Abstract: Galena Creek rock glacier (44°38'30? N., 109°47'30? W., elevation 2,680 to 3,110 m, length 1.6 km) originates in a north-facing cirque. Although this rock glacier morphologically resembles others described elsewhere, its upvalley two-thirds is composed of a continuous layer of debris 1 to 1.5 m thick over relatively clean glacier ice and has a maximum measured surface velocity of 80 cm/yr. The downvalley one-third is mantled by 2 to 3 m of debris (measured by seismic refraction) over ice of unknown debris content; it has a maximum measured velocity of 14 cm/yr. The transition zone between these two regions has several large (6-m-high, 90-m-wide) lobes that override one another at a maximum measured velocity of 6 cm/yr. Accumulation occurs primarily as wind-drifted snow in a narrow lens-shaped area against the cirque headwall. Most of the coarse debris is not incorporated in the ice, but is carried past the steep (13° to 33°) snow accumulation area beneath the cirque headwall by snow avalanche and rockfall to form the debris mantle. The debris mantle is sorted, with coarse fragments dominant at the surface and a zone of fines just above the debris-ice contact. The ice beneath the debris mantle contains a maximum of 10 to 12 percent debris by volume, except in probable longitudinal septa downglacier from large debris concentrations in the source area. Intersecting ridges and furrows on the up-valley portion of the rock glacier probably differ in age, according to lichen sizes and ridge sharpness, and are probably formed by compression below steep reaches of the glacier and by collapse into crevasses. Ice-cored rock glaciers uniquely have a very low ratio of accumulation area to ablation area (1:7 in this case). This is mainly the result of an ablation rate beneath the debris mantle that is estimated to be about two orders of magnitude less than that of clean ice. The slow rate of addition of ice makes the glacier thin and thus slow-moving. Because of the debris cover, rock glaciers are not nearly so sensitive to climate as are clean glaciers. The lag effect between retreat of clean glaciers and deactivation of rock glaciers may be several thousand years, and therefore mountain glacier moraines should be correlated with rock glaciers only with extreme care. © 1972, The Geological Society of America, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1972)83[3025:IRGGCN]2.0.CO;2
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Keywords: back scattered electron imagery/ back scattered electron microscope imagery/ chemical weathering/ digital processing/ dissolution/ dissolution rate/ gnamma pit/ porosity/ weathering/ weathering rate/ USA, Arizona, Sedona area
Abstract: This paper introduces digital processing of back-scattered electron (BSE) imagery as a microscopic approach to measure porosity from in situ dissolution of minerals. Four case studies exemplify this technique. In case one, alveoli start in the Sedona area of Arizona when sandstone porosity exceeds ~32%. Case two examines the maintenance of gnamma pits and polygonal cracks on a basalt boulder on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Cases three and four involve measuring rates of dissolution over thousands of years. Case three concerns rock dissolution in weathering rinds formed on ventifacted aplite boulders. Case four addresses the classic topic of which variable is most important in chemical weathering: temperature, precipitation, or microenvironment. Microenvironment is a more important control on plagioclase dissolution; organic-rich positions (under lichens) weather two to seven times faster than adjacent organic-poor positions away from epilithic organisms and rock coatings. Cases three and four illustrate that in situ measurements of rock and mineral porosity can yield data on mass weathered per unit area over time. This information is comparable to mass balance approaches in watershed- and soil-based weathering research. -from Author
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1995)107<0725:DPOBSE>2.3.CO
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Abstract: Synchronous regional rockfall events triggered by large earthquakes in the Southern Alps of New Zealand were used to evaluate and improve the lichenometry method for surface-exposure dating. Digital calipers were used to measure the maximum diameter of the largest lichen on many rockfall blocks, using a fixed-area largest-lichen (FALL) sampling strategy. Regional significance of FALL peaks can be tested by confirming the occurrence of a coeval peak at multiple sites, and by showing an increase in peak size toward the earthquake epicenter. Significance of FALL peaks at a local site can be described in terms of peak size relative to a uniform density of FALL sizes. Measurements of 34 000 FALL sizes on fully exposed rockfall blocks and outcrop joint faces at 90 sites allow precise dating of geomorphic events of the past 300 to 500 yr. Uncertainties at the 95% confidence interval can be reduced to a level better than ±10 yr for ages within the calibrated time range represented by the lichen growth equation. Recognition of prehistorical regional rockfall events in 1833, 1836, and 1840 demonstrates the excellent resolution of this dating method. Precise dates result from exceptionally low measurement errors of lichen sizes relative to their growth rate, tightly clustered FALL sizes for earthquake-induced rockfall events, and substrate exposure times for calibration sites that are known to the year or day. FALL peaks for synchronous rockfall events are the same for 20 sites with diverse climate, altitude, and substrate lithology. A regionally consistent lichen growth rate allows use of a single growth-rate equation for most species of Rhizocarpon subgenus Rhizocarpon on the South Island of New Zealand. A nonlin-ear growth equation suggests that the first colonization, on average, occurs in the 5th yr after formation of new rock surfaces (?0.5 m2 unit areas) and is followed by rapid, exponentially declining growth for about 20 yr (great-growth phase) that is largely completed by the 24th yr. Then, linear growth persists at about 15 mm per century (uniform-growth phase).
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1998)110<0060:LDOEGR>2.3.CO
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Keywords: biodegradation/ calcium/ carbon dioxide/ magnesium/ vascular plant/ vegetation/ weathering/ Iceland
Abstract: The weathering of calcium and magnesium silicate minerals on the continents has exerted a major control on atmospheric CO2 over geologic time, and vascular plants may have played an important role in this process. In western Iceland, we have examined the role of plants in weathering by measuring the chemistry of waters draining adjacent areas of basaltic rocks that are either barren (having a partial cover of mosses and lichens) or populated by trees. The study area was chosen to maximize vegetational differences and to minimize differences in microclimate, slope, and lithology, while avoiding hydrothermal waters and anthropogenic acid rain. Results, including data on cation uptake by growing trees, indicate that the rate of weathering release of Ca and Mg to streams and vegetation is two to five times higher in vegetated areas than the release of Ca and Mg to streams in barren areas. This finding suggests a major role for vascular plants in accelerating weathering and thereby lowering atmospheric CO2 as they invaded upland areas of the continents between 380 and 350 Ma.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0895:QOTEOP>2.3.CO
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Keywords: Alaska/ Glaciers/ Holocene/ Tree rings/ Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains/ Radiocarbon/ Forestry/ Glaciers/ Geology/ dating method/ dendrochronology/ glaciation/ glacier advance/ Holocene/ paleoclimate/ United States
Abstract: Four intervals of late Holocene glacier advance are recognized from study of nine valley glaciers in the Wrangell and westernmost St. Elias Mountains of Alaska. The oldest glacial advance is recognized at the Nabesna and Barnard Glaciers where five radiocarbon ages suggest advance as early as 2700 cal. (calibrated) yr B.P. Two additional radiocarbon-dated advances are centered on cal. yr A.D. 300 and the beginning of the Little Ice Age about A.D. 1200. The best-documented Little Ice Age advances occurred during the mid-1600s through the 1800s and are recognized at all nine glaciers. These latter advances are dated by tree rings of trees overrun by glaciers in five glacier valley, by 17 radiocarbon dates, and by tree-ring and lichen ages from 20 moraines that were deposited during the culmination of these advances. The glacial chronology is broadly similar to chronologies from adjoining Alaskan mountain ranges, at both coastal and interior sites for the past 3000 yr. There are, however, differences in timing of advances during the first millennium A.D. The glacial history for the past 2000 yr is also consistent with temperature-sensitive proxy records from interior Alaska and Yukon Territory.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0896:LHGFIT>2.0.CO
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Abstract: [In Polish with English abstract.]
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Notes: In Russian.
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Keywords: Algeria/ Annaba/ Bio-indication/ Bioaccumulation/ Lead/ Lichen/ Pollution/ Road traffic
Abstract: Of lead pollution in particular has constantly evolved over time, due to the increase in the number of vehicles on the market. Our research is based primarily on the use of a lichen species Ramalina farinacea as indicator of organic pollution in the region of Annaba. An appropriate sampling strategy, a spatio-temporal monitoring and measuring certain physiological parameters combined determination of lead allowed us to evaluate not only the state of air quality but also the impact of this pollution on the environment caused by heavy traffic in this area. Statistical analysis of the results brings up correlations ranging from significant to very highly significant between the parameters measured and the levels of lead in the bio-indicator in time and space.
Notes: In French with English abstract.
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Keywords: Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA)/ Christchurch urban lawns field sampling/ Christchurch wall vegetation, bryophytes and lichens and abundance/ Investigating species richness patterns, in Christchurch forest patches/ NZRCUE/ NZRCUE and urban vegetation sampling/ Sustainable urban design/ Thellungian paradigm/ Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN)/ Urban biodiversity and vegetation study
Abstract: A prerequisite for more sustainable urban design is an understanding of the current composition of urban plant communities and what 'drives' their compositional variation. Various approaches have been used in the past to describe urban plant community patterns, including phytosociological approaches in Europe and more quantitative urban-rural gradient approaches in the United States. We used multivariate statistical methods to describe compositional variation and causation in urban biotopes of Christchurch city,New Zealand. From stratified random biotopes, we collected compositional, environmental and 'social' data at a range of spatial scales. Our data analysis 'tool box' included TWo-way INdicator SPecies ANalysis (TWINSPAN), descriptive statistics, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Principal Co-ordinates Analysis (PCoA), ordination (Detrended DCA and Canonical Correspondence Analysis CCA) and regression. In this chapter, we provide examples of our approach and how our findings can be applied to sustainable urban design and restoration. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781444318654.ch15
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Notes: In French.
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Notes: In Spanish with English abstract.
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Keywords: Atmospheric nitrogen/ Ecological process/ Field scale/ Fresh Water/ Functional components/ Heavy minerals/ Irrigation waters/ Laboratory experiments/ Mine rehabilitation/ Rapid regeneration/ Rehabilitation outcomes/ Salinity levels/ Semi arid/ Soil cover/ Soil disturbances/ Soil particles/ Soil surfaces/ South Africa/ South Australia/ Surface coverages/ Upscaling/ Arid regions/ Ecology/ Fungi/ Human rehabilitation engineering/ Irrigation/ Minerals/ Reforestation/ Surfaces/ Water quality/ Water supply/ Soils/ Ecology/ Fungi/ Human Engineering/ Irrigation/ Minerals/ Reforestation/ Soil/ Surfaces/ Water Quality/ Water Supply
Abstract: The Iluka Resources Ltd Jacinth-Ambrosia heavy mineral sand mine (South Australia) is located in an undisturbed semi-arid landscape consisting of sparse trees, shrubs and grasses. The soil interspaces are covered with biocrusts, a living soil cover also found worldwide in arid regions. Biocrusts are composed of lichens, cyanobacteria, algae, mosses, liverworts, fungi and bacteria, and live on and within the first few millimetres of the soil surface. Biocrust organisms bind soil particles, sequester carbon and many fix atmospheric nitrogen making them important structural and functional components of ecosystems. Despite their important role in ecological processes, biocrusts are susceptible to disturbance; nevertheless they can recover provided sufficient inoculum is present. Cyanobacteria are the early colonisers and they capture atmospheric and landscape resources and establish conditions that subsequent successional seres can capitalise on. Research conducted in countries including China, Spain and South Africa has been focused on methods to either encourage rapid regeneration of cyanobacterial remnants or to introduce new material from cultured cyanobacteria. We have been investigating the extent and diversity of biocrusts across the 4500 ha mine lease and their potential to improve mining rehabilitation outcomes. Approximately 46 per cent of the soil surfaces are colonised with biocrusts and 33 taxa have been identified. Laboratory experiments were designed to mimic massive soil disturbance and treated with a range of water qualities. Within 22 days, treatments irrigated with fresh water were colonised by new cyanobacterial filaments with a mean surface coverage of 65 per cent. Secondary tests revealed that differences in the photosynthetic yield of the crust were dependent on the salinity levels of the irrigation water used. In 2011 this program is expanding from the laboratory into field scale trials designed to assess both the potential and practicalities of up scaling these techniques to provide crushed biocrusts and cyanobacterial bio-inoculum for use in mine rehabilitation.
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Abstract: Includes a section on lichens.
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Notes: In Polish with English abstract.
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Keywords: alga/ angiosperm/ bryophyte/ herbarium/ museum/ pteridophyte/ taxonomy/ type specimen/ university sector/ Finland
Abstract: The herbarium accessions amount to 21,068 specimens, including 3,993 specimens of phanerogams and pteridophytes, 2,558 of bryophytes, 42 of algae, and 14,475 of fungi (incl. lichens). Some details of noteworthy accessions are given here.
