Assessment of Lichens as Biomonitors of Heavy Metal Pollution in Selected Mining Area, Slovakia

Lichens have widely been used as bioindicators to reflect the quality of the environment. The present study was conducted to investigate the lichens diversity that grows on the surface of waste heaps from an abandoned old copper mine in Mlynky, Slovakia. In spite of the heavy metalcontaminated environment, we documented twenty species of lichens in the selected site. Taxonomically the most numerous group were represented by Cladonia with seven species, as well other species; namely, Acarospora fuscata, Cetraria islandica, Dermatocarpon miniatum, Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Lecanora subaurea, Lepraria incana, Physcia aipolia, Porpidia macrocarpa, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria parietina. The content of selected heavy metals (Cu, Fe, and Zn) in the predominant lichens Cetraria islandica, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia pyxidata, Hypogymnia physodes and Pseudevernia furfuracea were analyzed. The highest content of Cu, Fe, and Zn was found in Cladonia pyxidata collected from mine-spoil heaps with concentration 46 ± 4.4, 82.5 ± 22.6, 4.8 ± 1.6 mg/kg, respectively. Interestingly, Cladonia pyxidata collected from the forest surrounding the location showed 15 times lower concentration for Cu. Additionally, similar results were found for Fe and Zn.

ЭЛЕМЕНТНЫЙ СОСТАВ ЛИШАЙНИКА Rhizocarpon НА КАМНЕ КАК ИНДИКАТОР ПЕРЕНОСА ЗАГРЯЗНЯЮЩИХ ВЕЩЕСТВ НА ТЕРРИТОРИЮ АЛТАЯ

Актуальность работы обусловлена необходимостью изучения экологических последствий многолетнего трансграничного переноса загрязняющих веществ из индустриальных центров Восточного Казахстана на территорию Алтайского края и Республики Алтай. Цель: определить элементный состав и особенности распределения химических элементов в эпилитном лишайнике Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC. на камне как биогеохимическом индикаторе специфики и интенсивности трансграничного переноса загрязняющих веществ на территорию Алтая. Методы: отбор образцов лишайника Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC. на скальных обнажениях нижнепалеозойских терригенных пород для определения содержания в них ртути методом атомной абсорбции и 28 химических элементов методом инструментального нейтронно-активационного анализа, обработка полученных данных методами прикладной статистики. Результаты. Впервые получены данные об уровнях содержания и особенностях распределения комплекса химических элементов в лишайнике Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC. на камне на территории Алтая. Проведено сравнение данных с региональным фоном и кларком в биосфере. Установлено наличие двух групп элементов в лишайнике – микроэлементов неорганической пыли и ассоциации химических элементов полиметаллических руд (Zn, As, Sb, Br, Hg, Au). Приведена аргументация в пользу преобладающего поступления элементов второй ассоциации в лишайник Rhizocarpon из атмосферных выпадений, переносимых с территории Восточного Казахстана. Выявлена обширная площадь повышенных концентраций изученных элементов в лишайнике Rhizocarpon, пространственно совпадающая с ранее установленной областью загрязнения снежного и растительного покрова на территории региона. Сделан вывод о пригодности элементного состава эпилитного лишайника Rhizocarpon на камне в качестве биогеохимического индикатора специфики и интенсивности трансграничного переноса загрязняющих веществ на территорию Алтая.

Lichenometric curve for the southern slope of the Tatra Mountains (Slovak Tatras)

This paper presents the first lichenometric curve of Rhizocarpon geographicum for the southern slope of the Tatra Mts (Slovak Tatras). The curve was developed based on measurements carried out in the years 2018-2019. The curve was constructed using measurement results from 9 objects of known time of origin, situated in the Tatra Mts. at an altitude of 1,250-1,900 m a.s.l. On each of them, the diameter of the 5 largest thalli was measured. Their average diameter was assigned an age value and then the lichen factor was calculated and a classical lichenometric curve was developed, as well as a modified curve taking into account the effect of altitude on the rate of thallus growth. The lichen factor is in the range between approx. 34.5 mm/100 years at 1,900 m a.s.l. and 44 mm/100 years at 1,250 m a.s.l. No significant differences were found in the rate of thallus growth between the southern and northern slopes of the Tatra Mts.

tert-Butylphenolic Derivatives from Paenibacillus odorifer—A Case of Bioconversion

Two compounds (1) and (2) containing tert-butylphenol groups were, for the first time, produced during the culture of Paenibacillus odorifer, a bacterial strain associated with the crustose lichen, Rhizocarpon geographicum. Their entire structures were identified by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) spectroscopic analyses. Among them, Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against B16 murine melanoma and HaCaT human keratinocyte cell lines with micromolar half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. Furthermore, after supplementation studies, a putative biosynthesis pathway was proposed for Compound 1 throughout a bioconversion by this bacterial strain of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), an antioxidant polymer additive.

Dispersal patterns of meiospores shape population spatial structure of saxicolous lichens

Relationships between reproductive strategies and population spatial structure have often been suggested for lichens, but there is a lack of supporting aerobiological data. For the first time, this study couples aerobiological investigations on meiospore dispersal byCaloplaca crenulatella(Nyl.) H. Olivier andRhizocarpon geographicum(L.) DC. with analysis of local spatial patterns of thalli of both species. During a two-year monitoring period carried out on the walls of a medieval castle in NW Italy, a total of 169 polar diblastic spores, 20% of which were morphologically attributable toC. crenulatella, was detected in the mycoareosol, while muriform spores ofR. geographicumwere never found. Laboratory experiments confirmed that different dispersal patterns characterize the two species, the meiospores ofR. geographicumbeing poorly discharged and only recovered at a short distance from thalli, whereas those ofC. crenulatellawere more abundantly discharged, suspended and better dispersed by a moderate air flow. This difference was reflected on the castle walls by the random spatial pattern ofC. crenulatella, whileR. geographicumshowed a clustered distribution. Different discharge rates and take-off limitations, possibly related to size differences between the spores, are not sufficient to explain the different colonization patterns and dynamics of the two species. Additional intrinsic and extrinsic factors are likely to drive their dispersal and establishment success. Nevertheless, information on the relationships between different dispersal patterns of the species and the local spatial structure of their populations might help to predict the recovery potential of lichen species exposed to habitat loss or disturbance, or encrusting monument surfaces.

Type studies in the Rhizocarpon geographicum group (Rhizocarpaceae, lichenized Ascomycota)

As part of a comprehensive revision of the Rhizocarpon geographicum species group using molecular and morphological approaches, we examined the name-bearing types of 15 species. We report ambiguities and inconsistencies with the reported features of some type specimens, original descriptions, and circumscriptions employed in keys for the identification of taxa within the complex. The reporting of chemical reactions and some morphological characters was found to be inconsistent and likely to lead to errors of identification. This is unfortunate in view of the widespread use of the complex in glaciology for lichenometry. Issues surrounding the typification of the basionym Lichen geographicus are clarified, and the epitype is illustrated. The complex nomenclatural situation regarding the name Rhizocarpon lecanorinum and its typification is also made clear. The examination of the anatomical and morphological characters presented here needs to be considered together with molecular phylogenetic information to provide a more informed new taxonomy of the group.