Updates to the list of Estonian lichenized, lichenicolous and allied fungi

Sixteen species are reported as new for Estonia. Among these species, ten are lichenized and six are lichen-habiting fungi. One lichen-habiting species – Bryostigma molendoi (Heufl. ex Arnold) S.Y. Kondr. & Hur (= Arthonia molendoi (Heufl. ex Arnold) R. Sant.) and one lichenized species – Lecania nylanderiana A. Massal. should be excluded from the Estonian list of lichenized and allied fungi as misidentifications. New locality data are given for two critically endangered (CR) lichens last found more than 45 years ago – Hypogymnia vittata (Ach.) Parrique and Nephroma bellum (Spreng.) Tuck. (Lõhmus et al., 2019). Additional information on the distribution in Estonia is provided for recently described Toniniopsis separabilis (Nyl.) Gerasimova & A. Beck (Gerasimova et al., 2021).

Bryophyte species and communities on various roofing materials, Estonia

Considering the recent growth of interest in using mosses in creating vegetated green roofs, we set the aim of our study to get an overview of the variety of moss and liverwort species and communities growing spontaneously on roofs. Data were collected from 67 roofs of five different types of materials: fibre cement, bitumen, stone, thatched and steel from Tallinn and rural areas on Hiiumaa Island and in South Estonia. Indicator species analysis, MRPP, cluster analysis and ordination methods (DCA, CCA) were used for data analysis. As a result of this research, generalist bryophytes occurring on all types of roofing materials were studied and bryophyte species characteristics for certain material types were identified. The thatched roofs differed most clearly from the other roof types in their species composition and had the highest species diversity. Stone and fibre cement roofs had similar species composition. The results revealed significant dependence of the composition of the bryophyte flora on roofs on the density of the bryophyte carpet formed over time on the roof and the presence of a tree canopy above the roof. Other important factors were roof relief, the height of the roof from the ground and the indicator of environmental pollution NOx. However, the studied roofs in Tallinn and rural areas did not show significant differences in the species composition of bryophytes. Five communities were delimited: (1) Syntrichia ruralis – Schistidium apocarpum; (2) Orthotrichum speciosum – Bryum argenteum; (3) Brachythecium rutabulum – Hypnum cupressiforme; (4) Ceratodon purpureus – Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus; and (5) Pleurozium schreberi – Dicranum scoparium. The mentioned communities inhabited locations that differed in environmental conditions. The findings of this research can help choose the roofing material and species suitable for a certain location in creating moss greenery on roofs.

The main drivers for the occurrence of six red-listed epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in the boreo-nemoral forest landscape, Latvia

Forest landscape plays a significant role in rare cryptogam distribution. However, data about the environmental demands of rare epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in boreo-nemoral forest landscapes are not complete. In this study, we focused on finding the main environmental predictors influencing the occurrence of three red-listed epiphytic bryophytes and three red-listed epiphytic lichens in the Latvian boreo-nemoral forest landscape. We obtained the records of species from the Natural Data Management System OZOLS database, which is a national information system on all rare taxa. We analyzed the occurrence of species in relation to forest stand age and area, forest type, heterogeneity and tree bark pH class. We found that selected red-listed bryophyte and lichen occurrence was mainly influenced by forest stand age and area. However, each of the red-listed epiphytic bryophyte and lichen has their own ecological demands in the boreo-nemoral landscape.

New assessment of Least Concern lichens in the Red List of Estonia: are common species still common?

The threat status of 161 lichenized species that were considered common in Estonia was assessed in 2021. For most of these species, it was the second Red List assessment using the IUCN system (the first such evaluation was performed in 2008). The main data sources for species occurrence were the records reported in 100 study sites located throughout the country during 2020, and the PlutoF biodiversity database. 125 species remained, according to the new assessment, in the category Least Concern (LC) and their populations are not under threat in Estonia at present. Two species were placed in the category Not Applicable (NA) because of systematic revisions while 33 species were assigned to the categories Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU) or Near Threatened (NT); one further species received the status Data Deficient (DD). Thus, the threat status has changed for 22% of the studied species that had generally been considered common in Estonia. The reasons for this change are variable but there is clear evidence that 26 species have become more threatened during last 12 years.

Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. in the southwestern Baltic – Kattegat area

The past and present distribution of Lobaria pulmonaria in Denmark, northern Germany, northwestern Poland and nemoral parts of Skåne, Blekinge, southwesternmost Småland and southern Öland (Sweden) has been studied. Of 124 localities visited between 2015 and 2018, L. pulmonaria was confirmed at 64 sites, at each of which its habitat ecology and viability were investigated. It is almost extinct in Schleswig-Holstein, in southern Jutland, on the Danish Islands, in southwestern Skåne, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and in the western part of Pomerania. It has disappeared almost completely from areas where mesophytic forests form the potential natural vegetation. The commonest habitats for L. pulmonaria are species-poor acidic beech and species-poor oak forests, and the commonest substrates are trunks of beech, followed by oak. L. pulmonaria specimens on about two thirds of the colonized trees were in a healthy condition. The situation is worst in Schleswig-Holstein and on the Danish Islands, but best in Blekinge and central and northern Jutland. Recent distribution seems to be influenced by both anthropogenic (e.g. air pollution by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen and forestry practices) and natural factors (precipitation, temperature, air humidity), as well as unnatural climatic factors (global warming).