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Keywords: alkaloid/ alpha beta hydrolase/ carbazole derivative/ cladoniamide/ hydrolase/ indolocarbazole/ methyltransferase/ molecular scaffold/ oxygenase/ quercetin/ tryptophan/ unclassified drug/ bacterial protein/ carboline derivative/ indole derivative/ rebeccamycin/ tryptoline/ article/ bioaccumulation/ biosynthesis/ controlled study/ dimerization/ enzyme structure/ enzyme substrate complex/ gene cluster/ gene rearrangement/ genetic organization/ genetic similarity/ molecular interaction/ nucleotide sequence/ sequence homology/ bacterial gene/ biosynthesis/ chemistry/ enzymology/ genetics/ metabolism/ molecular genetics/ multigene family/ Streptomyces/ Streptomyces/ Alkaloids/ Bacterial Proteins/ Biosynthetic Pathways/ Carbazoles/ Carbolines/ Genes, Bacterial/ Indoles/ Molecular Sequence Data/ Multigene Family/ Streptomyces
Abstract: The cladoniamides are bis-indole alkaloids isolated from Streptomyces uncialis, a lichen-associated actinomycete strain. The cladoniamides have an unusual, indenotryptoline structure rarely observed among bis-indole alkaloids. I report here the isolation, sequencing, and annotation of the cladoniamide biosynthetic gene cluster and compare it to the recently published gene cluster for BE-54017, a closely related indenotryptoline natural product. The cladoniamide gene cluster differs from the BE-54017 gene cluster in gene organization and in the absence of one N-methyltransferase gene but otherwise contains close homologs to all genes in the BE-54017 cluster. Both gene clusters encode enzymes needed for the construction of an indolocarbazole core, as well as flavin-dependent enzymes putatively involved in generating the indenotryptoline scaffold from an indolocarbazole. These two bis-indolic gene clusters exemplify the diversity of biosynthetic routes that begin from the oxidative dimerization of two molecules of L-tryptophan, highlight enzymes for further study, and provide new opportunities for combinatorial engineering. © 2011 Katherine S. Ryan.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0023694
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Notes: New species: Lichenostigma iranicum Brackel & Valadbeigi and Lichenostigma verrucosum Brackel & Valadbeigi.
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Keywords: ICP/ Lichen biomonitoring/ Local variation/ Trace element pollution/ Usnea subfloridana
Abstract: Local variation (within sampling sites) affects lichen air pollution biomonitoring of trace element deposition patterns. When comparing between sampling sites, global variation must be greater than local variation, thus reducing local variation is important in biomonitoring studies. To reduce local variability, sampling protocols are introduced, primarily minimum sampling height and less often sampling aspect. This study, introduces further protocols, which can help to reduce within site variation. First, the research design removed spatial variation by sampling a single tree. One-thousand and thirty-seven individual specimens of Usnea subfloridana were collected and aggregated into 97 samples based on similar collection height, aspect and mass. Samples were tested by inductively coupled plasma
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5094/APR.2012.036
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Notes: In Polish with English title.
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Keywords: Aerosol/ Biomonitors/ Enrichment factors/ INAA/ PIXE/ PM2.5-10/ PM2.5/ Principal component analysis
Abstract: The objective of this paper was to assess the air pollution and the main sources of Air Particulate Matter in the Setúbal urban/industrial area, Portugal. PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 were sampled in Nuclepore filters and lichens transplants were exposed during 9 months. The levels of elements in these two matrixes were measured by INAA and PIXE. A large data base was created and source apportionment was performed by using Principal Component Analysis. The results showed that the main sources of fine particles were anthropogenic and were related with traffic and local industry. There was an important contribution of natural sources, mainly for the coarse fraction, associated with the sea and the soil. Lichens characterization and mapping showed that different site-specific characteristics controlled the spatial distribution of different elements. This study showed that biomonitoring is an effective complementary method to traditional sampling systems. © 2011 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1473-4
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Keywords: air pollution/ air quality/ biological monitoring/ cell damage/ cell membrane/ conductance/ conference paper/ contamination/ electrical conductivity parameters/ industrial area/ lichen (organism)/ mortality/ parmelia/ particulate matter/ priority journal/ respiratory function/ seashore/ Spain/ urban area/ wind/ Air Pollution/ Altitude/ Ascomycota/ Cell Membrane Permeability/ Electric Conductivity/ Environmental Monitoring/ Epidemiological Monitoring/ Europe/ Guidelines as Topic/ Humans/ Industrial Waste/ Industry/ Lichens/ Particulate Matter/ Seasons/ Spain/ Systems Integration/ Vehicle Emissions/ Wind/ World Health Organization
Abstract: Throughout the world, epidemiological studies were established to examine the relationship between air pollution and mortality rates and adverse respiratory health effects. However, despite the years of discussion the correlation between adverse health effects and atmospheric pollution remains controversial, partly because these studies are frequently restricted to small and well-monitored areas. Monitoring air pollution is complex due to the large spatial and temp variations of pollution phenomena, the high costs of recording instruments, and the low sampling density of a purely instrumental approach. Therefore, together with the traditional instrumental monitoring, bioindication techniques allow for the mapping of pollution effects over wide areas with a high sampling density. In this study, instrumental and biomonitoring techniques were integrated to support an epidemiological study that will be developed in an industrial area located in Gijon in the coastal of central Asturias, Spain. Three main objectives were proposed to (i) analyze temporal patterns of PM10 concentrations in order to apportion emissions sources, (ii) investigate spatial patterns of lichen conductivity to identify the impact of the studied industrial area in air quality, and (iii) establish relationships amongst lichen conductivity with some site-specific characteristics. Samples of the epiphytic lichen Parmelia sulcata were transplanted in a grid of 18 by 20 km with an industrial area in the center. Lichens were exposed for a 5-mo period starting in April 2010. After exposure, lichen samples were soaked in 18-M? water aimed at determination of water electrical conductivity and, consequently, lichen vitality and cell damage. A marked decreasing gradient of lichens conductivity relative to distance from the emitting sources was observed. Transplants from a sampling site proximal to the industrial area reached values 10-fold higher than levels far from it. This finding showed that lichens reacted physiologically in the polluted industrial area as evidenced by increased conductivity correlated to contamination level. The integration of temporal PM10 measurements and analysis of wind direction corroborated the importance of this industrialized region for air quality measurements and identified the relevance of traffic for the urban area. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2012.721173
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Keywords: Cheiromycina ananas/ Lichenized (lichenised) fungi/ Ostropomycetidae/ RT-PCR/ Species complex/ bootstrapping/ cladistics/ crypsis/ fungus/ genetic analysis/ lichen/ molecular analysis/ phylogeny/ species complex/ Japan/ Ananas/ Ascomycota/ Fungi/ Lecanoromycetes/ mitosporic Ascomycota/ Pezizomycotina
Abstract: Molecular phylogenies inferred from the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (nuSSU), nuclear large subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 region (nuLSU), and ITS-5.8S rRNA gene (ITS) indicated that five cultures of the lichenized hyphomycete Dictyocatenulata alba isolated from Japan form a monophyletic clade with high bootstrap support, and a close relationship to the Ostropomycetidae (Lecanoromycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota). Insertion sequences were found in the nuSSU of all isolates [e.g., nine insertions in the strain JCM 5358 (Japan Collection of Microorganisms)], some of which were group I introns. Five new insertion positions were found among the D. alba isolates. Using BLAST, none of the insertion sequences of D. alba were closely related to those of fungi or other organisms deposited in public DNA databases. Insertion positions were similar in some isolates, and two positions were common to all isolates. Although all phylogenetic analyses based on nuSSU, nuLSU, and ITS revealed the monophyly of D. alba, the isolates were divided into two (in the nuSSU tree) or three (in the nuLSU and ITS trees) groups. Based on the phylogenetic analyses and the intron-exon structures, the five isolates identified as D. alba belong to three cryptic species and therefore D. alba should be considered a species complex. The very slow-growing, tough agar colonies of the isolates, the occurrence of the species on both slightly lichenized and nonlichenized surfaces of trees, or pebbles (rarely on soil), suggest that the members of the D. alba complex may be lichenized. The photobiont was not clearly identified in this study. © 2012 The British Mycological Society.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2012.08.005
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Keywords: Copper-sulphide mine/ Lichens/ Native plants/ Rare earth elements/ Tailings
Abstract: Native plant species, lichens and tailings, sampled from a copper-sulphide mining area located in southern-eastern Portugal, were analysed by neutron activation analysis (INAA) for determination of rare earth elements (REEs). Values of ?REEs and individual REEs concentration of tailing samples are higher than those of natural background concentrations. The higher values of REEs are found in modern slags and the mixture of oxidized gossan and sulphide disseminated country rocks when compared with the alluvial sediments contaminated by mine tailings. The total concentrations of light REEs are higher than those of heavy REEs in all tailing samples. Distribution patterns of PAAS-normalized REEs in mine tailings show slightly LREE enriched and flat HREE pattern with negative Eu anomaly. Lichens accumulated higher concentration of lanthanides than vascular plants. The elevated levels of REEs in lichen, native plant species and tailing samples reflect the contamination of REEs in São Domingos mining area. The Carlina corymbosa, Erica australis and Lavandula luisierra accumulated the higher amounts of La, Ce and other REEs than the other plant species grown in this mining area. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1669-2
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Keywords: Biocomplexes/ Lichens/ Mechanochemistry/ Physiologically active substances/ beta oligosaccharide/ biopolymer/ drug/ oligosaccharide/ unclassified drug/ article/ biological activity/ complex formation/ lichen (organism)/ toxicity
Abstract: The creation of the mechanochemical complexes based on polymer matrix of natural ?-oligosaccharides prolonging the activity of API, increasing its biological (incl. therapeutic) effect several folds, while reducing the toxicity is one of the most promising issue in pharmacy.
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Keywords: biomass/ bog/ fruit/ grassland/ heathland/ lichen/ moss/ recreational activity/ soil moisture/ spatiotemporal analysis/ species richness/ trampling/ vegetation cover/ woodland/ Norway/ Solendet Nature Reserve/ Sor Trondelag
Abstract: The vegetation of recreation areas will be affected by walkers, bikers, skiers and other users. For some activities a retrogressive development has been recorded as vegetation cover and height is reduced and a substantial loss of species richness and biomass may take place. Vegetation and soil in ecosystems with high soil moisture, such as fens, bogs and moist grasslands and woodlands are quite susceptible. Bog mosses Sphagnum spp. are particularly sensitive. The vegetation of heathland with a field layer of wooded species such as blueberry Vaccinium myrtilloides, lingonberry V. vitis-idaea, crowberry Empetrum spp. and heather Calluna vulgaris will also lose much of the cover along tracks and trails or areas that are heavily trampled or affected in similar ways, although the soil may mostly be intact. The same applies to lichen-dominated heathlands with reindeer mosses Cladonia spp. and snow lichens Stereocaulon spp. Vegetation on the moderately moist soils of dry and mesic open and wooded grasslands seems to be the most tolerant to these kinds of pressure. In addition to intensity, damage depends on temporal and spatial variation in usage and moisture. It also depends on differences in the resistance and resilience of the species present. Damage to recreation areas also affects the public's experiences and their feelings for the area. This article aims at giving an overview of the problem and reviewing some important research within the field, with particular emphasis on research in the rural Solendet Nature reserve in Roros and in Bymarka near the city of Trondheim, Central Norway. The effects of public use need to be taken into consideration by national and local authorities, especially in outdoor areas close to larger cities, and it calls for surveys of effects and for regulations of traffic.
Notes: In Norwegian with English abstract.
