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The occurrence of biomineralization products in four lichen species growing on sandstone in western Norway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

Torbjørg Bjelland
Affiliation:
T. Bjelland: Department of Botany, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway.
Linda Sæbø
Affiliation:
L. Sæbø and I. H. Thorseth: Department of Geology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway.
Ingunn H. Thorseth
Affiliation:
L. Sæbø and I. H. Thorseth: Department of Geology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway.

Abstract

High performance thin-layer chromatography/thin-layer chromatography, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy analysis of thallus and lichen-rock interface samples, were undertaken to characterize biomineralization products in Fuscidea cyathoides, Ochrolechia tartarea, Ophioparma ventosa, and Pertusaria coralline, growing on sandstone in western Norway. Whewellite (monohydrate form of Ca oxalate) was found in the thallus of all species, but not in any of the weathering rinds beneath the species. A significantly higher amount of whewellite was detected in the thalli of F. cyathoides and O. ventosa than in the other two species. There were only a few differences in whewellite occurrence between the thallus edge and centre samples in the four species. HPTLC/TLC and SEM analysis indicate that lichen compounds occur within the rock beneath some of the lichen specimens. Only divaricatic acid was observed within the weathering rind beneath O. ventosa. No lichen substances were found in the weathering rind beneath F. cyathoides and P. corallina, whereas gyrophoric and lecanoric acids were found in the weathering rind beneath O. tartarea.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 2002

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