Schadonia saulskellyana is an endemic crustose lichen narrowly restricted to the fragmented high elevation spruce-fir forests of the central and Southern Appalachians. These communities are predicted to face rapid changes in temperatures and precipitation which may impact habitat suitability of many species including S. saulskellyana. The placement of S. saulskellyana within the family Pilocarpaceae was investigated through newly generated molecular data and phylogenetic analysis. Both Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches strongly supported S. saulskellyana as monophyletic, separate from S. fecunda and all other sequenced lineages in the Pilocarpaceae. This, combined with previously documented phenotypic differences and unique biogeographic patterns, supports recognition of S. saulskellyana as a distinct genus which is described here as Karinomyces. Given the restricted distribution and potential conservation concern for this unusual taxon, habitat suitability was modeled using Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) and compared under multiple future climatic scenarios. These analyses did not predict a significant future loss in total area, except under the most extreme climate scenario, but did predict significant declines in the areas of highest suitability. Disjunct populations at the range periphery appear especially vulnerable to local extirpation. The predicted loss of highly suitable habitat and potential for extirpation along the peripheral range underscore the urgent need for further study of Karinomyces and high-elevation spruce-fir forest lichen communities generally.
Fellhanera pruinosa Meethong, Lu & euro;cking & Lumbsch is described as new to science from Thailand. The species resembles F. sublecanorina but is distinguished by the presence of white pruina on the apothecia. In addition, F. atrofuscatula is reported for the first time from Asia, and two further species, F. sublecanorina and Fellhanera cf. subtilis, are newly reported from Thailand.
. Schistidium arizonense is described as a new species from the US states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It belongs to section Atrofusca, but unlike most other taxa of the section, it is not a pure calcicole and also occurs on acidic substrates. The species is characterized by a combination of usually green coloration, fusiform perichaetia, perforated and fragile peristome teeth that are usually split in the upper part, flat or narrowly recurved leaf margins, and long-decurrent perichaetial leaf hairpoints. Based on sequences of the ITS region, the taxon is closely related to S. helveticum, which is congruent with morphological similarities, including similar size, the lack of stomata, and mostly absent or short hairpoints on vegetative leaves. Schistidium arizonense is, however, most likely to be confused with the widespread and highly variable S. crassipilum, which appears to be more distantly related.
. Epiphytic lichens face increasing threats in per-humid temperate and boreal forests where many species are declining. A significant threat to some lichens, particularly those with a cyanobacterial symbiont, is overgrazing by invasive gastropods. This study tests two possible applied conservation measures that could reduce overgrazing from invasive gastropods or promote faster lichen recovery: (1) fertilization with potassium phosphate solution, and (2) slug exclusion via wrapping copper foil around tree bases. Our study took place in a lowland mixedwood forest in Nova Scotia, Canada. Over two years, we measured thallus size, lobe elongation, and grazing damage on two replicate thalli of Lobaria pulmonaria across each of 40 trees. Results indicated that gastropod exclusion significantly enhanced thallus size and lobe elongation, but phosphorus fertilization produced only modest effects. These findings suggest that the exclusion of terrestrial slugs via physical barriers could mitigate grazing pressure, potentially supporting the recovery of endangered cyanolichens. We also recommend further testing of potassium phosphate fertilization as a recovery support measure, particularly in ecosystems that are more likely to be phosphorus limited.
Although the western populations of Pannaria rubiginosa s.l. have recently been revised resulting in the description of a new species, P. oregonensis, no detailed review of the eastern populations has been made since J & oslash;rgensen's monograph of North American Pannaria species in 2000. The present study, based on morphological, chemical and molecular data, has uncovered a new species in the east, P. subrubiginosa, characterized by its production of pannarin at least in the medulla, and has revised the descriptive details of P. subfusca, a member of the P. rubiginosa complex that lacks pannarin. Sequences of the ITS region show these species are well separated and well supported, differing also from African, Asian, western North American, European and South American species such as P. andina, P. asahinae, P. malmei, P. oregonensis, P. rubiginella and P. rubiginosa s.str. It appears that that all eastern populations containing pannarin are P. subrubiginosa, and all those lacking pannarin are P. subfusca. Pannaria rubiginosa in the strict sense cannot be confirmed as occurring in North America. A key is provided for the corticolous, non-isidiate, non-sorediate members of the P. rubiginosa group in North America.
