The value of primary chemical compounds correlated with known secondary chemistry and morphological variation within the Ramalina siliquosa group has been investigated. A hundred specimens were collected on two different occasions from 13 different populations on the Swedish west coast during April 1984. Protein extracts were prepared from 27 on secondary constituents identified and morphologically analysed populations. The protein bandings were performed by means of isoelectric focusing. Twenty-two different banding patterns were analysed since two were destroyed during preparation and three others yielded weak patterns. The results indicated that three different banding pattern types could be discerned: type A originated from material containing norstictic acid, stictic acid, norstictic acid in combination with stictic acid and on acid-deficient material; type B originated from material containing salazinic acid or salazinic acid in combination with protocetraric acid; and type C originated from material containing salazinic acid, protocetraric acid, salazinic acid in combination with protocetraric acid or on acid-deficient material. Material of banding type A belonged morphologically to R. cuspidata (Ach.) Nyl. and material of banding types B and C to R. siliquosa (Hudson) A. L. Smith. Seasonal and developmental factors can, however, affect the production of both primary and secondary constituents. Since there are no obvious morphological differences between the different chemical races within R. siliquosa s. str. and as material of salazinic acid in combination with protocetraric acid yielded both type B and type C banding patterns, the results do not support a taxonomy in the R. siliquosa group recognizing more than two species.

The results from several floristic and bioindication projects in Central Switzerland (1986–1998), focusing on the effects of agriculture, particularly from nitrogen and agrochemical emissions, are summarized. The abundance of nutrienttolerant lichen species and the decreased occurrence of nitrophytic lichens are both correlated with agricultural land use and high atmospheric deposition. The impact could be demonstrated not only by the distribution patterns of nutrient-tolerant species, but also by the high N content of lichens such as Physcia caesia. Positive growth response of Cetraria islandica to application of mineral nutrients and increased CO2 in open-top chambers at high altitudes was also observed. The methods and a survey of the results from studies conducted within the framework of the lichen research programme of the Natural History Museum of Lucerne are presented here. A discussion of the issues shows the need for further studies concerning the influence of introduced nutrients on the biodiversity of lichens.

Anamorphs of 17 taxa in the genus Umbilicaria (Lecanorales, Ascomycotina)a re connected with known teleomorphs through what is described as the thallic type of connection. Teleomorphs of Umbilicaria aprina Nyl. and Umbilicaria cinerascens (Arnold) Frey are described for the first time. Possible correlated trends in the evolution of anamorphs and teleomorphs are discussed.

The new lichenicolous hyphomycete, Monodictys epilepraria, is described from thalli of several Lepraria species. It is known from the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Sweden, and appears to be widespread, but probably much overlooked. The new species is characterized by relatively small, brown, muriform, smooth-walled conidia developing on decolourized patches of the host.