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Keywords: Cepaea hortensis/ Decomposition/ Gastropods/ Herbivory/ Secondary compounds/ Snails/ algae/ Cepaea hortensis/ Cyanobacteria/ Fungi/ Gastropoda/ Invertebrata/ Lobaria pulmonaria/ Lobaria scrobiculata/ Pulmonaria
Abstract: Epiphytic lichens can contribute significantly to ecosystem nutrient input because they efficiently accumulate atmospheric mineral nutrients and, in the case of cyanolichens, also fix nitrogen. The rate at which carbon and other nutrients gained by lichens enters the ecosystem is determined by lichen litter decomposability and by invertebrate consumption of lichen litter. In turn, these processes are driven by the secondary compounds present in senesced lichens. Therefore, we explored how lichen palatability and concentrations of secondary compounds change with tissue senescence for Lobaria pulmonaria, a green-algal lichen with cyanobacterial cephalodia, and Lobaria scrobiculata, a cyanobacterial lichen. During senescence both lichens lost 38-48 % of their stictic acid chemosyndrome, while m-scrobiculin and usnic acid in L. scrobiculata remained unchanged. Snails preferred senesced rather than fresh L. pulmonaria, while senesced L. scrobiculata were avoided. This provides evidence that species with labile secondary compounds will have higher turnover rates, through consumption and decomposition, than those producing more stable secondary compounds. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The British Mycological Society.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2012.06.004
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Keywords: Lichen/ Microfauna/ Pollution/ Protozoa/ Rotifera/ Tardigrada
Abstract: Assemblages of lichen are served as the habitat and food resource for various microinvertebrates. The lichens' dwelling microfauna is of special interest regarding the maintenance of sustainable balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Little is known about microfauna consisting of protists and micrometazoa. The present study focused on the composition, diversity and distribution of microfauna in lichen Xanthoria parietina in Lithuania. Lichens were investigated beside highways and in unpolluted sites. The microfauna of X parietina were represented by 24 taxa. Two species of tardigrades, two species of testate amoebae and one species of gymnoamoebae that are new in Lithuania were founded. The study results revealed that dominating protozoa in lichen X. parietina are testate amoebae (genus Arcella) and ciliates (Colpoda, Paramecium). Philodina sp. (Rotifera), Aphelenchoides sp. (Nematoda) and Ramazzottius oberhaueseri (Tardigrada) were found to be dominant micrometazoa in X. parietina. The dominant protozoa (Colpoda cuculus, Paramecium sp. Arcella sp.) and micrometazoa (rotifers Philodina) didn't reveal the significant difference between polluted and unpolluted sites. Meanwhile the tardigrades were more abundant in unpolluted sites. Further studies on microfauna diversity using increased number of samples, sampling sites and estimating more environmental parameters can result in more distinct conclusions.
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Keywords: Disturbance/ Diversity/ Ecuador/ Epiphytic macrolichens/ Tropical montane forest/ Disturbance/ Diversity/ Ecuador/ Epiphytic macrolichens/ Tropical montane forest/ Deforestation/ Fungi/ Secondary recovery/ Sun/ Vegetation/ Reforestation/ deforestation/ environmental disturbance/ epiphyte/ lichen/ montane forest/ species richness/ tropical forest/ alder/ Alnus acuminata/ article/ climate change/ controlled study/ deforestation/ Ecuador/ epiphytic microlichen/ lichen (organism)/ microclimate/ nonhuman/ plant growth/ priority journal/ species composition/ species diversity/ tropical rain forest/ vegetation/ Biodiversity/ Deforestation/ Ecuador/ Fungi/ Logging/ Plants/ Reforestation/ Sun Light/ Tropical Atmospheres/ Ecuador/ Alnus acuminata
Abstract: The high diversity of epiphytes typical of undisturbed montane tropical forests has been negatively affected by continuous deforestation and forest conversion to secondary vegetation. Macrolichens are an important component of these epiphytes. Because their physiology is strongly coupled to humidity and solar radiation, we hypothesized that microclimatic changes derived from forest clearing and logging can affect the diversity of these poikilohydric organisms. In southern Ecuador, we examined three types of forests according to a disturbance gradient (primary forests, secondary forests, and monospecific forests of Alnus acuminata) for the presence/absence and coverage of epiphytic macrolichens that we identified on 240 trees. We found that total richness tended to decrease when the range of the disturbance increased. The impoverishment was particularly drastic for "shade-adapted lichens", while the richness of "heliophytic lichens" increased in the drier conditions of secondary growth. Epiphytic composition also differed significantly among the three types of forests, and the similarity decreased when the range of the disturbance was greater. We concluded that a span of 40. years of recovery by secondary vegetation was not enough to regenerate the diversity of epiphytic macrolichens that was lost due to forest disturbances. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.09.072
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Abstract: In Russian.
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Notes: In Russian with English title.
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Keywords: Autumn/ Empetrum nigrum/ Icing/ Snow/ Snow mould/ Winter/ arthropod/ carbon cycle/ climate change/ dicotyledon/ ecosystem response/ extreme event/ heathland/ landscape change/ lichen/ moss/ plant community/ polar region/ seasonality/ shrub/ snow cover/ soil biota/ snow/ animal/ arthropod/ article/ climate change/ cold/ ecosystem/ fungus/ growth, development and aging/ physiology/ plant/ season/ time/ Animals/ Arthropods/ Climate Change/ Cold Temperature/ Ecosystem/ Fungi/ Plants/ Seasons/ Snow/ Time Factors
Abstract: Winter climate and snow cover are the important drivers of plant community development in polar regions. However, the impacts of changing winter climate and associated changes in snow regime have received much less attention than changes during summer. Here, we synthesize the results from studies on the impacts of extreme winter weather events on polar heathland and lichen communities. Dwarf shrubs, mosses and soil arthropods were negatively impacted by extreme warming events while lichens showed variable responses to changes in extreme winter weather events. Snow mould formation underneath the snow may contribute to spatial heterogeneity in plant growth, arthropod communities and carbon cycling. Winter snow cover and depth will drive the reported impacts of winter climate change and add to spatial patterns in vegetation heterogeneity. The challenges ahead lie in obtaining better predictions on the snow patterns across the landscape and how these will be altered due to winter climate change. Copyright © Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2012.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0310-5
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Notes: In German.
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Abstract: Ten noteworthy lichen species (Hymenelia heteromorpha, Polyblastia abscondita, P. ardesiaca, Protoblastenia lilacina, Staurothele bacilligera, S. hymenogonia, Strigula porinoides, Thelidium fontigenum, T. umbrosum, and Verrucaria lacerata) are listed from Carinthia. Strigula porinoides is reported for the first time from Austria. Short notes on characteristics, ecology and distribution of the species are provided.
Notes: In German.
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Abstract: A new lichenized ascomycete, Coenogonium wernerhuberi, is described from a hillside rainforest of southwestern Costa Rica. It is characterized by its hypophyllous growth, an inconspicuous, crustose thallus, small, wax-coloured apothecia, and long, fusiform ascospores. It is very similar to C. hypophyllum, from which it differs by having notably longer ascospores and smaller apothecia.
Notes: New species: Coenogonium wernerhuberi, Breuss & Neuwirth.
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Keywords: Band ratios/ Biological soil crusts/ Covariates/ Land managements/ Land managers/ LandSat 7/ Micro-fungi/ Misclassification rates/ Misclassifications/ National parks/ Point data/ Random forests/ Soil map units/ Soil mapping/ Soil surfaces/ Spatial prediction/ Utah , USA/ Validation data/ Value added products/ Decision trees/ Mapping/ Soil surveys/ Soils
Abstract: Digital soil mapping can use data collected during soil survey efforts to produce value added products useful for land management. Using a digital soil mapping approach and point data from a recent soil survey update we modeled biological soil crust classes (communities of cyanobacteria, microfungi, lichens and mosses at the soil surface) in and around Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. Modeling was performed with Random Forests. Using a validation data set the misclassification rate was 55%. Although high, the misclassification rate may be acceptable. Overall error results from misclassification between similar classes. Important covariates included soil map unit and Landsat 7 ETM band ratio 5/2. We anticipate that spatial predictions of BSC classes will be useful to land managers when evaluating range health in Canyonlands National Park. Such value added products support the use of digital soil mapping activities in traditional soil survey. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group.
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Keywords: Adelaide/ gravestones/ Mediterranean climate/ slate/ South Australia/ weathering/ cemetery/ chemical weathering/ crystallization/ hydration/ metropolitan area/ salt/ slate/ Adelaide/ Australia/ Mediterranean Region/ South Australia/ Bryophyta
Abstract: The physical weathering of vertically emplaced slate gravestones in two metropolitan cemeteries in Adelaide, South Australia, is documented and evaluated with respect to the prevailing Mediterranean climate. The gravestones bear inscriptions dating back to the 1860s, thus providing a time frame of about 150 years. It is proposed that a prime factor in the weathering regime is seasonal hydration during mild wet winters, followed by desiccation during the hot dry summers. This causes repeated expansion and contraction of the exposed constituent minerals, weakening the cohesive forces within the rock. Thermal expansion has promoted cleavage spalling of dislocated sheets of about 3 mm thickness from both the inscribed faces and the backs of the gravestones. Growth of moss and lichen along the weakened cleavages has further promoted opening of cracks parallel to the slate cleavage. Salt crystallisation has substantially damaged the lower parts of all the observed slate stones. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2012.727868
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Keywords: Biofilm/ Candida albicans/ Hyphae/ Synergistic/ Virulence/ fluconazole/ itraconazole/ ketoconazole/ multidrug resistance protein 1/ retigeric acid B/ triterpenoid/ unclassified drug/ animal experiment/ animal model/ animal tissue/ antifungal activity/ article/ biofilm/ Candida albicans/ candidiasis/ CDR1 gene/ cell invasion/ combination chemotherapy/ controlled study/ drug efficacy/ drug potentiation/ fungal virulence/ fungus hyphae/ gene/ genetic transcription/ host pathogen interaction/ in vitro study/ in vivo study/ male/ MDR1 gene/ monotherapy/ mouse/ nonhuman/ Animals/ Antifungal Agents/ Biofilms/ Caco-2 Cells/ Candida albicans/ Candidiasis/ Drug Synergism/ Fluconazole/ Fungal Proteins/ Humans/ Itraconazole/ Ketoconazole/ Male/ Membrane Transport Proteins/ Mice/ Mice, Inbred BALB C/ P-Glycoprotein/ Triterpenes/ Virulence
Abstract: Candida albicans is one of the most prevalent human opportunistic pathogens. C. albicans undergoes a yeast-to-hyphal transition that has been identified as a virulence factor as well as a critical element for mature biofilm formation. A previous study in our lab showed retigeric acid B (RAB), a lichen derived pentacyclic triterpenoid, displayed synergistic antifungal activity with azoles. We now showed that this combination also proved to be adequate in combating the formation of hyphae in vitro. In vivo tests with mice demonstrated RAB could markedly enhance the efficacy of fluconazole to promote the host's longevity through inhibiting hyphae formation and adherence to host cells. It was also observed that RAB and azoles interacted synergistically to block the formation of biofilm. Our data suggested the attenuated yeast-to-hyphal switch contributed to the defect of mature biofilm formation. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed RAB could reduce the transcript level of MDR1, a multidrug efflux pump, and caused a slight transcriptional reduction for another drug pump related gene CDR1. Taken together, our work provides a potential application to combat candidiasis using the combination of RAB and azoles. © 2012 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
Notes: Retigeric acid B (RAB) is a lichen derived pentacyclic triterpenoid.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b12-00511
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Keywords: Atmospheric pollution/ Biomonitoring/ Lichen/ Magnetic susceptibility/ Multivariate analysis/ Atmospheric pollution/ Biomonitoring/ Biomonitors/ Control sites/ Grain size/ Industrial sites/ Lichen/ Magnetic Carriers/ Magnetic monitoring/ Magnetic studies/ Multi variate analysis/ Polluted sites/ SEM observation/ Study areas/ Toxic elements/ Tree barks/ Urban air pollution/ Air pollution/ Energy dispersive spectroscopy/ Fungi/ Grain size and shape/ Iron oxides/ Magnetic susceptibility/ Magnetism/ Scanning electron microscopy/ Urban growth/ iron oxide/ magnetite/ atmospheric pollution/ bioindicator/ biomonitoring/ grain size/ lichen/ magnetic susceptibility/ multivariate analysis/ pollution monitoring/ scanning electron microscopy/ size distribution/ urban pollution/ air monitoring/ air pollution/ Argentina/ article/ bark/ biological monitoring/ concentration (parameters)/ controlled study/ corticolous foliose lichen/ Dirinaria picta/ energy dispersive spectroscopy/ industrial area/ lichen (organism)/ magnetism/ microfoliose lichen/ nonhuman/ Parmotrema pilosum/ particle size/ pollution monitoring/ Punctelia hipoleucites/ scanning electron microscopy/ spectroscopy/ urban area/ Air Pollutants/ Air Pollution/ Cities/ Environmental Monitoring/ Lichens/ Magnetics/ Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/ Argentina/ Buenos Aires [Argentina]/ Tandil/ Dirinaria picta/ Parmotrema/ Punctelia/ Capital breeder/ Egg mass/ Egg provisioning/ Egg quality/ Hatchability/ Lichen/ aging population/ community composition/ developmental biology/ egg size/ fertilization (reproduction)/ hatching/ host-parasite interaction/ lichen/ lipid/ moth/ oviposition/ performance assessment/ protein/ survival/ Hexapoda/ Lepidoptera/ Parmelia sulcata/ Ramalina fraxinea
