution analysis providing a holistic approach and high-quality indication of the toxicity. Microbioassays allow evaluating the toxicity of many samples, implying lower costs and enabling routine monitoring and pollution control. But tests conducted so far are limited to the use of a small number of taxa. Lichens are excellent bioindicators of pollution with great ecological significance. Studies show that the phycobiont is more sensitive to pollutants than the mycobiont. Phycobiont have features such as adaptation to anhydrobiosis and relatively rapid growth in vitro, making them suitable for microbioassays. Our aim is to determine the sensitivity of phycobionts to the pharmaceutical micropollutants carbamazepine and diclofenac as a preliminary step for the development of a toxicity microbioassay based on phycobionts. Optical dispersion and chlorophyll autofluorescence were used as endpoints of toxicity on two algal species showing that suspensions present cyclic and taxon specific patterns of aggregation. Trebouxia TR9 suspensions present a very high grade of aggregation while Asterochloris erici cells do not. Both micropollutants alter optical properties of the suspensions of both species. No significant alteration of chlorophyll autofluorescence by carbamazepine is observed. A. erici chlorophyll autofluorescence is extremely sensitive to diclofenac but the effect is not dependent on the drug concentration or on the time of exposure. Differently, TR9 only shows punctual chlorophyll alterations. Fluctuations in optical dispersion may indicate changes in the population structure of the species, including reproductive strategy. A. erici seems more sensitive to micropollutants, is better characterized and is available from commercial collections

Presence of multiple group I introns closely related to bacteria and fungi in plastid 23S rRNAs of lichen-forming Trebouxia

The chloroplast-encoded large subunit ribosomal RNA gene of several free-living green algae contains group I introns at Escherichia coli genic positions 1917, 1931, 1951, and 2449. Herein we report the presence of group I introns at these positions within the chloroplast-encoded large subunit ribosomal RNA gene of several lichen-forming green algae belonging to the Trebouxia genus. In contrast to the introns inserted at position 2449, all introns inserted at positions 1917, 1931, and 1951 contained LAGLIDADG homing endonuclease genes. Phylogenetic analyses show that: (i) introns inserted at positions 1917, 1931, and 1951 are closely related to introns located at homologous insertion sites in bacterial rDNA genes; and (ii) introns inserted at position 2449 are closely related to fungal introns located at homologous insertion sites in mitochondrial rDNA genes. The symbiogenetic thalli of some lichens are proposed as the likely setting of horizontal transfer of genetic material among distantly related organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and green [email protected]; [email protected]

Perfil del paciente canino con cuerpos extraños esofágicos

Objetivo. Determinar el perfil del paciente canino que presenta cuerpos extraños esofágicos para identificar las características de riesgo al presentar esta entidad. Materiales y métodos. Este es un estudio retrospectivo realizado en el Hospital Clínico Veterinario de la Universidad de Extremadura (HCV). Se analizaron diferentes parámetros de los perros que presentaron un diagnóstico endoscópico de cuerpos extraños esofágicos. Resultados. Esta patología se presentó más comúnmente en perros adultos jóvenes y en pacientes de raza pequeña. Se presenta por primera vez al Podenco Portugués, el cual además representó la raza con mayor factor de riesgo. Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación concuerdan con lo descrito anteriormente en cuanto a las características del paciente con cuerpo extraño esofágico. Asimismo, se reporta el Podenco Portugués como predispuesto a esta entidad, con un factor de riesgo mayor al de otras razas anteriormente mencionadas en la literatura. Para prevenir los cuerpos extraños esofágicos, se debe alimentar con carne cruda y huesos a los perros, especialmente a los de raza pequeña. Siempre se debe tener en cuenta esta patología en los perros con sintomatología de enfermedad esofágica sin importar su edad, pues su presentación es más común en perros adultos jóvenes.Objective. Determine the profile of the canine patient with esophageal foreign bodies to identify risk factors associated with the foreign bodies. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective study made by the Veterinary Hospital Clinic of the Universidad de Extremadura (VHC). Different factors were analyzed in dogs with an endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal foreign bodies. Results. This pathology was more commonly found in young adult dogs and in small breeds. This pathology was present for the first time in the Portuguese Warren Hound, which was also the breed with the highest risk. Conclusions. The results obtained in this investigation are in agreement with the previous description of a patient that presents esophageal foreign bodies. Also, the Portuguese Warren Hound was found to be predisposed to this problem, with a higher risk factor than other breeds previously mentioned in the literature. To prevent esophageal foreign bodies, dogs should be fed raw meat and bones, especially small breeds. This pathology should always be kept in mind in dogs with esophagitis symptomology regardless of age, although it is most common in young adult dogs.peerReviewe

