A Revision of European Saxicolous Species of the Genus Buellia de not. and Formerly Included Genera

A detailed taxonomic survey of the saxicolous European species of Buellia based on a detailed survey and assessment of the important features of the genus is presented. These include the conidia, the anatomy of the exciple, the spore wall pigmentation, ornamentation and internal wall thickening, as well as analysis of the lichen substances. As a result, 36 saxicolous species are recognized, of which Buellia griseosquamulata and B. longispora are new taxa and B. atrocinerella and B. parvula are new combinations. Buellia coniops, B. lecideina and B. punclata are transferred to the validated genus Amandinea. A key to 43 accepted species of Buellia, Amandinea and Hafellia is include

Pcr Primers for the Amplification of Mitochondrial Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA of Lichen-forming Ascomycetes

Four primers for the amplification of mitochondrial DNA of lichenforming ascomycetes are presented. The primers match the conserved regions U2, U4, and U6, respectively, of mitochondrial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Polymerase chain reaction using different combinations of the primers produced single amplification products from DNA of eight lichen-forming fungal species but did not amplify DNA of two axenic cultured algal species. The amplification product obtained from Lobaria pulmonaria was sequenced and the 894-bp sequence was compared with the mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequence of Podospora anserine. The two sequences revealed more than 76% identity in the conserved regions U3 to U5 demonstrating that we amplified mitochondrial DNA. The primers matching U2 and U6 yielded amplification products of 800-1000 bp depending on the species examined. The variation observed suggests that mitochondrial SSU rDNA may be useful for phylogenetic analyses of lichen-forming ascomycete

The Importance of Sorediate Crustose Lichens in the Epiphytic Lichen Glora of the Dwiss Plateau and the Pre-Alps

Standardized lichen surveys were conducted on 849 trees in 132 ecological long-term observation plots in the Swiss Plateau and Pre-Alps: 262 lichen taxa were identified, 64 (24%) of them sorediate crustose species. Their mean percentage of the flora on individual trees and in individual plots was even higher. The mean percentage of crustose lichen species with vegetative propagules, such as soredia, was per plot significantly higher in the Pre-Alps than in the Plateau, higher in forest than in non-forest areas, and, according to the vegetation belts, lowest in the colline-submontane zone. It was found that the biodiversity of lichens could not be determined without considering the sorediate crustose lichens. Furthermore, by performing standardized surveys of all taxa, the occurrence of the following species in Switzerland was confirmed for the first time: Cliostomum leprosum, Fuscidea arboricola, Fuscidea pusilla, Hypocenomyce leucococca, Hypocenomyce sorophora, Lecanora norvegica, Lepraria eburnea, Lepraria elobata, Lepraria jackii, Lepraria obtusatica, Lepraria rigidula, Pertusaria boreahs and Rinodina griseosoralifera. Seven taxa that displayed distinctive chemistry, could not yet be identifie

Frequency, Diversity and Ecological Strategies of Epiphytic Lichens in the Swiss Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps

To identify representative quantitative criteria for the creation of a future Red List of epiphytic lichens, 849 trees in 132 long-term ecological observation plots in the Swiss Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps were surveyed by standard sampling. Based on the trees, frequency data of the lichen taxa observed are described by the log series model, indicating the controlling effect of few ecological factors. Based on the plots, four classes of scarcity, each comprising 25% of the species, were established. As a contribution to the development of a national, representative survey of lichens, α-diversity (species richness, species density) and β-diversity (dissimilarity) were calculated in terms of region, vegetation formation, vegetation belt and for their combinations. Differences in lichen diversity between the Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps were caused by the bigger elevational range in the Pre-Alps, which resulted in a higher species richness. α-Diversity of forest and non-forest were similar, whereas each vegetation formation showed one third of its species restricted to it. The contributions to the total lichen diversity of crustose, foliose and fruticose as well as of generative and vegetative species was calculated. Specific features along the altitudinal gradient of vegetation belts emerged: the percentage of crustose and generative lichens declined with every altitudinal step, increased in fruticose and vegetative lichens, and was the same in foliose specie

Morphological aspects associated with repair and regeneration in Lobaria pulmonaria and L. amplissima (Peltigerales, Ascomycota)

ISSN:0024-2829ISSN:1096-113

New morphological aspects of cephalodium formation in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (Lecanorales, Ascomycota)