The lichens and allied fungi of the southern part of the Kenozersky National Park (Arkhangelsk Region, NW Russia)

The paper presents the first data on lichen diversity in the Kenozersky National Park (Arkhangelsk Region, Northwest Russia). As a result of the study, 263 species and 1 subspecies of lichens and allied fungi were found in the southern part of the national park. Seventeen lichen species are reported for the first time for Arkhangelsk Region. Biatora albidula is a new species for Northwest European Russia. Two recorded species are included in the Red Data Book of Russian Federation and 7 in the Red Data Book of Arkhangelsk Region. Pycnothelia papillaria can be recommended for inclusion to the Red Data Book of Arkhangelsk Region.

Can lichen secondary compounds impact upon the pathogenic soil fungi Fusarium oxysporum and F. avenaceum?

The antifungal activity of secondary lichen metabolites extracted by means of acetone and ethanol from Cetraria islandica, Cladonia mitis, C. rangiferina, Pseudevernia furfuracea and Usnea dasopoga on the pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and F. avenacuem was examined. The activity of extracted compounds was tested after their mixture with PDA medium before solidification. The most active extracts inhibiting the growth of fungal mycelia contained fumarprotocetraric, salazinic and usnic acids, and atranorin. Unparalleled activity was demonstrated by an ethanol extract from mixed C. islandica and P. furfuracea thalli, which accelerated the growth of F. avenaceum compared with the control test with ethanol. The growth rate of the two Fusarium representatives was strongly inhibited by both alcoholic extracts from C. mitis and from C. rangiferina, more strongly than by the extracts from the mixed thalli of the two terricolous taxa. A dose of 1 ml of acetone added to the medium had no significant effect on the growth of the tested fungi; it indicates usefulness of acetone as a solvent for some lichen compounds in this type of experiment.

Lichens and allied fungi from the Gauja National Park (Latvia), including new records for the country

In summer and autumn 2020, a lichenological inventory took place in the Gauja National Park (Latvia, Northern Europe). In total, 60 species of lichenized fungi, six non-lichenized saprophytic fungi and three non-lichenized fungi are reported as new for Gauja National Park. Among them, ten species are new to Latvia. Data on habitats, substrates, main characteristics and distribution in the neighbouring countries to Latvia are provided. The total number of lichenized and closely related fungi for the Gauja National Park is 346.

The mycological collection of G. C. Girgensohn from the middle of the 19th century

Since 1844, vouchers of mycological specimens collected from the territory of the historic Baltic provinces of the Russian Empire have been preserved in Estonian natural history collections. A pedagogue and an amateur bryologist, Gustav Carl Girgensohn (1786–1872) compiled a collection of 109 specimens of fungi and myxomycetes sampled from the Livonian Governorate, mostly from the vicinity of Tartu, in years 1844–1859. Girgensohn’s collection, which is kept in the fungarium of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, is introduced here for the first time. Among his specimens there are two notable ascomycetes—coprophilous Poronia punctata (Xylariaceae, Sordariomycetes), recently evaluated in Estonia as Critically Endangered according to IUCN criteria, and Microstoma protractum (Sarcoscyphaceae, Pezizomycetes), recently evaluated as Endangered. The collection’s eleven quite well-preserved specimens of myxomycetes represent six species, the least common of which is Diderma radiatum. In addition, the article introduces nine lichen specimens and one fungal specimen from Girgensohn’s bryophyte collection at the Natural History Museum of the University of Tartu. The most remarkable species among this collection is Lobaria pulmonaria (Lobariaceae, Lecanoromycetes), red-listed and protected in many countries.

New and rare lichens and allied fungi from Arkhangelsk Region, North-West Russia. II

Information about 38 species of lichens is presented. In total, 18 species are newly recorded for Arkhangelsk Region, 11 species are new for its mainland area. New localities for 9 rare species are presented. Thalloidima physaroides is new for the territory of Northwest Russia. The species Sclerophora peronella is reported for the second time in the whole territory of Russia, Calicium pinicola – in European Russia and Rhizocarpon simillimum – in Northwest Russia. For Vezdaea rheocarpa and Pilophorus robustus the westernmost localities in Russia are reported. The new localities of 9 species included in the Red Data Book of Arkhangelsk Region are presented. Six species are added to the list of lichens of Vodlozersky National Park.