Lichens and their importance for the monitoring of environmental changes in Southern Africa : with special reference to soil-inhabiting lichens.

Lichens are the object of investigation within the framework of the BIOTA Southern Africa project, subproject S04 (http://www.biota-africa.org). This interdisciplinary research project, installed in 2000, focuses on the analysis of biodiversity and its changes along climatic and vegetation gradients (transects) in Namibia and in the Republic of South Africa. In the context of this project, studies on the diversity of lichens are carriedout. Special reference is given to the monitoring of lichens growing on soil, which form the so called biological soil crusts.Lichen diversity is assessed and analysed with respect to its spatial and temporal changes. These are related to various abioticand biotic factors such as climate, soil features and land use. The indicator value of certain terricolouslichen taxaand/or lichen groups (communities) is investigated for the study area, and it is intended to use itin a future long-term monitoring programme in the region. In this brochure, we whish to explain what lichens are, how do they live and where do they grow, and why they are so important as bioindicatorsin arid and semi-arid areas of the world. The activities of the S04 subproject along the BIOTA transect are described, as well as the methods used for monitoring environmental changes in Southern Africa using soil-inhabiting lichens

I Licheni epifiti su <i>Quercus suber</i> L., nel Marghine-Goceano (Sardegna centro-settentrionale)

Nell'ambito dell'area del Marghine-Goceano (Sardegna centro-settentrionale) sono state indagate numerose piante di Quercus suber L. presenti in 16 località caratterizzate da varie tipologie forestali, dai boschi misti di sughera con leccio e roverella, alle sugherete quasi pure o con sporadica presenza di esemplari di roverella, sino ai pascoli arborati

Will climate warming exceed lethal photosynthetic temperature thresholds of lichens in a southern African arid region?

Predicted elevated temperatures and a shift from a winter to summer rainfall pattern associated with global warming could result in the exposure of hydrated lichens during summer to more numerous temperature extremes that exceed their thermal thresholds. This hypothesis was tested by measuring lethal temperature thresholds under laboratory and natural conditions for four epilithic lichen species (Xanthoparmelia austro-africana, X. hyporhytida, Xanthoparmelia sp., Xanthomaculina hottentotta) occurring on quartz gravel substrates at a hot arid inland site two epigeous lichen species (Teloschistes capensis, Ramalina sp.) occurring on gypsum-rich topsoil at a warm humid coastal site. Extrapolated lethal temperatures for photosynthetic quantum yield under laboratory conditions were up to 4°C higher for lichens from a dry inland site than those from a humid coastal site. Lethal temperatures extrapolated for photosynthetic quantum yield at a saturating photosynthetic photon flux density of ≥11,000 µmol photons m-2s-1 under natural conditions were up to 6°C higher for lichens from the dry inland site than the more humid coastal site. It is concluded that only under atypical conditions of lichen exposure in a hydrated state to temperature extremes at high midday solar irradiances during summer could lethal photosynthetic thresholds in sensitive lichen species be potentially exceeded, but whether the increased frequency of such conditions with climate warming would lead to increased likelihood of lichen mortality is debatable.Web of Scienc

LIAS light – Towards the ten thousand species milestone

Volume: 8Start Page: 11End Page: 1

A revision of the lichen genus Lepraria s.lat. in Italy

The results of a thorough revision based on the morphological and chemical analysis of 885 Italian specimens attributed to the lichen genus Lepraria s.lat. are presented. Sixteen species of Lepraria s.str., Botryolepraria lesdainii and Lecanora rouxii are confirmed as belonging to the Italian lichen flora, and further two species (L. borealis, L. elobata) are added. For each species, critical data on the chemistry, ecology and distribution in the main phyto-climatical regions of the country are given. The new combination Lepraria alpina (de Lesd.) Tretiach & Baruffo is proposed for the lichen previously known as L. cacuminum (A.Massal.) Lohtander, Lepra plumbeo-virescens Jatta is reduced to synonymy with Lepraria lobificans, and L. tønsbergiana Bayerová & Kukwa with L. jackii. Neotypes are selected for Lepraria alpina, Lepra plumbeo-virescens and Crocynia henrici. Two identification keys to European species are provided, the former based on chemical data, the latter on thallus morphology and chemical spot tests. The results of a statistical analysis on the ecology and distribution of the listed species in Italy are presented

Biodiversity policy integration in five policy sectors in Germany: How can we transform governance to make implementation work?

Drivers for biodiversity loss are largely regulated by policies in non-environmental sectors. The limited mainstreaming of biodiversity into respective policies remains yet to be analysed. During the process of updating the German National Biodiversity Strategy, we conducted 33 interviews and a stakeholder workshop to analyse barriers and levers for biodiversity integration in five policy sectors: agriculture, forests, marine &amp; coastal areas, business &amp; industries, rural &amp; urban development. Based on Biodiversity Policy Integration literature, we distinguish four leverage points for transformation related to inclusive, integrated, accountable and adaptive governance. We found that biodiversity inclusive narratives and innovative approaches exist but are overshadowed by conflicting vested interests. Dominant sector policies are incoherent and continue to provide harmful subsidies. Institutional structures fail to reflexively respond to ambitious agendas and are locked into sector specific accountability hierarchies. Thus, transformative national planning needs to overcome institutional lock-ins and empower agents to develop innovative solutions

LIAS light – Towards the ten thousand species milestone

Over the past 12 years, the lichen trait database LIAS light as a component of the LIAS information system, has grown to a considerable pool of descriptive data based on 71 different qualitative, quantitative, and text characters, for nearly 10.000 lichen taxa, being phylogenetically arranged according to the MycoNet classification. It includes information on morphological, ecological and chemical traits. Multilinguality or internationalization options have become a central challenge of the project. At present, 18 language versions of the database and web interface exist. LIAS light data are accessible in DELTA format and to be used locally and web browser-based, via NaviKey applet