At 661,848 km2, the province of Alberta, Canada is a biogeographically variable political region, located at the confluence of eight ecoregions. The provincial lichen flora was surveyed in several foundational North American studies, and recent increased survey effort from researchers, environmental impact assessments, group forays, and a province-wide biodiversity monitoring program have built on that foundation. Subsequent collections of calicioid lichens and allied fungi necessitated a large floristic revision including morphological, anatomical, chemical and molecular investigations. Prior to this work, 32 calicioids were documented in the lichen literature for Alberta. Here we add 13 species new to science, seven of which are assigned to three newly described genera (Albocalicium candidum, Brevicalicium roseum, Paracalicium betulae, P. caraganae, P. chamaedaphnes, P. piceae, and P. recedens) and six to two existing genera (Chaenothecopsis abscondita, C. caelumsaltator, C. calicii-viridis, C. epifurfuracea, C. yukonensis, and Phaeocalicium alnophilum). Twenty-nine additional species are reported for the first time in the province: Allocalicium adaequatum, Calicium glaucellum, C. lucidum, C. pinastri, C. trachylioides, Chaenotheca chlorella, C. cinerea, C. gracilenta, C. laevigata, Chaenothecopsis debilis, C. marcineae, C. nana, C. parasitaster, C. penningtonensis, C. savonica, C. viridialba, C. viridireagens, C. aff. ussuriensis, Chaenotricha obscura, Coniocybe brachypoda, Microcalicium arenarium, M. disseminatum, M. loraasii, Phaeocalicium betulinum, P. compressulum, P. flabelliforme, P. interruptum, P. polyporaeum, and Sclerophora pallida. We exclude Chaenothecopsis ochroleuca and Sphinctrina turbinata from the flora as the only known collections were redetermined to Chaenothecopsis yukonensis and Acolium inquinans, respectively, bringing the total number of calicioid species known for Alberta to 73, increasing the previously known species richness by 132%. Chaenothecopsis marcineae is reported for the first time from western North America; C. parasitaster, C. penningtonensis, C. ussuriensis and Phaeocalicium interruptum are new to Canada; and Calicium lucidum, C. pinastri, Phaeocalicium betulinum and P. polyporaeum are new to western Canada. We also report Chaenothecopsis ochroleuca, C. yukonensis and Phaeocalicium polyporaeum for the first time from Yukon Territory and Caliciopsis calicioides for the first time from the Northwest Territories. Seventythree new sequences from 57 specimens across 34 species were generated (43 ITS, 9 LSU, and 21 mtSSU), including sequences for all newly described species and the first published sequences for Chaenotheca selvae, Chaenothecopsis ochroleuca, C. penningtonensis, C. parasitaster (which we also confirm as morphologically, ecologically, and genetically distinct from C. pusilla), and Phaeocalicium flabelliforme. We provide phylogenies for the Caliciaceae, Coniocybaceae, and Sphinctrinaceae. Species descriptions, photographs, and distribution maps are provided for 95% of the species, as well as habitat associations or model results for the more abundant species. Novel clades and traits in Chaenotheca phaeocephala and Stenocybe pullatula are explored. Finally, we provide keys to the species of Chaenothecopsis and Phaeocalicium (including Brevicalicium and Paracalicum) of North America and new images for Phaeocalicium pinaceum and P. boreale. This work helps to address the knowledge gap for calicioid species in the interior of North America.
Bdelloid rotifers are well documented as inhabitants within lobules of the widely distributed epiphytic liverwort, Frullania eboracensis. This study provides a detailed description of rotifer occupancy within lobules near the shoot tip of F. eboracensis. The objectives of this study were to test whether rotifer density in lobules of F. eboracensis differed among tree species, understand how rotifers are distributed within F. eboracensis, the aggregations of lobule-dwelling rotifers, and how rotifer abundance is impacted by seasonality. The highest densities of rotifers within F. eboracensis lobules occurred on northern red oak (0.67 rotifers/lobule +/- 0.069, mean and SE) and aspen (0.66 rotifers/lobule +/- 0.046, mean and SE). Shoot tips of F. eboracensis were collected from five different tree species in fall 2014 to fall 2016. Rotifers had a higher probability of occupancy for the first 5-6 lobules, slowly declining thereafter. The probability of occupancy was significantly related to lobule sequence from the shoot tip (p<0.05, 95% CI-0.113 to-0.064) and branching level (p<0.05, 95% CI-0.984 to-0.195). Of all the rotifers counted within lobules, 34% were solitary, 23% were in pairs, 18% in trios, and 17% were in groups of five or more. Rotifer abundance was stable across the 1.5-year period, but there was a slight increase in density during the late fall and early winter. Studies of rotifers in other aquatic habitats emphasize considerable seasonal fluctuations in their populations, but the lack of competitors and limited predation within F. eboracensis lobules contributes to their stability. also lessens the of and on rotifer abundance.