Cephalodia were investigated on young and mature thalli of Lobaria pulmonaria. Cephalodia originate from contact between hyphae and cyanobacteria on the upper or lower cortex or, less frequently, in the apical zone. Young thalli were found to associate with cyanobacteria even in the anchoring zone. Cephalodia formed on the young thalli or the anchoring hyphae share the same phenotypic characteristics. In spite of being composed of paraplectenchymatous hyphae, the cortex of mature thalli preserves a considerable plasticity, enabling the formation of cephalodia. The cyanobacterial incorporation process begins with cortical hyphae growing out towards adjacent cyanobacterial colonies, enveloping them and incorporating them into the thallus. The incorporation process is the same on the upper and the lower cortex. Early stages of cephalodia are usually found in young lobes, whereas in the older parts of the thallus only mature cephalodia are foun

Isolation and characterization of 22 nuclear and 5 chloroplast microsatellite loci in the threatened riparian plant Myricaria germanica (Tamaricaceae, Caryophyllales)

The German tamarisk (Myricaria germanica) is a riparian shrub threatened in Europe, where populations are largely confined to the upstream areas of rivers. To study gene movement in this species within and among catchments, we isolated and characterized 22 nuclear and 5 chloroplast microsatellite loci and tested their polymorphism based on 40 individuals of M. germanica and four individuals of Myricaria rosea. For M. rosea, 15 markers amplified, and of these, eight were polymorphic. All markers were polymorphic for M. germanica. The polymorphic markers allow the characterization of gene flow patterns at various spatio-temporal scale

Early development of Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. in response to emissions from a copper smelter

The early development of Hypogymnia physodes from soredia to the formation of stratified lobes has been studied experimentally in the vicinity of a copper-smelting plant in theMiddle Urals. SEM investigations combined with life table analyses of early developmental stages revealed decreases in soredial survival and developmental rate in polluted localities. Non-stricatified pre-thallus stages without an epicortex were tolerant to toxic impact and were able to survive even in the zone with the highest pollution (lichen desert zone). The sensitivity of developmental stagesancreased after stratified lobes had develope

Genetic Basis of Self-Incompatibility in the Lichen-Forming Fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and Skewed Frequency Distribution of Mating-Type Idiomorphs: Implications for Conservation

Fungal populations that reproduce sexually are likely to be genetically more diverse and have a higher adaptive potential than asexually reproducing populations. Mating systems of fungal species can be self-incompatible, requiring the presence of isolates of different mating-type genes for sexual reproduction to occur, or self-compatible, requiring only one. Understanding the distribution of mating-type genes in populations can help to assess the potential of self-incompatible species to reproduce sexually. In the locally threatened epiphytic lichen-forming fungus Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., low frequency of sexual reproduction is likely to limit the potential of populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Our study provides direct evidence of self-incompatibility (heterothallism) in L. pulmonaria. It can thus be hypothesized that sexual reproduction in small populations might be limited by an unbalanced distribution of mating-type genes. We therefore assessed neutral genetic diversity (using microsatellites) and mating-type ratio in 27 lichen populations (933 individuals). We found significant differences in the frequency of the two mating types in 13 populations, indicating a lower likelihood of sexual reproduction in these populations. This suggests that conservation translocation activities aiming at maximizing genetic heterogeneity in threatened and declining populations should take into account not only presence of fruiting bodies in transplanted individuals, but also the identity and balanced representation of mating-type genes

Phylogenetic analysis indicates transitions from vegetative to sexual reproduction in the Lobaria retigera group (Lecanoromycetidae, Ascomycota)

Phylogenetic relationships among the hypothetical species pairs Lobaria kurokawae / L. retigera and L. pseudopulmonaria / L. isidiosa were investigated based on TLC techniques and the phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) nrDNA. Results of TLC demonstrate that L. retigera and L. kurokawae can be chemically distinguished from L. isidiosa and L. pseudopulmonaria by the absence of retigeranic acid. Parsimony analysis of 18 specimens shows two monophyletic clades - a L. retigera lineage and a L. isidiosa lineage—both including their apotheciate counterparts. Unlike the original hypothesis of species pairs, our study reveals transitions from isidiate morphs that have the potential to rarely form apothecia, towards apotheciate morphs that produce no vegetative propagule