Abstract: 1. Egg size is often used as a proxy of egg quality although size and composition may vary, e.g. in insects egg size usually decreases as female ages. Whether this decrease in size reflects reduced concentrations of essential nutrients such as lipids and proteins of eggs laid by ageing females, or does reduced size per se explain often observed lower fitness of later laid eggs is poorly explored. 2. Egg properties were compared with fitness parameters of offspring laid on the first and fourth night during the oviposition period of a capital breeding moth, Cleorodes lichenaria (Hufnagel). The study aim was to explore whether decreased egg size is caused by decreased provisioning into later laid eggs measured as egg protein and lipid concentration, and whether it results in lower fitness of later laid offspring. 3. The fresh and dry weight of eggs decreased over the oviposition period, but the protein and lipid concentration remained constant. Survival of larvae was lower among the fourth night laid offspring on a low quality host Parmelia sulcata Taylor compared to a high quality host Ramalina fraxinea (L.) Ach. No differences were observed in egg fertility or hatchability, neonate survival without food and pupal mass between the offspring produced on different nights. 4. Decreased survival of offspring produced later was rather attributable to absolute provisioning (i.e. lower weight of eggs) than relative provisioning (i.e. decreased concentrations of nutrients in eggs). It is argued that lower survival of later laid smaller eggs on low quality diet is likely attributable to physical and chemical characteristics of host lichens and/or physical properties of tiny neonate larvae. © 2012 The Royal Entomological Society.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01369.x
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Keywords: Cyanobacteria/ Cytochrome c oxidase/ Differential display/ Gene expression/ Heterocyst differentiation/ Lichen/ Nostoc/ Symbiosis/ bacterial protein/ cytochrome c oxidase/ HetR protein, Bacteria/ messenger RNA/ phycobilin/ cyanobacterium/ cytochrome/ fluorescence/ gene expression/ hybridization/ lichen/ microscopy/ polymerase chain reaction/ quantitative analysis/ real time/ symbiont/ symbiosis/ article/ bacterial gene/ confocal microscopy/ cytology/ fluorescence/ gene expression profiling/ gene expression regulation/ genetics/ lichen (organism)/ metabolism/ microbiology/ nitrogen fixation/ Northern blotting/ Nostoc/ photosystem II/ reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction/ symbiosis/ Bacterial Proteins/ Blotting, Northern/ Electron Transport Complex IV/ Fluorescence/ Gene Expression Profiling/ Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/ Genes, Bacterial/ Lichens/ Microscopy, Confocal/ Nitrogen Fixation/ Nostoc/ Photosystem II Protein Complex/ Phycobilins/ Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/ RNA, Messenger/ Symbiosis/ Cyanobacteria/ Nostoc/ Nostoc punctiforme/ Pseudocyphellaria crocata
Abstract: Development of the symbiotic association in the bipartite lichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata was investigated by characterizing two regions of the thallus. Thallus organization was examined using microscopy. A HIP1-based differential display technique was modified for use on Nostoc strains, including lichenized strains. Northern hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm differential display results, and determine expression levels of key cyanobacterial genes. Photosystem II yield across the thallus was measured using pulse-amplitude modulated fluorescence. Microscopy revealed structural differences in the thallus margins compared with the centre and identified putative heterocysts in both regions. Differential display identified altered transcript levels in both Nostoc punctiforme and a lichenized Nostoc strain. Transcript abundance of cox2, atpA, and ribA was increased in the thallus margin compared with the centre. Expression of cox2 is heterocyst specific and expression of other heterocyst-specific genes (hetR and nifK) was elevated in the margin, whereas, expression of psbB and PSII yield were not. Structural organization of the thallus margin differed from the centre. Both regions contained putative heterocysts but gene expression data indicated increased heterocyst differentiation in the margins where photosystem II yield was decreased. This is consistent with a zone of heterocyst differentiation within the thallus margin. © 2012 New Phytologist Trust.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04272.x
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Abstract: A review of Motyka's posthumous autobiography.
Notes: In Polish.
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Keywords: Biosphere Reserve/ Lichen biota/ Lichen diversity/ Lichens
Abstract: 46 lichenized fungi and 1 lichenicolous fungus new to the Babia Góra Massif, a Polish and Slovak transborder mountain range, the highest in the flysch Western Carpathians, are presented here. Taxonomic and ecological remarks, as well as the distribution of some noteworthy taxa in other Carpathian ranges, are included. Helocarpon crassipes is reported in detail for the first time from the Western Beskidy Mts and Leptogium intermedium is rediscovered in the Polish Carpathians. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/122.89
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Keywords: Allelopathy/ Altitudinal treeline/ Larix laricina/ Picea mariana/ Recruitment/ Regeneration failure/ Seed dispersal/ Seed viability/ Seedbed preference/ allelopathy/ coniferous tree/ ecotone/ global warming/ plant community/ population bottleneck/ regeneration/ relative abundance/ seed dispersal/ treeline/ viability/ Canada/ Nunavik/ Quebec [Canada]
Abstract: • Premise of the study: Treelines are temperature-sensitive ecotones that should be able to expand in response to global warming; however, they are also controlled by ecological constraints. These constraints can create bottlenecks for tree regeneration, hindering treeline advances. Near Kangiqsualujjuaq (Nunavik, subarctic Québec), previous studies suggested successful recruitment of Larix laricina above the altitudinal treeline, while Picea mariana establishment remains scarce. We studied regeneration of both species to identify factors responsible for such contrasting responses. • Methods: We measured seeds and wings to evaluate species dispersal potential. We compared seed viability and tolerance to shrub leachates with germination trials. To evaluate seedbed preferences, we compared seedling occurrence on the different seedbeds with seedbed relative abundance in the field. • Key results: Seed germination was similar between L. laricina and P. mariana, whereas dispersal potential was higher for the latter. Germination of P. mariana seeds was more strongly inhibited by shrub leachates than were L. laricina seeds. In the field, we found only a few Picea seedlings, but numerous seedlings of Larix had established disproportionally on several seedbeds. While Betula glandulosa, mosses, and Vaccinium uliginosim impeded Larix establishment, numerous seedlings were found on lichens, mineral soil, and liverworts. The low occurrence of suitable seedbeds for Picea, mainly mineral soil, could explain the seedling scarcity of this species. • Conclusions: This study highlighted that allelopathy and unsuitable seedbeds could contribute to regeneration failure of P. mariana in eastern Nunavik and emphasizes the need to consider ecological preferences of species before predicting treeline expansion under a warmer climate. © 2012 Botanical Society of America.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1200279
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Notes: In Portuguese with English abstract.
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Keywords: Chile/ Pannariaceae/ Taxonomy
Abstract: The recently described Pannaria santessonii Elvebakk from Chile is shown to be a younger homonym of P. santessonii Swinscow & Krog from Tanzania. Thus, the recently published name is illegitimate, and therefore replaced by P. rolfii Elvebakk. © 2012 J. Cramer in Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0029-5035/2012/0011
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Keywords: Biological soil crusts/ Climate change/ Lichens/ Mediterranean/ Mosses/ Semi-arid/ carbon/ chlorophyll/ rain/ water/ climate change/ community structure/ disturbance/ ecosystem function/ ecosystem structure/ growth rate/ lichen/ moss/ nutrient cycling/ physiology/ rainfall/ semiarid region/ soil crust/ soil ecosystem/ soil stabilization/ warming/ article/ chemistry/ desert climate/ ecosystem/ fluorescence/ greenhouse effect/ growth, development and aging/ lichen (organism)/ microbiology/ moss/ soil/ Southern Europe/ Spain/ temperature/ Bryophyta/ Carbon/ Chlorophyll/ Desert Climate/ Ecosystem/ Fluorescence/ Global Warming/ Lichens/ Mediterranean Region/ Rain/ Soil/ Soil Microbiology/ Spain/ Temperature/ Water/ Spain
Abstract: Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are key biotic components of dryland ecosystems worldwide that control many functional processes, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, soil stabilization and infiltration. Regardless of their ecological importance and prevalence in drylands, very few studies have explicitly evaluated how climate change will affect the structure and composition of BSCs, and the functioning of their constituents. Using a manipulative experiment conducted over 3 years in a semi-arid site from central Spain, we evaluated how the composition, structure and performance of lichen-dominated BSCs respond to a 2.4°C increase in temperature, and to an approximately 30 per cent reduction of total annual rainfall. In areas with well-developed BSCs, warming promoted a significant decrease in the richness and diversity of the whole BSC community. This was accompanied by important compositional changes, as the cover of lichens suffered a substantial decrease with warming (from 70 to 40% on average), while that of mosses increased slightly (from 0.3 to 7% on average). The physiological performance of the BSC community, evaluated using chlorophyll fluorescence, increased with warming during the first year of the experiment, but did not respond to rainfall reduction. Our results indicate that ongoing climate change will strongly affect the diversity and composition of BSC communities, as well as their recovery after disturbances. The expected changes in richness and composition under warming could reduce or even reverse the positive effects of BSCs on important soil processes. Thus, these changes are likely to promote an overall reduction in ecosystem processes that sustain and control nutrient cycling, soil stabilization and water dynamics. © 2012 The Royal Society.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0344
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Keywords: Anthraquinone derivatives/ HIV-1/ Reverse transcriptase/ Ribonuclease H/ RNase H/ alizarin/ anthraquinone derivative/ ribonuclease H/ RNA directed DNA polymerase/ article/ drug determination/ drug inhibition/ drug potency/ enzyme activity/ enzyme inhibition/ Human immunodeficiency virus 1/ IC 50/ nonhuman/ priority journal/ protein function/ virus inhibition
Abstract: Background: The degradative activity of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT), termed ribonuclease H (RNase H), which hydrolyzes the RNA component of the heteroduplex RNA:DNA replication intermediate, is an excellent target for drug discovery. Anthraquinones (AQs) and their derivatives, which are common secondary metabolites occurring in bacteria, fungi, lichens and a large number of families in higher plants, have been reported to have several biological activities including that of inhibiting HIV-1 RT activities in biochemical assays. Methods: We have assayed new AQ derivatives on HIV-1 RNase H activities in biochemical assays. Results: Six series of new AQ derivatives with various substituents at positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the AQ ring were tested, and new analogs able to inhibit HIV-1 RT-associated RNase H activity in the low micromolar range were found. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that AQ derivatives are promising anti-RNase H inhibitors. © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000343101
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Keywords: Biogeography/ Lichenized fungi/ Neotropics/ South America/ biogeography/ biota/ knowledge/ lichen/ new record/ new species/ taxonomy/ Bolivia
Abstract: This paper presents new records of 144 lichen species from Bolivia, of which 38 are new to the country, namely Aspidothelium fugiens (Müll. Arg.) R. Sant., Astrothelium galbineum Kremp., Baeomyces rufus (Huds.) Rebent., Bulbothrix apophysata (Hale & Kurok.) Hale, Canoparmelia caroliniana (Nyl.) Elix & Hale, Cladonia caespiticia (Pers.) Flörke, C. corymbosula Nyl., C. farinophylla Ahti, C. isabellina Vain., C. leprocephala Ahti & S. Stenroos, C. macilenta Hoffm., C. pityrophylla Nyl., Flakea papillata O. E. Erikss., Flavopunctelia soredica (Nyl.) Hale, Gomphillus ophiosporus Kalb & V?zda, Haematomma fenzlianum A. Massal., Herpothallon aurantiacoflavum (B. de Lesd.) Aptroot, Lücking & G. Thor, Heterodermia corallophora (Tayl.) Scorepa, H cubensis (Kurok.) Trass, Hflabellata (Fée) D. D. Awasthi, H. galactophylla (Tuck.) W. L. CuIb., H. magellanica (Zahlbr.) Swinscow. & Krog, H. palpebrata (Tayl.) Vain., H. parva Moberg, Hypotrachyna damaziana (Zahlbr.) Krog & Swinscow, Micarea peliocarpa (Anzi) Coppins, Parmotrema betaniae Hale, P. ultralucens Hale, Phyllobaeis erythrella (Mont.) Kalb, Physconia muscigena (Ach.) Poelt, Pseudoparmelia cubensis (Nyl.) Elix & T. H. Nash, Punctelia constantimontium Sérus., Pyrenula dermatodes (Borrer) Schaer., Stereocaulon myriocarpum Th. Fr., Trapelia coarctata (Turner ex Sm.) M. Choisy, Trypelhelium aeneum (Eschw.) Zahlbr., T. pupula (Ach.) R. C. Harris and Tylophoron protrudens Nyl. Four infraspecies, Dictyonema sericeum (Sw.) Berk. f. membranaceum Metzner, D. sericeum f. phyllophilum Parmasto, Heterodermia japonica (Sato) Swinscow & Krog var. reagens (Kurok.) J. N. Wu & Z. G. Qian. and H. leucomela (L.) Poelt subsp. boryi (Fée) Swinscow & Krog are also recorded for the first time for the country. A second locality for the lichenicolous fungus Phaeosporobolus trypethelii Flakus & Kukwa was also found. Some taxa, especially those belonging to the taxonomically critical groups, are commented upon.