Perfil del paciente canino con cuerpos extraños esofágicos

Objetivo. Determinar el perfil del paciente canino que presenta cuerpos extraños esofágicos para identificar las características de riesgo al presentar esta entidad. Materiales y métodos. Este es un estudio retrospectivo realizado en el Hospital Clínico Veterinario de la Universidad de Extremadura (HCV). Se analizaron diferentes parámetros de los perros que presentaron un diagnóstico endoscópico de cuerpos extraños esofágicos. Resultados. Esta patología se presentó más comúnmente en perros adultos jóvenes y en pacientes de raza pequeña. Se presenta por primera vez al Podenco Portugués, el cual además representó la raza con mayor factor de riesgo. Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación concuerdan con lo descrito anteriormente en cuanto a las características del paciente con cuerpo extraño esofágico. Asimismo, se reporta el Podenco Portugués como predispuesto a esta entidad, con un factor de riesgo mayor al de otras razas anteriormente mencionadas en la literatura. Para prevenir los cuerpos extraños esofágicos, se debe alimentar con carne cruda y huesos a los perros, especialmente a los de raza pequeña. Siempre se debe tener en cuenta esta patología en los perros con sintomatología de enfermedad esofágica sin importar su edad, pues su presentación es más común en perros adultos jóvenes.Objective. Determine the profile of the canine patient with esophageal foreign bodies to identify risk factors associated with the foreign bodies. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective study made by the Veterinary Hospital Clinic of the Universidad de Extremadura (VHC). Different factors were analyzed in dogs with an endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal foreign bodies. Results. This pathology was more commonly found in young adult dogs and in small breeds. This pathology was present for the first time in the Portuguese Warren Hound, which was also the breed with the highest risk. Conclusions. The results obtained in this investigation are in agreement with the previous description of a patient that presents esophageal foreign bodies. Also, the Portuguese Warren Hound was found to be predisposed to this problem, with a higher risk factor than other breeds previously mentioned in the literature. To prevent esophageal foreign bodies, dogs should be fed raw meat and bones, especially small breeds. This pathology should always be kept in mind in dogs with esophagitis symptomology regardless of age, although it is most common in young adult dogs.peerReviewe

The response of Asterochloris erici (Ahmadjian) Skaloud et Peksa to desiccation: a proteomic approach

18 p.The study of desiccation tolerance of lichens, and of their chlorobionts in particular, has frequently focused on the anti-oxidant system that protects the cell against photo-oxidative stress during dehydration/rehydration cycles. In this study, we used proteomic and transcript analyses to assess the changes associated with desiccation in the isolated phycobiont Aste-rochloris erici. Algae were dried either slowly (5?6 h) or rapidly (<60 min), and rehydrated after 24 h in the desiccated state. To identify proteins that accumulated during the drying or rehydration processes, we employed two-dimensional (2D) difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) coupled with individual protein identi?cation using trypsin digestion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Proteomic analyses revealed that desiccation caused an increase in relative abundance of only 11?13 proteins, regard-less of drying rate, involved in glycolysis, cellular protection, cytoskeleton, cell cycle, and targeting and degradation. Tran-scripts of ?ve Hsp90 and two b-tubulin genes accumulated primarily at the end of the dehydration process. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that ultrastructural cell injuries, perhaps resulting from physical or mechanical stress rather than metabolic damage, were more intense after rapid dehydration. This occurred with no major change in the proteome. These results suggest that desiccation tolerance of A. erici is achieved by constitu-tive mechanisms.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónGeneralitat ValencianaUnited States Department of Agricultur

Sobre la biología del talo en líquenes litobiontes

Some questions about the biology of lithobiont lichens are presented, althought further experimenta) research is needed. Nevertheless, on the basis of original experiences and literature data, some unanswered problems about this subject are analyzed, such as the difficulty of evaluating the talline variations brought about by environmental conditions, since it is not easy to know whether they are genetically settled. The presence or absence of "oil hyphae" is questioned as a taxonomical character proposing a possible relationship with a deficient oxygen content in the substrate and not only as a source of energy or a water reservoir. Some examples about Spanish lichens are given.Se plantean algunas cuestiones, que requieren ser experimentadas, acerca de la biología de los talos de liqúenes litobiontes, profundizando en los de hábito endolítico. A partir de una síntesis bibliográfica y de experiencias propias, se sintetizan algunos de los problemas que ofrecen estos líquenes, sobre los que los factores ambientales provocan modificaciones talinas difíciles de valorar, ya que no se puede discernir si están o no fijados genéticamente. Se cuestiona como carácter taxonómico la presencia o ausencia de "oil hyphae" y se postula su posible relación con la falta de oxígeno en el sustrato y no sólo como fuente energética o de disponibilidad de agua