The lichen diversity of ten forest sites representing different geographical regions in Sri Lanka was investigated. In total, c. 1500 specimens of c. 400 species were recorded of the evaluated groups (all except the Graphidaceae and a few foliose groups). The following new species are described: Astrothelium conjugatum, Heterodermia fragmentata, Lecanactis minutissima, Megalotremis cylindrica, Porina microtriseptata, Porina monilisidiata, Psoroglaena spinosa, Pyrenula multicolorata, and Schistophoron muriforme. A further 64 species are reported for the first time from Sri Lanka, including 30 new records for the Indian subcontinent and eight new to Asia.
A crustose lichen species new to science – previously characterized in the literature but unnamed – is formally described. This new species, Chrysothrix bergeri sp. nov., ranges from the southeastern United States southwards to the Caribbean islands (Bahamas and Cuba) and eastwards to Bermuda. It is most easily confused with C. xanthina, from which it differs in both chemistry and ascospore shape. Bilimbia aurata and Bilimbia stevensoni are both confirmed as synonyms of C. xanthina. A lectotype is selected for Bilimbia aurata. Solvent E is recommended for the chromatographic separation of leprapinic and pinastric acids – two lichen secondary products critical for diagnosing certain species of Chrysothrix, including C. bergeri.
The present observation on the famous Sun Temple of Konark, Odisha for Lichen growth revealed that a more than 500 different spots were found on main temple, small sculptures erected within the temple premises and boundary walls. A total of 15 species belonging 14 genera and 11 families were found growing on the sites surveyed. Ten lichen species tightly adhere to the substrate forming crust (crustose lichen) and producing secondary metabolites were dominated on almost all the sites while only four leafy (foliose lichen) species and one squamulose species were recorded.
AbstractCorticolous lichens in the central mountains of Sri Lanka differ with vegetation type, disturbance and climate. All growth forms of lichens were studied in 42 plots (six plots × seven vegetation types), yielding 124 species. Lichen species diversity varied with number of tree species per plot (correlations) and differed with disturbance group, vegetation type and climate zone (general linear models). Lichen community composition (estimated cover of 74 species each at ≥ 3 plots) varied along two ordination gradients secondarily correlated with disturbance (nonmetric multidimensional scaling, NMS). Undisturbed and disturbed plots (mostly grouped by vegetation type) were divided along NMS axis 1, correlating with distance to undisturbed forest. Longest-disturbed plots differed from all others along NMS axis 2 and were correlated with canopy cover. Climate was weakly reflected on the ordination as the proximity of two plot clusters in montane vegetation types. Indicator species analyses (ISA) of lichen cover by plot identified 60 strong indicator species (indicator value ≥ 50%, P < 0.015). Fifty-seven species were indicators for individual vegetation types (28 of them for undisturbed types); three were for a disturbance group only; 11 were also for a disturbance group or climate zone. Most species strongly driving ordination patterns were also ISA indicators. Most lichens were crustose (39, with 24 in the Graphidaceae). Each vegetation type had at least one indicator with trentepohliod algae (increasing for undisturbed plots) and one with chlorococcoid algae. Two visually distinct indicator species, three genera and two multi-genus groups will be useful to parataxonomists in forest evaluation.
AbstractTwo new species of Anzia are described from Sri Lanka: A. mahaeliyensis characterized by a white, single-layered medulla and pale tipped isidia, and A. flavotenuis by a two-layered medulla with the upper layer yellow and the lower part white, a central chondroid axis and isidia with brown-black tips. Morphological and chemical characters used to distinguish species of Anzia are discussed and DNA sequences (ITS) are provided for the two new species. Characteristic features and worldwide distribution of the genus are also outlined.
The present observation on the famous Sun Temple of Konark, Odisha for Lichen growth
revealed that a more than 500 different spots were found on main temple, small sculptures
erected within the temple premises and boundary walls. A total of 15 species belonging 14 genera
and 11 families were found growing on the sites surveyed. Ten lichen species tightly adhere to
the substrate forming crust (crustose lichen) and producing secondary metabolites were dominated
on almost all the sites while only four leafy (foliose lichen) species and one quamulose species
were recorded.
The new lichen species Diorygma upretii Sipman (Ascomycota, Graphidaceae) is described. It is a conspicuous crustose lichen on tree trunks in parks of Singapore and Vanuatu, rarely producing ascocarps, with a characteristic, pustular-granular thallus.
Architrypetheliummurisporum Luangsuphabool, Lumbsch & Sangvichien is described for a crustose lichen occurring in dry evergreen forest in Thailand. It is characterised by a green to yellow-green corticated thallus, perithecia fused in black pseudostromata with white rim surrounding the ostiole and small, hyaline and muriform ascospores. Currently, all species in the genus Architrypethelium have transversely septate ascospores, hence the discovery of this new species indicates that ascospore septation is variable within the genus, similar to numerous other groups of lichen-forming ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses of two loci (mtSSU and nuLSU) supported the position of the new species within Architrypethelium. This is the first report of the genus in Southeast Asia.
Chrysothrix bergeri (Ascomycota: Arthoniales: Chrysothricaceae), a new lichen species from the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Bermuda