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Keywords: Anhydrobiosis/ Dormancy/ Nematoda/ Rotifera/ Tardigrada/ animal/ article/ astrobiology/ desiccation/ lichen (organism)/ methodology/ microclimate/ physiology/ species difference/ statistical model/ Animals/ Desiccation/ Exobiology/ Extraterrestrial Environment/ Lichens/ Models, Statistical/ Species Specificity
Abstract: More frequent events of drought are predicted to happen in the future, but our ability to predict the effect on the biota may be limited by our partial understanding of extremophiles. Among the few animals that are able to survive in the absence of water for long periods of time are rotifers, tardigrades, and nematodes. Here, we take advantage of lichen collections stored dry at ambient temperature and humidity for years in museums, and through statistical modeling we demonstrate that the survival rates over time do not differ among animal groups but are strongly influenced by the type of substrate (the different lichen species). Our results suggest that desiccated organisms are prone to irreversible damage to biological structures, independently of the different biochemical processes involved in desiccation tolerance by different animals. The influence of the environment overcomes any taxon-specific response to survive extreme droughts. The predicted ability to survive for up to 10 years while desiccated enables these organisms to achieve potential global distributions, endurance against parasites, and even survival when exposed to outer space. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ast.2012.0828
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Keywords: Historical ecology/ Long-term effect/ Seed-bank and above ground vegetation/ Soil disturbance/ Spontaneous regeneration
Abstract: This study identifies the long lasting impacts of former cultivation on soils, seed banks and above-ground vegetation of limestone grasslands. We compared the resilience of three crop fields cultivated in the 19th century and abandoned (Abandoned Fields) with three grasslands which have never been cultivated (Old Grasslands). Grasslands were located in the Nature reserve of Grand-Pierre and Vitain valleys in France. Sites were identified using historical sources. Chemical and physical soil properties, above-ground vegetation and soil seed bank (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) were studied. Data were analysed using a multivariate and univariate analyses to detect the effects/impacts of ancient cultivation. Our results clearly show that soil properties (e.g., calcium, carbonate, clay contents), above-ground vegetation (species diversity, moss and lichen cover) and seed bank (floristic composition, species-richness and diversity) are still impacted more than one century after their abandonment. Species richness of both above ground vegetation and seed bank are higher in old grasslands than in formerly cultivated fields. In the seed bank of the formerly cultivated soils we also found the presence of a very rare arable weed species (Althaea hirsuta) which has not been inventoried for a long time in the above-ground vegetation of the nature reserve. The resilience of formerly cultivated limestone grasslands might be influenced by the present management regime (site effect). Nevertheless, the resilience period of limestone grasslands is very long-more than one century-and return to an initial state might be difficult or impossible to reach. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/ComEc.13.2012.2.9
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Keywords: Canopy lichens/ Dripzone/ Facilitation/ Phosphorus/ Relative growth rate/ Water holding capacity/ coniferous tree/ epiphyte/ facilitation/ growth rate/ hypothesis testing/ lichen/ overstory/ pH/ transplantation/ British Columbia/ Canada
Abstract: Overstory Populus has been shown to facilitate establishment by cyano- and cephalolichens on conifer branches within its dripzone; though the mechanisms behind this "dripzone effect" have yet to be elucidated. Here we test the following hypotheses that throughfall from Populus: (i) elevates bark pH; (ii) increases relative growth rate in cephalolichens; and (iii) stimulates their growth through phosphorus (P) fertilization. In southern British Columbia we transplanted the cephalolichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. (promoted by dripzones) and the acidophytic chlorolichen Hypogymnia occidentalis L.H. Pike for 14 months to 26 pairs of similar-sized Picea glauca × engelmannii situated within and outside of Populus dripzones. Half of our transplants were fertilized with P. Bark pH was significantly higher on spruce branches within than outside dripzones. Relative growth rate in L. pulmonaria increased with bark pH and was slightly higher within dripzones than outside, consistent with a facilitating effect of Populus on the Lobarion community. By contrast, the addition of P decreased relative thallus area growth in L. pulmonaria and increased relative thallus area growth in H. occidentalis; though a stronger influence on growth could be attributed to variation in canopy cover and tree height. We conclude that cephalolichens in our study area are unlikely to be facilitated by P leached from Populus.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/B2012-062
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Notes: In German.
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Keywords: Atmospheric pollution/ Biomonitoring/ Chemical parameters/ Lichens/ Suquía river/ air quality/ assessment method/ atmospheric pollution/ biomonitoring/ effluent/ lichen/ pigment/ river basin/ sampling/ sewage treatment/ sulfur/ urban pollution/ volatile organic compound/ Argentina/ Cordoba [Argentina]/ Suquia Basin
Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the air quality along a section in the Suquía river during winter period using as active biomonitor Usnea amblyoclada. Four sampling sites were selected: two sites located upstream of the effluent treatment plant Bajo Grande, where one of them corresponds to Córdoba city (one of the most polluted cities in Argentina) and the other two sites were located downstream of the plant. After the three-month exposure, on the transplanted lichens, photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde and hydroperoxy conjugated dienes, as peroxidation products and sulphur accumulation, were determined. A pollution index was calculated with some parameters and for each sampling site, allowing the establishment of different air qualities. The pollution index, a good estimator of global damage on the biomonitor, allowed discriminating different atmospheric qualities; reflecting that the city of Córdoba site is the most impaired in its air quality. The results showed that urban conditions, were those that produced more damage on the biomonitor during the studied period. Biological monitoring using U. amblyoclada in these conditions did not allow establishing differences in air pollution at sites downstream of the sewage treatment plant. Thus, the different water qualities and their potential volatile organic compounds contribution did not influence significantly the air quality in order to establish differences between these two areas according to the impact on the biomonitor.
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Keywords: Host-parasite interaction/ Lichen symbiosis/ Lichenicolous/ Microbiomes/ Pyrosequencing/ abundance/ alpine environment/ bacterium/ biome/ correspondence analysis/ environmental conditions/ fungal disease/ gene expression/ host-parasite interaction/ lichen/ microbial community/ nitrogen fixation/ Alps/ Eastern Alps/ Acidobacteria/ Bacteria (microorganisms)/ Planctomycetes/ Proteobacteria/ Solorina crocea/ Theobroma cacao
Abstract: The lichen symbiosis allows a self-sustained life under harsh environmental conditions, yet symbiotic integrity can be affected by fungal parasites. Nothing is known about the impact of these biologically diverse and often specific infections on the recently detected bacterial community in lichens. To address this question, we studied the arctic-alpine 'chocolate chip lichen' Solorina crocea, which is frequently infected by Rhagadostoma lichenicola. We sampled healthy and infected lichens at two different sites in the Eastern Alps. High abundances of Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria were identified analyzing 16S rRNA gene regions obtained by barcoded pyrosequencing. At the phylum and genus level, no significant alterations were present among infected and healthy individuals. Yet, evidence for a differentiation of communities emerged, when data were analyzed at the strain level by detrended correspondence analysis. Further, a profile clustering network revealed strain-specific abundance shifts among Acidobacteria and other bacteria. Study of stability and change in host-associated bacterial communities requires a fine-grained analysis at strain level. No correlation with the infection was found by analysis of nifH genes responsible for nitrogen fixation. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01425.x
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Keywords: Cadmium/ Dermatocarpon intestiniforme/ Genotoxicity/ Oxidative stress/ Peripheral human blood culture/ antimicrobial activity/ antioxidant/ bioactivity/ blood/ cadmium/ cytology/ damage/ detoxification/ genotoxicity/ lichen/ medicinal plant/ metabolism/ oxygen/ physiology/ plant extract/ pollution effect/ public health/ vitamin
Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy metals and influences important metabolic processes causing serious damages in many organs. It is well known that Cd could provoke generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage. Some antioxidants (such as vitamin C, vitamin E and N-acetyl- L-cysteine) have been used as protectors against cadmium-induced toxicity. On the other hand, lichens have long been investigated for biological activities; mainly antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In this study, we aimed to determine whether D. intestiniforme aqueous extracts (25 and 50 ppm) conferred a protection against cadmium chloride (CdCl 2) (30 ppm) induced genetic and oxidative damage in human whole blood cultures. Biochemical parameters (total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and total oxidative status [TOS]) were examined to determine oxidative effects. The micronucleus (MN) test was used for analysing genotoxic influences. In addition nucleer division indeks (NDI) was used to determine cytotoxicty. Oxidative damage by CdCl 2 in erythrocytes decreased with application of lichen extracts. Similarly, the positive effect of lichen aqueous extracts in decreasing the incidence of MN in comparison with an unprotected level was attained when cultures were treated simultaneously with CdCl 2 and the extracts (P<0.05). The findings of this study firstly revealed that D. intestiniforme modulated Cd-induced genetic and oxidative damage in human blood cultures due to its antioxidant and/or detoxifying nature.
Notes: In Turkish with English abstract.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5053/ekoloji.2012.845
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Keywords: Algae, individuals, items linking to bodies of water/ Blue-green algae, in marine, nitrate-rich habitats/ Crustose lichens, thin crusts in substrate, tearing apart, difficult/ Diatoms, and "pond scum"/ Forensic evidence, and interpretation by qualified botanists/ Green algae, and freshwater "pond scum"/ Leaf lobes on blade, hooks, hairs, spines, secretions as evidence/ Nonvascular plants, mosses, liverworts in scenes of crime/ Plants used as evidence in crime scenes, in evidence retrieval/ Shelf fungus, time intervals based on growth rate
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119945734.ch2
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Abstract: Jia Zheng found the unostentatious simplicity of this entrance greatly to his liking, and, after ordering the gates to be opened, passed on inside. A cry of admiration escaped them as they entered, for there, immediately in front of them, screening everything else from their view, rose a steep, verdure-clad hill. 'Without this hill,' . . . 'the whole garden would be visible as one entered, and all its mystery would be lost.' The literary gentlemen concurred. 'Only a master of the art of landscape could have conceived so bold a stroke,' said one of them. As they gazed at this miniature mountain, they observed a great number of large white rocks in all kinds of grotesque and monstrous shapes, rising course above course up one of its sides, some recumbent, some upright or leaning at angles, their surfaces streaked and spotted with moss and lichen or half concealed by creepers, and with a narrow, zig-zag path only barely discernible to the eye winding up between them. 'Let us begin our tour by following this path,' said Jia Zheng. 'If we work our way round towards the other side of the hill on our way back, we shall have made a complete circuit of the garden.' © 2012 taylor & francis.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2012.721995
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Keywords: Apical-marginal pseudomeristem/ Elongation zone/ Heterocyst differentiation/ Nitrogen fixation/ Nostoc cyanobiont/ Photobiont layer/ Pseudocyphellaria crocata/ Stratified lichen thallus/ bacterial gene/ cytology/ gene expression regulation/ genetics/ lichen (organism)/ Nostoc/ note/ Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/ Genes, Bacterial/ Lichens/ Nostoc
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04361.x
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Keywords: Fruticose/ Massalongiaceae/ Nostoc/ Polychidium/ South korea
Abstract: The lichen species Polychidium muscicola was found in South Korea for the first time and this is the first record of the genus Polychidium from the Korean peninsula. This species is characterized by a dichotomously branched minute thallus with clustered cells of Nostoc as the photobiont. A detailed description and illustrations of this species are provided. © The Korean Society of Mycology.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5941/MYCO.2012.40.4.252
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Keywords: Key/ Myelochroa/ New record/ Parmeliaceae/ South korea
Abstract: Myelochroa (Asahina) Elix & Hale is a common foliose lichen genus found on the Korean Peninsula. Since it was first recorded nearly two decades ago, no detailed taxonomic or revisionary study of the genus has been conducted. Thus, the current study was conducted to carry out a detailed taxonomic and revisionary study of Myelochroa in South Korea. This study was based on specimens deposited in the Korean Lichen Research Institute (KoLRI). Detailed taxonomic studies and a literature review confirmed the presence of twelve species of Myelochroa from S. Korea, including one new record, Myelochroa xantholepis (Mont. & Bosch) Elix & Hale. Descriptions of each species with their morphological, anatomical and chemical characters together with a key to all known Myelochroa species are presented. © The Korean Society of Mycology.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5941/MYCO.2012.40.4.217
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Keywords: Lichenized fungi/ Taxonomy
Abstract: During an examination of subtropical and tropical lichen collections from China, two species, Fissurina isidiata collected from Hainan Island and Graphis wangii collected from Yunnan province, were discovered and are reported as new to science. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd.