Lichenicolous fungi comprise a diverse group of highly specialized organisms inhabiting lichens, occurring as parasites, commensals or saprotrophs, either host-specific or generalists. Since our 2018 checklist, the field has seen remarkable growth, notably through the publication of the first two volumes of the Flora of Lichenicolous Fungi (2022, 2024), which described numerous new species and genera of Basidiomycota and hyphomycetes. Here, we present an updated classification and checklist of lichenicolous fungi in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, incorporating all relevant literature from 2018-2025. The checklist now includes 2,795 taxa (2,442 obligately lichenicolous [non-lichenized], 280 lichenized [including species that are facultatively or obligately lichenicolous, as well as juvenile forms initially growing on lichens before becoming independent], and 73 facultatively or doubtfully lichenicolous [non-lichenized] taxa), distributed among 454 genera, 125 families, 52 orders, and 15 classes-a substantial increase from 2,319 taxa in 2018. This edition reflects recent advances in taxonomy and phylogeny, with no new nomenclatural or taxonomic novelties proposed herein. Our work provides an authoritative and up-to-date reference for the global diversity and classification of lichenicolous fungi.
Three new species of Graphidaceae, Allographa binsarensis, Graphis albothallina, and G. moriensis, are described as new to science from the Western Himalayan part of India. Allographa binsarensis differs from the closely related A. semirigida in having short, mostly unbranched lirellae with lateral thalline margins; G. albothallina differs from G. appendiculata in having much prominent lirellae with distinctly striate labia and white lineages along the striae; while G. moriensis differs from G. astrolirellata in having transversely septate ascospores. Graphis makhijae is proposed as a replacement name for G. fulvescens.
. Polycauliona pancakeana is here described as new to science from four specimens collected in the Indian Peaks Wilderness (Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, U.S.A.) during the 2023 summer field season. It is distinct from other entities morphologically by its continuous, granular thallus composed entirely of fine, pale orange-yellow to yellow-green corticate granules on shaded, deeply sheltered granitic rock, its rare, inconspicuous apothecia, narrow spores with a reduced septum, and the presence of chlorinated anthraquinones in the epihymenium. We additionally used molecular data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS region to place the new species in a phylogenetic context. Two accessions of P. pancakeana formed a reciprocally monophyletic and strongly supported clade that is most closely related to other species of Polycauliona including P. phlogina and P. flavogranulosa. The unique morphology in combination with genetic support resulted in our treatment of entity as a new species to science.
Preliminary rarity rankings for all of the Sphagnum species reported for each of the six New England states were determined. Those species having either an Endangered (S1) or a Threatened (S2) rarity ranking are reported here. The rarity ranking system employed was developed by the Nature Conservancy and is based on herbarium specimen data posted on Consortium of Bryophyte Herbaria (CBH) as well some specimens from three herbaria not on CBH. Verification of selected herbarium specimens was done at the Farlow Herbarium (FH) and included collections housed at FH as well as loans from nine other herbaria. The total number of Sphagnum species per state found to have either an endangered (S1) or threatened (S2) state ranking ranges from 7 species for Rhode Island to 18 species for Connecticut. In contrast, the number of historic species (SH) ranges from 1 species for Maine to 14 species for Rhode Island. Based on their respective number of extant sites, 13 Sphagnum species are proposed to be regionally endangered (R1) throughout all of New England (S. annulatum, S. austinii, S. balticum, S. beothuk, S. lindbergii, S. macrophyllum, S. 3mississippiense, S. platyphyllum, S. riparium, S. rubiginosum, S. strictum, S. tenerum, S. trinitense) and one species (S. molle) is regionally historic (RH).