Notes: New species: Fissurina isidiata and Graphis wangii.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/121.75
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Notes: In Chinese with English prefaces.
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Keywords: Air pollution/ Bioindicators/ Lichens/ Morphological change
Abstract: Apart from widely known anthropogenic pollutants as SO2, NO x, CO2, CO, there are another dangerous substances emitted to the air named polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In the air they occur in a form of vapours and aerosols deposited on dust particles of 10 ?m (PM 10) and 2.5 ?m (PM 2.5) in diameter. In cities, the air polluted by gases and atmospheric particulate was analysed using special automatic or semi-automatic equipment or analytic procedures. That is why a powerful development of bioanalytical techniques based on using organisms as bioindicators is observed in recent years. The lichens are the most frequently used organisms in bioindication. The purpose of this research is to evaluate air pollution by PAHs in urban agglomeration with the use of Hypogymnia physodes (L.)Nyl. The research was performed in two hundred thousand occupants in south-east Poland in 2004-2007. The lichens placed on tree branches of 30 cm on 4 crossroads, and the 3 branches were put in each research point. Before starting the exposition, the "O" sample had been collected that had been stored in a closed container before chemical analysis. The exposition period lasted for 3 months. Then PAHs were determined in collected lichens. The analysis was performed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), LiChrosper (TM) column 100 RP
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10216-011-0039-2
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Keywords: Bacidia/ New record/ Ramalinaceae/ Taxonomy
Abstract: Two lichen species, Bacidia arceutina (Ach.) Rehm & Arnold and B. heterochroa (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., from Sikkim are reported as new to India.
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Keywords: Delimitation/ Lepadinoid/ Taxonomy/ Thelotremoid/ Tropical/ Western Ghats
Abstract: Nine species of Leucodecton and nine species of Myriotrema are recorded for India. The recently resurrected Leucodecton accommodates species earlier placed in Leptotrema, Myriotrema, or Thelotrema, which were segregated based primarily on medullary chemistry such as stictic and norstictic acids, although Myriotrema retains species with a prosoplectenchymatous cortex and psoromic or protocetraric acid chemosyndromes. This contribution includes new synonyms, changes in generic placement, new species distributions, and new records. Leucodecton compunctum and L. subcompunctum are new records for India. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/122.467
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Keywords: Chiaksan national park/ Crustose/ Lichen taxonomy/ New record
Abstract: The study introduces the genus Mycobilimbia, from South Korea. M. philippina is reported here as being new to the country. Characteristic features of the species are crustose thallus, globose apothecia, K-proper exciple and hypothecium, Biatora-type asci, 3-septate fusiform ascospores, and a lack of secondary compounds. © The Korean Society of Mycology.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5941/MYCO.2012.40.2.91
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Keywords: Jeju island/ Mt. Halla/ Taxonomy/ Thelotremoid
Abstract: This study illustrates the status of thelotremoid Graphidaceae in South Korea. The taxonomy and systematics of thelotremoid lichens in the country have recently advanced greatly. Following the earlier known taxa from the group, four new records of the genus Thelotrema are reported and described briefly. An artificial key for all known species under thelotremoid group of Graphidaceae from South Korea is also provided. © The Korean Society of Mycology.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5941/MYCO.2012.40.4.225
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Keywords: Depside/ Parietin/ Taxonomy/ Teloschistaceae
Abstract: A gyrophoric acid-containing Caloplaca species is reported from India for the first time. Caloplaca gyrophorica was found growing over rocks in temperate regions of Neora Valley National Park, Darjeeling, India. It is compared with the other three known gyrophoric acid-containing Caloplaca species and with the morphologically similar C. hueana. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/122.303
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Keywords: article/ dieback disease/ endangered species/ Fraxinus/ fraxinus excelsior/ host range/ lichen (organism)/ nonhuman/ population size/ species composition/ species difference/ species distribution/ species diversity/ species extinction/ species richness
Abstract: At least 10% of the world's tree species are threatened with extinction and pathogens are increasingly implicated in tree threats. Coextinction and threats to affiliates as a consequence of the loss or decline of their host trees is a poorly understood phenomenon. Ash dieback is an emerging infectious disease causing severe dieback of common ash Fraxinus excelsior throughout Europe. We utilized available empirical data on affiliate epiphytic lichen diversity (174 species and 17,800 observations) among 20 ash dieback infected host tree populations of F. excelsior on the island Gotland in the Baltic Sea, Sweden. From this, we used structured scenario projections scaled with empirical data of ash dieback disease to generate probabilistic models for estimating local and regional lichen coextinction risks. Average coextinction probabilities (?) were 0.38 (95% CI ±0.09) for lichens occurring on F. excelsior and 0.14 (95% CI ±0.03) when considering lichen persistence on all tree species. ? was strongly linked to local disease incidence levels and generally increasing with lichen host specificity to F. excelsior and decreasing population size. Coextinctions reduced affiliate community viability, with significant local reductions in species richness and shifts in lichen species composition. Affiliates were projected to become locally extirpated before their hosts, illuminating the need to also consider host tree declines. Traditionally managed open wooded meadows had the highest incidence of ash dieback disease and significantly higher proportions of affiliate species projected to go extinct, compared with unmanaged closed forests and semi-open grazed sites. Most cothreatened species were not previously red-listed, which suggest that tree epidemics cause many unforeseen threats to species. Our analysis shows that epidemic tree deaths represent an insidious, mostly overlooked, threat to sessile affiliate communities in forested environments. Current conservation and management strategies must account for secondary extinctions associated with epidemic tree death. © 2012 Jönsson, Thor.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045701
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Keywords: Ammonia/ Bark pH/ Bioindicators/ Critical levels of N gas concentrations/ Critical loads of N deposition/ Eutrophic lichens/ Lichens/ Nitric acid/ Nitrogen/ Nitrophytes/ Southern California, USA/ Throughfall deposition/ nitrogen/ abundance/ ammonia/ atmospheric deposition/ atmospheric pollution/ bark/ bioindicator/ epiphyte/ lichen/ nitric acid/ pH/ throughfall/ article/ chemistry/ drug effect/ environmental monitoring/ environmental protection/ eutrophication/ gas/ lichen (organism)/ metabolism/ methodology/ pollutant/ Conservation of Natural Resources/ Environmental Monitoring/ Environmental Pollutants/ Eutrophication/ Gases/ Lichens/ Nitrogen/ California/ United States
Abstract: Epiphytic lichen communities are highly sensitive to excess nitrogen (N), which causes the replacement of native floras by N-tolerant, "weedy" eutrophic species. This shift is commonly used as the indicator of ecosystem "harm" in studies developing empirical critical levels (CLE) for ammonia (NH3) and critical loads (CLO) for N. To be most effective, empirical CLE and/or CLO must firmly link lichen response to causal pollutant(s), which is difficult to accomplish in field studies in part because the high cost of N measurements limits their use. For this case study we synthesized an unprecedented array of atmospheric N measurements across 22 long-term monitoring sites in the Los Angeles Basin, California, USA: gas concentrations of NH3, nitric acid (HNO3), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone (n = 10 sites); N deposition in throughfall (n=8 sites); modeled estimates of eight different forms of N (n = 22 sites); and nitrate deposition accumulated on oak twigs (n = 22 sites). We sampled lichens on black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.), and scored plots using two indices of eutroph (N tolerant species) abundance to characterize the community-level response to N. Our results contradict two common assertions about the lichen-N response: (1) that eutrophs respond specifically to NH3 and (2) that the response necessarily depends upon the increased pH of lichen substrates. Eutroph abundance related significantly but weakly to NH3 (r2 = 0.48). Total N deposition as measured in canopy throughfall was by far the best predictor of eutroph abundance (r2 = 0.94), indicating that eutrophs respond to multiple forms of N. Most N variables had significant correlations to eutroph abundance (r2=0.36-0.62) as well as to each other (r 2=0.61-0.98), demonstrating the risk of mistaken causality in CLE/CLO field studies that lack sufficient calibration data. Our data furthermore suggest that eutroph abundance is primarily driven by N inputs, not substrate pH, at least at the high-pH values found in the basin (4.8-6.1). Eutroph abundance correlated negatively with trunk bark pH (r2 = 0.43), exactly the opposite of virtually all previous studies of eutroph behavior. This correlation probably results because HNO3 dominates N deposition in our study region. © 2012 by the Ecological Society of America.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-2075.1
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Keywords: Cladonia rangiferina/ Functional annotation/ Non-model organism/ Transcriptome sequencing/ contig/ transcriptome/ alga/ article/ Cladonia rangiferina/ controlled study/ expressed sequence tag/ fungus/ gene structure/ high throughput sequencing/ nonhuman/ nucleotide sequence/ prediction/ protein database/ sequence homology/ unindexed sequence/ algae/ Cladonia rangiferina
Abstract: Background: Lichens are symbiotic organisms that have a remarkable ability to survive in some of the most extreme terrestrial climates on earth. Lichens can endure frequent desiccation and wetting cycles and are able to survive in a dehydrated molecular dormant state for decades at a time. Genetic resources have been established in lichen species for the study of molecular systematics and their taxonomic classification. No lichen species have been characterised yet using genomics and the molecular mechanisms underlying the lichen symbiosis and the fundamentals of desiccation tolerance remain undescribed. We report the characterisation of a transcriptome of the grey reindeer lichen, Cladonia rangiferina, using high-throughput next-generation transcriptome sequencing and traditional Sanger EST sequencing data.Results: Altogether 243,729 high quality sequence reads were de novo assembled into 16,204 contigs and 49,587 singletons. The genome of origin for the sequences produced was predicted using Eclat with sequences derived from the axenically grown symbiotic partners used as training sequences for the classification model. 62.8% of the sequences were classified as being of fungal origin while the remaining 37.2% were predicted as being of algal origin. The assembled sequences were annotated by BLASTX comparison against a non-redundant protein sequence database with 34.4% of the sequences having a BLAST match. 29.3% of the sequences had a Gene Ontology term match and 27.9% of the sequences had a domain or structural match following an InterPro search. 60 KEGG pathways with more than 10 associated sequences were identified.Conclusions: Our results present a first transcriptome sequencing and de novo assembly for a lichen species and describe the ongoing molecular processes and the most active pathways in C. rangiferina. This brings a meaningful contribution to publicly available lichen sequence information. These data provide a first glimpse into the molecular nature of the lichen symbiosis and characterise the transcriptional space of this remarkable organism. These data will also enable further studies aimed at deciphering the genetic mechanisms behind lichen desiccation tolerance. © 2012 Junttila and Rudd; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-13-575
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Notes: In Russian with English abstract.
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Keywords: Biological measuring technique/ Climate change/ Effects of air pollution/ Lichen diversity/ Lichens/ Long-term monitoring/ pH/ Tree bark/ VDI guideline
Abstract: Background In the years 1970, 1980, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2010, lichen mapping in the towns of Wetzlar and Giessen in Hesse was performed. The aim was to show the effects of immission load. Despite the application of modified test methods during the study period, the results can still be compared directly because they could be adapted to the requirements of the guidelines of the Association of German Engineers. Even the earlier study results could be interpreted partly within the scope of the guidelines. Parallel to the lichen mapping, comparative examinations of pH on tree bark were carried out. Results In both towns, the pH of the tree bark has been increasing continuously, presently almost reaching pre-industrial values. The increase was stronger in Wetzlar than in Giessen. In 1970, the lichen vegetation showed a complete depletion. Since then the number of species has risen significantly. This development happened faster and more intensely in Wetzlar. The comparison of the lichen vegetation between 1970 and 2010 also shows an increased existence of species that are favored by hypertrophic air contaminants. In the 2010 survey, some species considered as being promoted by global warming were found for the first time. Conclusions The increase of the bark pH can be explained by the decreasing acid pollution, primarily SO2. This is also assumed to be the main cause for the increasing number of lichen species. An explanation for Wetzlar's advantage is that the acid pollutants had been neutralized by a local industrial emittent of lime dust. With the reduction of dust emissions in Wetzlar due to the installation of filters, the bark pH in both towns steadily converged in the reference period. An examination of pre-industrial lichen studies shows that in both towns the original state of lichen vegetation has not been restored yet. © 2012 Kirschbaum et al.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2190-4715-24-19
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Keywords: Anthroposphere/ Biomonitoring/ Comparison factor/ Environmental pollution/ Mercury/ Analytes/ Anthroposphere/ Arithmetic mean/ Biomonitoring/ Comparison factor/ Czech Republic/ Environmental pollutions/ Forest area/ Hypogymnia physodes/ Mean concentrations/ Mercury concentrations/ Moss samples/ Sampling site/ Soil humus/ Soil sample/ Fungi/ Mercury (metal)/ Soils/ Soil pollution/ mercury/ bioaccumulation/ biomonitoring/ concentration (composition)/ forest soil/ humus/ lichen/ mercury (element)/ moss/ soil pollution/ air pollution/ article/ atmospheric deposition/ bioaccumulation/ biological monitoring/ concentration (parameters)/ Czech Republic/ forest soil/ humus/ Hypogymnia physodes/ lichen (organism)/ moss/ Pleurozium schreberi/ Poland/ pollution transport/ soil pollutant/ Bryophyta/ Bryopsida/ Czech Republic/ Ecosystem/ Environmental Monitoring/ Environmental Pollutants/ Environmental Pollution/ Lichens/ Mercury/ Poland/ Soil/ Trees/ Czech Republic/ Poland/ Bryophyta/ Hypogymnia physodes/ Pleurozium schreberi
Abstract: The concentration of mercury was determined in samples of the lichen Hypogymnia physodes, the moss Pleurozium schreberi, and the soil humus collected in Polish and Czech Euroregions Praded and Glacensis. The sampling sites were located in Bory Stobrawskie, Bory Niemodli?skie and Kotlina K?odzka in Poland, and in Jeseniki and Gory Orlickie in the Czech Republic. The mean concentrations of mercury accumulated in the lichen (0.129 mg g-1), in the moss (0.094 mg g-1) and in soil (0.286 mg g-1) were fairly close to the corresponding concentrations in other low-industrialized regions. The highest concentrations of mercury were observed in the lichen and the moss samples from Kotlina K?odzka. The primary deposition of mercury was evaluated using the comparison factor, defined as the ratio of a difference between the concentrations of a bioavailable analyte in lichens and in mosses, to the arithmetic mean of these concentrations. © 2011 The Author(s).
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2456-1
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Notes: In Polish with English abstract.
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Keywords: Crown-fire/ Dunes/ Ecosystem management/ Forest ecology/ Fungi/ Annual change/ Coastal sand dunes/ Community structures/ Crown-fire/ Curonian Spit/ Dunes/ Ecosystem management/ Forest area/ Forest ecology/ Fungal community/ Fungal species/ Life styles/ Lithuania/ Post-fire/ Saprobic fungi/ Species composition/ Ecosystems/ Fires/ Forestry/ Soils/ Fungi/ coniferous tree/ dune/ ecosystem management/ forest ecosystem/ functional group/ fungus/ habitat management/ plantation/ succession/ taxonomy/ wildfire/ Ecology/ Ecosystems/ Fires/ Forestry/ Fungi/ Management/ Soil/ Curonian Spit/ Lithuania/ Fungi/ Pinus mugo
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of wildfire and subsequent forest management on the diversity and functional community structure of fungi during early stage of succession in the coastal sand dunes of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania. 12 permanent study plots were established in multiple forest areas: burnt, not managed (B); burnt, clear-cut (C); burnt, clear-cut and reforested (R) and unburnt (U). During three years of the study, a total of 390 different fungal species were determined. The overall number of recorded species in studied post-fire variants comprised 52% (B), 41% (C) and 48% (R) of unburnt sites (U, 261 species). Significantly different species compositions were registered between C and B plots, while no difference was observed between C and R plots. Fungal communities of all burnt sites showed more significant differences stemming from annual changes rather than from types of forest management. Early succession of the post-fire fungal communities maintained the fungi from all defined taxonomical and functional groups. However, a certain alteration within some fungal life styles was observed. The wildfire has negatively impacted the lichens and the mycorrhizal species, as the percentages of these groups decreased from 15% and 12% in U plots to 10% and 3% in B plots. Wood saprobic fungi and soil saprobes were affected negatively by harvesting of the burnt trees that reduced their percentage from 38% and 8% in B plots to 27% and 4% in C plots. Soil-associated fungi were less affected both by fire and post-fire management than the fungi inhabiting above-ground substrates. The percentage of soil-associated fungi initially increased in the burnt sites, but two years after the fire it returned to the pre-fire level. No significant effect on soil-inhabiting fungi was noted for the differently managed post-fire sites. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.02.007
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Abstract: Tardigrades were recovered from samples of moss and lichen growing on the bark of seven species of trees on the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) campus in Conway, AR. Of the 11 genera of tardigrades previously reported from the state, five were found in the UCA campus samples; of the 25 species previously reported, five were found in the UCA campus samples. Two species (Milnesium eurystomum, Macrobiotus polyopus) are new records for the state; one species of Echiniscus (arctomys group) could not be identified and may be new. Tardigrades were not uniformly distributed among available habitats (moss, lichen) or substrates (trees).
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1656/058.011.0310
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Notes: In Polish with English title translations.
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Keywords: Conservation/ Epiphyte/ Epixylic/ Fungi/ Hemiboreal forest/ Population size/ Single-tree selection system/ Species-area relationship
Abstract: Lichens comprise a significant part of forest biota, but their diversity patterns are poorly known at medium spatial scales, which are most relevant for management planning. We carried out exhaustive lichen surveys in two 2-ha plots of old, weakly harvested herb-rich forests in Estonia; the field effort exceeded 500 hours for each plot. We recorded 222 species (194 lichens, 14 lichenicolous and 14 saprobic fungi traditionally treated by lichenologists), including 57 species of conservation concern. Those numbers form ca. one-third of forest species known in this fungal group in Estonia and were very similar in the two plots. Bacidia hemipolia f. pallida Czarnota & Coppins, Lecanora farinaria Borrer, Porina borreri (Trevis.) D.Hawksw. & P.James and Phaeocalicium tremulicola (Norrl. ex Nyl.) Tibell are reported as new to Estonia, and several other rare or little-known species were found. Many putative 'old-growth indicator species' formed local populations of substantial size. Using a fixed-effort approach (based on 4 survey hours per 2 ha) we demonstrate that the species richness in the studied stands exceeds that previously found in conventionally managed 2-ha stands and is not smaller than in old growth of similar site type. These results indicate that old selectively cut forests can provide valuable microhabitats and host rich lichen communities, and they represent a useful option for enhancing biodiversity in forest landscapes managed predominantly by evenaged systems. © 2012 J. Cramer in Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0029-5035/2012/0064
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Keywords: Heavy metal tolerance/ Lead/ Lichen microalgae/ Stress response/ Trebouxia algae/ algae/ Ramalina farinacea/ Trebouxia
Abstract: Lichen thalli are permeable to airborne substances, including heavy metals, which are harmful to cell metabolism. Ramalina farinacea shows a moderate tolerance to Pb. This lichen comprises two Trebouxia phycobionts, provisionally referred to as TR1 and TR9, with distinct physiological responses to acute oxidative stress. Thus, there is a more severe decay in photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments in TR1 than in TR9. Similarly, under oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and HSP70 protein decrease in TR1 but increase in TR9. Since Pb toxicity is associated with increased ROS formation, we hypothesized greater Pb tolerance in this phycobiont. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to characterize the physiological differences in the responses of TR1 and TR9 to Pb exposure. Liquid cultures of isolated phycobionts were incubated for 7 days in the presence of Pb(NO 3) 2. Thereafter, extracellular and intracellular Pb accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthesis (as modulated chlorophyll fluorescence) were analyzed along with the antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APx), and catalase (CAT), and the stress-related protein HSP70. Pb uptake increased with the amount of supplied Pb in both algae. However, while significantly more metal was immobilized extracellularly by TR9, the amount of intracellular Pb accumulation was three times higher in TR1. In neither of the phycobionts were significant effects on photosynthetic pigments or photosynthetic electron transport observed. While under control conditions GR, SOD, and APx levels were significantly higher in TR1 than in TR9, only in the latter were these enzymes induced by Pb. This resulted in quantitatively similar antioxidant activities in the two algae when exposed to Pb. In conclusion, the phycobionts of R. farinacea make use of two different strategies against stress, in which the integration of distinct anatomical and physiological features affords similar levels of Pb tolerance. © 2012 Elsevier GmbH.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2012.07.005
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Keywords: alga/ Antarctica/ article/ bacterium/ biodiversity/ biota/ carbon nitrogen ratio/ conductance/ cyanobacterium/ ecosystem/ environment/ geochemistry/ geographic elevation/ geology/ glaciation/ invertebrate/ lichen (organism)/ nonhuman/ organism community/ soil property/ Antarctic Regions/ Biodiversity/ Ecosystem/ Soil
Abstract: Multitrophic communities that maintain the functionality of the extreme Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, while the simplest of any natural community, are still challenging our knowledge about the limits to life on earth. In this study, we describe and interpret the linkage between the diversity of different trophic level communities to the geological morphology and soil geochemistry in the remote Transantarctic Mountains (Darwin Mountains, 80°S). We examined the distribution and diversity of biota (bacteria, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, invertebrates) with respect to elevation, age of glacial drift sheets, and soil physicochemistry. Results showed an abiotic spatial gradient with respect to the diversity of the organisms across different trophic levels. More complex communities, in terms of trophic level diversity, were related to the weakly developed younger drifts (Hatherton and Britannia) with higher soil C/N ratio and lower total soluble salts content (thus lower conductivity). Our results indicate that an increase of ion concentration from younger to older drift regions drives a succession of complex to more simple communities, in terms of number of trophic levels and diversity within each group of organisms analysed. This study revealed that integrating diversity across multi-trophic levels of biotic communities with abiotic spatial heterogeneity and geological history is fundamental to understand environmental constraints influencing biological distribution in Antarctic soil ecosystems. © 2012 Magalhães et al.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044578
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Keywords: Climate change/ Cryoturbation/ Frost boil/ Periglacial process/ Plant species diversity/ bryophyte/ climate change/ cryoturbation/ frost/ lichen/ lichenometry/ periglacial environment/ plant community/ shrub/ species diversity/ subarctic region/ succession/ tundra/ Arctic/ Bryophyta/ bryophytes/ Tracheophyta
Abstract: Non-sorted circles (NSCs), also known as frost boils, are common soil frost features that create a small-scale mosaic of vegetation zones in periglacial landscapes. The causes of variation in plant diversity within NSCs are poorly understood. This lack of understanding hampers our ability to predict how arctic plant communities respond to changing soil frost conditions. We hypothesised that plant communities of different ages develop at a micro-site scale within NSCs as soil frost periodically exposes uncolonised soil or fatally offsets plant succession. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the species diversity of plant communities (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens) from the sparsely vegetated centre of the circles to the densely vegetated outer domain in conjunction with estimates of the age of the plant communities (inferred using lichenometry). Our results suggest that the variation in species diversity and density can largely be explained by the occurrence of progressively older plant communities from the centre towards the vegetated rim. Here, the high species diversity was observed to occur in communities having the ages approximately around 150 years. Our findings suggest that soil frost disturbances are important for maintaining successional gradients several centuries long within the arctic landscape at a small spatial scale (<3 m). The termination of soil frost activity as a result of a warmer future winter climate is therefore most likely to result in a loss of micro-sites having young vegetation communities with high plant diversities and a subsequent establishment of mature shrub-dominated plant communities. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1206-3
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Keywords: Evolution/ LEC-2/ Lectin/ Peltigera membranacea/ Polymorphism/ Positive selection/ evolutionary biology/ gene expression/ genetic marker/ lichen/ molecular analysis/ natural selection/ polymorphism/ protein/ Nostoc/ Peltigera membranacea
Abstract: Lectins are a diverse group of carbohydrate binding proteins often involved in cellular interactions. A lectin gene, lec-2, was identified in the mycobiont of the lichen Peltigera membranacea. Sequencing of lec-2 open reading frames from 21 individual samples showed an unexpectedly high level of polymorphism in the deduced protein (LEC-2), which was sorted into nine haplotypes based on amino acid sequence. Calculations showed that the rates of nonsynonymous versus synonymous nucleotide substitutions deviated significantly from the null hypothesis of neutrality, indicating strong positive selection. Molecular modeling revealed that most amino acid replacements were around the putative carbohydrate-binding pocket, indicating changes in ligand binding. Lectins have been thought to be involved in the recognition of photobiont partners in lichen symbioses, and the hypothesis that positive selection of LEC-2 is driven by variation in the Nostoc photobiont partner was tested by comparing mycobiont LEC-2 haplotypes and photobiont genotypes, as represented by the rbcLX region. It was not possible to pair up the two types of marker sequences without conflicts, suggesting that positive selection of LEC-2 was not due to variation in photobiont partners. © 2012 The Author(s).