A checklist of all lichenized fungi reported from Brazil is presented, including synonyms, orthographic variants and errors, misapplied names and misidentifications, and excluded names. Overall, 4,828 taxa are accepted (4,799 species and 29 infraspecific taxa), doubling the number reported in a previous checklist, with an additional 3,350 synonyms, orthographic variants and errors, and (partially) misapplied and excluded names. State-level distributions with corresponding references are given for all accepted taxa. The following 25 new combinations or replacement names are proposed: Buellia nortetrapla (Aptroot, I.Oliveira & M.Caceres) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Hafellia nortetrapla Aptroot, I.Oliveira & M.Caceres), Buellia pruinohafellia Aptroot & L & uuml;cking nom. nov. (replaced synonym: Hafellia pruinosa Marbach & Kalb), Celothelium burchellii (M & uuml;ll.Arg.) Aptroot & L & uuml;cking comb. nov. (equivalent to Pleurotrema burchellii M & uuml;ll.Arg.), Cliostomum subplebejum (Vain.) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea subplebeja Vain.), Cliostomum variicolor (Malme) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Catillaria variicolor Malme), Collemopsidium ceuthocarpoides (Mull.Arg.) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Arthopyrenia ceuthocarpoides Mull.Arg.), Collemopsidium zonatum (Mull.Arg.) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Arthopyrenia zonata Mull.Arg.), Crespoa roystoneae (Vicente & L.Xavier) Can & ecirc;z & Buril comb. nov. (equivalent to Parmelia roystoneae Vicente & L.Xavier), Fissurina vermiculus (Fee) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Opegrapha vermiculus Fee), Flagellostrigula pyrenuloides (Aptroot) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Strigula pyrenuloides Aptroot), Graphis redingeriana L & uuml;cking & Aptroot nom. nov. (replaced synonym: Graphina innata Redinger, non Graphis innata C.Knight ex Shirley), Hypotrachyna zahlbruckneri (Lynge) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Parmelia zahlbruckneri Lynge; synonyms: Parmelia palmarum Lynge, nom. inval.; Hypotrachyna palmarum Lynge ex Hale, nom. illeg.), Lecidella fuscelliformis (Malme) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea fuscelliformis Malme), Lobariella faxinensis (Mull.Arg.) Lucking, B.Moncada & Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Ricasolia faxinensis Mull.Arg.), Micarea americana (Malme) Aptroot & L & uuml;cking comb. nov. (equivalent to Catillaria americana Malme), Phlyctis subcalyptica (Redinger) L & uuml;cking & Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Phaeographina subcalyptica Redinger), Phyllopsora byssigera (Zahlbr.) Aptroot & L & uuml;cking comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea byssigera Zahlbr.), Phyllopsora granulatofurfuracea (Kremp.) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea granulatofurfuracea Kremp.), Placynthiella termitophila (Malme) Aptroot & Lucking comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea termitophila Malme), Stegobolus columellatus (Zahlbr.) Aptroot & L & uuml;cking comb. nov., (equivalent to Ocellularia columellata Zahlbr.), Sticta sublaciniata (Malme) Lucking, B.Moncada & Aptroot comb. et stat. nov. (equivalent to Sticta damicornis var. sublaciniata Malme), Sulzbacheromyces neofossicola (Corner) Dal Forno, L & uuml;cking & Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Clavaria neofossicola Corner), Sulzbacheromyces tutunendo subsp. armeniacus (Corner) Dal Forno, Lucking & Aptroot comb. et stat. nov. (equivalent to Clavaria neofossicola var. armeniaca Corner), Trapeliopsis glaucoplaca (Vain.) Aptroot comb. nov. (equivalent to Lecidea glaucoplaca Vain.), Yoshimuriella minor (Nyl.) L & uuml;cking, B.Moncada & Aptroot comb. et stat. nov. (equivalent to Ricasolia dissecta var. minor Nyl.). Although the number of 4,828 taxa constitutes the highest for any country in the world thus far reported, the actual number for Brazil could be much higher, considering the level of cryptic diversity encountered in recent molecular phylogenetic studies focusing on particular groups, such as Caliciaceae, Lecanora, or especially Pertusaria. An estimate perhaps up to 10,000 taxa does not seem unreasonable.
Sphagnum magellanicum has historically been interpreted as a widespread species across both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Recent research, however, indicates that it comprises at least seven phylogenetic species, and that S. magellanicum s.str. is restricted to southern Argentina and Chile. Four species are recorded from North America and two of them, S. divinum and S. medium, are known to occur in Europe (and are typified by European collections). Here we assess European plants of this complex to test if two apparent North American endemics, S. diabolicum and S. magniae, occur in Europe, and document the genetic structure of European species of the complex, including gametophyte sex ratios and patterns of genetic diversity. We further assess evidence for gene flow between the species in Europe, and between North American and European plants of species that occur on both continents. Molecular data, especially ddRADseq, were used to assess genetic and phylogenetic patterns, and additional plants were identified with barcode markers to document European geographic distributions. The results indicate that S. diabolicum and S. magniae are endemic to North America. In Europe, S. divinum is more genetically diverse than S. medium. Sex ratios in both species did not depart from 50:50. Low levels of interspecific gene flow between the two species occur in Europe, as well as higher levels of gene flow between North American and European plants within S. divinum and S. medium. Overall, our results corroborate evidence that S. divinum and S. medium are phylogenetically distinct species and represent separate gene pools despite low levels of introgression.