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13199-012-0206-y
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Keywords: Biological activities/ Chemical composition/ HPLC-UV/ Lichens/ antineoplastic agent/ antioxidant/ atranorin/ chloroatranorin/ depsidone salazinic acid/ Parmelia caperata extract/ Parmelia saxatilis extract/ Parmelia sulcata extract/ phenol derivative/ plant extract/ protocetraric/ salazinic acid/ unclassified drug/ usnic acid/ antimicrobial activity/ antineoplastic activity/ antioxidant activity/ article/ chemical composition/ colon carcinoma/ cytotoxicity/ high performance liquid chromatography/ human/ human cell/ IC 50/ lichen (organism)/ melanoma/ minimum inhibitory concentration/ nonhuman/ parmelia/ Parmelia caperata/ Parmelia saxatilis/ phytochemistry/ priority journal/ ultraviolet radiation/ Anti-Infective Agents/ Antineoplastic Agents/ Antioxidants/ Benzofurans/ Cell Line, Tumor/ Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/ Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/ Humans/ Lactones/ Lichens/ Microbial Sensitivity Tests/ Salicylates/ Parmelia/ Parmelia caperata/ Parmelia saxatilis/ Parmelia sulcata
Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate chemical composition of acetone extracts of the lichens Parmelia caperata, P. saxatilis and P. sulcata and antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of some their major metabolites. The phytochemical analysis of acetone extracts of three Parmelia lichens were determined by HPLC-UV method. The predominant phenolic compounds in these extracts were protocetraric and usnic acids (P. caperata) and depsidone salazinic acid (other two species). Besides these compounds, atranorin and chloroatranorin, were also detected in some of these extracts. Antioxidant activity of their isolated metabolites was evaluated by free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging and reducing power. As a result of the study salazinic acid had stronger antioxidant activity than protocetraric acid. The antimicrobial activity was estimated by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration by the broth microdilution method. Both compounds were highly active with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.015 to 1 mg/ml. Anticancer activity was tested against FemX (human melanoma) and LS174 (human colon carcinoma) cell lines using MTT method. Salazinic acid and protocetraric acid were found to be strong anticancer activity toward both cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 35.67 to 60.18 ?g/ml. The present study shows that tested lichen compounds demonstrated a strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. That suggest that these lichens can be used as new sources of the natural antimicrobial agents, antioxidants and anticancer compounds. © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2012.07.012
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Keywords: Correlation/ Corticolous lichens/ Indicator species analysis/ Microenvironmental factors/ Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS)/ Phorophyte specificity
Abstract: Lichenized fungi or lichens are organisms that have been little studied in the tropics and which distribution is affected by microenvironmental factors and substrate characteristics. The present study aimed to identify phorophyte specificity and microenvironmental preferences of corticolous lichens in five phorophyte species from premontane forest of the farm Finca Zingara in Cali, Colombia. For this, five individuals were selected from five tree species (phorophytes). Lichen species present in a 0.50×0.20m 2 quadrant located in the trunk of each tree at a height of 1.3m were identified. Substrate parameters such as bark pH, Diameter Breast Height (DBH) and bark structure were measured. Also, microenvironmental factors including temperature, humidity and irradiance were determined. In order to detect phorophyte preferences, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and indicator species analysis were made. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assert the relationship between environmental variables and groupings found in the NMS. A total of 69 species of lichens were found, of which 37 were identified to species, 18 to genera and 14 were not determined because they were sterile or had no spores. NMS showed that some individuals of the same tree species were grouped alongside the analysis dimensions, and they were related with the factors of light intensity, temperature and DBH. Only three lichens with preference for certain tree species were found (Arthonia microsperma by Meriania sp., Cladonia ceratophylla and sorediado 8 by Clusia sp.), suggesting absence of phorophyte preferences. Thus, it can be concluded that lichens from the study area do not show phorophyte preference, but their distribution is affected by light, temperature and DBH.
Notes: In Spanish with English abstract.
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Abstract: The lichenized fungi collections at the BCRU Herbarium are presented. The collections are significant not just for its size, but as much for its geographical focus, mainly from the southern part of Argentina and Chile.
Notes: In Spanish with English abstract.
URL: http://www.chlorischile.cl/messuti-liquenes%20bariloche/Messuti%20&%20Lorenzo%20liquenes.htm
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Keywords: British Columbia/ Bryofauna/ Echiniscus horningi/ Oregon/ panarthropod/ tardigrades
Abstract: The terrestrial tardigrade fauna of Vancouver Island has been surveyed extensively, but very little has been published about tardigrades from mainland British Columbia, Canada. Mixed moss and lichen samples collected from Whistler Mountain, mainland British Columbia contained ten species of terrestrial tardigrade: Echiniscus horningi, E. mauccii, Milnesium cf. tardigradum, Ramazzottius sp., Diphascon (Diphascon) alpinum, D. (D.) nodulosum, Macrobiotus cf. harmsworthi, Macrobiotus hufelandi, Macrobiotus montanus, and Minibiotus jonesorum. Six of these species have previously been reported from Vancouver Island, British Columbia or from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Macrobiotus montanus has not hitherto been found in British Columbia; Minibiotus jonesorum is new to the fauna of Canada. Detailed morphometric data are provided for E. horningi. Seven speciesE. mauccii, E. quadrispinosus, E. wendti, Milnesium cf. tardigradum, D. (D.) recamieri, R. baumanni, and Macrobiotus islandicuswere found in cryptogams collected in Oregon, USA. Echiniscus mauccii, E. wendti, D. (D.) recamieri, and Ramazzottius baumanni are new records for Oregon. © Pacific Coast Entomological Society.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3956/2012-06.1
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Keywords: Anisotropy/ Cistercian/ Clay minerals/ Decay/ Porosity/ Tertiary sandstone/ Weathering/ anisotropy/ bioclastic rock/ calcium carbonate/ clay mineral/ dissolution/ feldspar/ fissure/ monument/ porosity/ sandstone/ Tertiary/ weathering/ Romania/ Sibiu
Abstract: Cârta Cistercian Monastery, built in the 13th century during the colonization of Transylvania by Saxons, is the oldest preserved monument in Romania built in the Cistercian style. Tertiary (Sarmatian) calcareous sandstones from the southern part of the Transylvanian Basin were used for construction. The sandstones, rich in quartz, feldspars and rock fragments, are feldspathic litharenites with carbonate cement and bioclasts having a very low porosity. These are not suitable as building stones due to the influence of the CaCO3 and clay minerals content as opposed to the compact framework of the stone that does not allow expansions; micro fissures and dissolutions occur due to the chemical weathering. The low ultrasonic velocity proves granular disintegration of the sandstones, which presents a medium to high anisotropy. The weathering processes, macroscopically analyzed, belong to Discoloration/Deposits, Detachments, Loss of stone material, and Fissures/Deformations groups. The microscopic analysis evidenced specific weathering processes: fractures parallel to the surface of the stone, fissures running around different types of grains, radial growth of gypsum crystals, formation of crusts in varying generations, and lichens colonization.
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Keywords: Biomonitoring/ Flavoparmelia caperata/ Lichen/ Sentinel/ Trace metals
Abstract: The widely spread lichen specie Flavoparmelia caperata was used in a biomonitoring study for atmospheric trace metal pollution in natural ecosystems in south-eastern Serbia. The concentration and distribution pattern of 21 metals in lichens were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The difference observed between metal deposition in the peripheral and central parts of lichen thalli reflected air quality changes in the last and previous years. These findings were confirmed with principal component analysis. The study demonstrated the accumulation of Ba, K, Mg, Na, Tl and Zn in the peripheral parts of thalli, while As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Li, Ni, Pb and Se were concentrated in the central parts of thalli. © 2012 Copyright (CC) SCS.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/JSC111124031M
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Keywords: Active layer thickness/ Climate/ Cryogenic landscape/ Human-induced disturbances/ Permafrost/ Permafrost temperature/ Vegetation/ Western Siberia
Abstract: The results of monitoring of cryogenic landscape changes in the West Siberian northern taiga during 1970-2010 in the conditions of the varying climate and human-induced disturbances have been presented. Process of formation of the frozen cloudberry-wild rosemary-peat moss-lichen flat peatland instead of the thawed cotton grass-sedge-moss mires has been considered. The cotton grass-peat moss bogs with the lowered permafrost table are formed after the removal of vegetation cover on flat peatlands as a result of development of thermokarst and bogging. The impact of increase in amount of atmospheric precipitation on the development of bogging on flat poorly drained sites has been examined. This bogging leads to the replacement of the pine-larch cloudberry-wild rosemary-lichen-peat moss open wood with permafrost lenses by the andromeda-cotton grass-sedge-peat moss thawed mires.
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Notes: In Polish. This is Motykas's posthumous autobiography.
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Keywords: Ascomycota/ ascospore size/ epiphyte/ Parmeliaceae
Abstract: Parmelina quercina is a well-studied foliose macro-lichen found on rocks and trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent studies support multiple species within P. quercina based on material from Europe, North America and western Asia. The identities of Parmelina quercina s.lat. reported from eastern Asia and Alaska remain unknown. We compared DNA sequences, secondary chemistry and morphological traits of Parmelina from Alaska, Russia and China. These data support the resurrection of Parmelina yalungana to accommodate eastern Asian and Alaskan material. Parmelina yalungana differs from congeners in ascospore dimensions, geographic range and molecular data from three gene loci. We place P. yalungana in the phylogenetic context of the P. quercina group using DNA from Alaskan and Russian material. Copyright © 2012 by The American Bryological and Lichenological Society, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-115.4.557
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Keywords: Accuracy assessment/ GlobCover2009/ Remote sensing data/ Wetlands in china
Abstract: At present, few specific data sets on wetland distribution exist at a global scale and many researchers have to acquire wetland information from the existed global land cover data products. GlobCover2009, with 300 m spatial resolution, issued by ESA, becomes one of the important choices. However, up to now, there is no evaluation of it in detail made on the precision of the wetland category. In view of this situations, China wetland map in 2008, which is produced through visual interpretation by IRSA (Institute of Remote Sensing Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences), is employed to examine the wetland accuracy of GlobCover2009 from area accuracy, spatial agreement, confusions among different categories and different regions across China. The results highlight a very low precision of wetland from GlobCover2009. The area consistency coefficients between the wetland from the global data set and the reference data is only 46%, overall accuracy is only 32% and Kappa 0.13. Furthermore, the producer's accuracy of marshlands (0.05%) is much lower than the one (53.34%) of water. However, the user's accuracy of water is 90.18%, which highlights that the water from the GlobCover 2009 product could meet some requirements at large scale. The categories where errors occurred frequently mainly include bare areas, closed to open herbaceous vegetation, mosaic vegetation(grassland, savannas or lichens/mosse)/cropland, rainfed croplands, and part of mosaic croplands/vegetation (grassland/shrubland/forest). The most omission error of wetlands occurred in the region of Southwest and Northeast China where the mires widely distributed. No specific definition and classification of wetlands in GlobCover2009 may be responsible for the low precision. In addition, different spatial resolution and image" acquisition date between these two data sets also contribute to it. Overall, the unsatisfactory results highlight more attention should be paid to the application of the global data products, especially in wetland-relevant categories over China. Furthermore, specific global wetland classification and products are urgent to develop in order to meet requirements of the global changes research and the ecological environment research.
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Notes: In Polish.
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Keywords: Lichen metabolites/ Lichenized fungi/ Neotropics/ Taxonomy
Abstract: Stereocaulon crambidiocephalum, S. pachycephalum, and S. pomiferum are reported as new to Bolivia. Notes on the recently discovered holotype of S. meyeri are included. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/121.447
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