The following 46 new species of Trypetheliaceae are described: Astrothelium aenascens Aptroot from Papua New Guinea, which is similar to A. aenoides but differs by the hamathecium which is not inspersed; A. alboverrucoides Aptroot from Indonesia with globose ascomata with constricted base, internally similar to A. megaspermum; A. clypeatum Aptroot & Gueidan from Vietnam with black conical ascomata in which the pseudostroma is reminiscent of a clypeus, a rimose thallus, and 3-septate ascospores, 85–95×22–25 µm; A. colombiense Aptroot from Colombia with 1 muriform ascospore of 240–300×45–50 µm per ascus, and an inspersed hamathecium; A. condoricum Aptroot from Ecuador with a bright orange thallus and contrasting bright scarlet internal pigment, and muriform ascospores, 38–42×18–21 µm; A. corallinum Aptroot from Guyana, which is most similar to A. ochroleucoides but the thallus is without lichexanthone; A. dicoloratum Aptroot from Venezuela with an orange thallus and more yellowish pseudostromata with usually only 1 ascoma, and 9–11-septate ascospores; A. ecuadoriense Aptroot from Ecuador with ascospores 2 per ascus, muriform, 80–175×25–50 µm, and an inspersed hamathecium; A. flavomaculatum Aptroot from Ecuador, Guyana and Venezuela which is similar to A. graphicum, but with ascospores 50–75×12–25 µm; A. flavomeristosporum Aptroot from the Philippines and Ecuador with mostly simple ascomata with an orange to yellow, inspersed hamathecium and muriform ascospores 140–200×25–30 µm; A. flavostiolatum Aptroot from Ecuador with bright yellow ostioles and a very irregular thallus, and muriform ascospores, 175–230×35–45 µm; A. guianense Aptroot from Guyana with a very irregular thallus, eccentric, fused ostioles and ascospores 4 per ascus, muriform, 70–80×20–25 µm; A. inspersogalbineum Aptroot & Weerakoon from Singapore which is similar to A. macrocarpum but with the hamathecium inspersed; A. komposchii Aptroot from Venezuela with chimney-like ostioles and a very irregular, almost squamulose thallus and muriform ascospores, 130–180×35–45 µm; A. laurerosphaerioides Aptroot from Guyana with aggregated ascomata with internally and partly (when abraded) also superficially orange anthraquinone pigment, ascospores 2 per ascus, muriform, 110–130×30–35 µm; A. lucidomedullatum Aptroot from Ecuador with lichexanthone in the medulla of the thallus, ascospores 4 per ascus, muriform, 80–115×25–35 µm; A. lucidostromum Aptroot from Guyana which is similar to A. eustomuralis but lichexanthone is present in the whole pseudostroma; A. lucidothallinum Aptroot from Guyana with the thallus containing lichexanthone, ascomata in pseudostromata without lichexanthone, ostioles apical, hamathecium not inspersed, ascospores muriform, 70–90×18–20 µm; A. mediocrassum Aptroot from Guyana which resembles A. octosporum but without lichexanthone in the thallus or pseudostromata, muriform ascospores, 70–80×22–25 µm, with median septum strongly thickened; A. megatropicum Aptroot from Guyana with 3-septate ascospores 100–120×33–35 µm, and hemispherical dark brown pseudostromata; A. megochroleucum Aptroot from El Salvador with 3-septate ascospores 60–70×16–18 µm and lichexanthone in the thallus and pseudostromata; A. neoinspersum Aptroot from El Salvador which is similar to A. aenascens but with bright yellow pseudostromata; A. perspersum Aptroot & Ertz from Gabon which is similar to A. scoria but with ascospores 26–38×7–9 µm; A. philippinense Aptroot & Schumm from the Philippines without pseudostromata, ostiole apical, hamathecium inspersed, ascospores muriform, 125–170×30–35 µm, 4 per ascus; A. pseudannulare Aptroot & Etayo from Ecuador with the appearance of the A. puiggarii-group, but differing from all other species of it by the 3-septate ascospores 80–88×32–36 µm, which are 2–4 per ascus; A. pseudodissimulum Aptroot from Papua New Guinea with K+ red crystals in the ascoma wall and 5-septate ascospores of 25–33×9–11 µm; A. pseudoferrugineum Aptroot from Indonesia, of the A. conicum-group with an orange thallus and pseudostroma pruina, differing from A. ferrugineum by the ascospores 28–31×9–11 µm and the more glossy thallus; A. pseudomegalophthalmum Aptroot from Colombia, similar to A. megaspermum but differing by the 7-septate ascospores 152–166×32–37 µm; A. rimosum Aptroot from Guyana and Colombia with 7–11-septate ascospores 110–150×30–37 µm and a rimose thallus with yellow medulla; A. sanguineoxanthum Aptroot from Brazil with the thallus containing lichexanthone and pseudostromata with numerous immersed round ascomata, the whole inside of which is full of red, K+ green pigment; A. septemseptatum Aptroot from Guyana and Venezuela with the thallus and pseudostromata UV+ yellow and 7–9-septate ascospores 50–55×12–17 µm; A. sexloculatum Aptroot from Guyana and Papua New Guinea with 5-septate ascospores 25–27×7–11 µm and lichexanthone in the thallus and pseudostromata; A. sipmanii Aptroot from Guyana with simple ascomata with 5-septate ascospores 100–150×35–40 µm and an inspersed hamathecium; A. trypethelioides Aptroot from Venezuela with fused ostioles, an inspersed hamathecium and 7–9-septate ascospores 49–52×13–16 µm; A. ultralucens Aptroot from Venezuela with lichexanthone in the thallus and pseudostromata, fused ostioles and 3-septate ascospores over 105–130×35–42 µm; A. vulcanum from Guyana, of the A. nitidiusculum-group with simple ascomata, an inspersed hamathecium and lichexanthone; A. zebrinum Aptroot from Guyana with fused ostioles and 7-septate ascospores 60–70 µm long, without lichexanthone, anthraquinones and inspersion; Polymeridium rhodopruinosum Aptroot from Puerto Rico with red pruina on the ascomata and 3-septate ascospores 17–19×3·5–5·0 µm; Pseudopyrenula americana Aptroot from Guyana with 3-septate ascospores 26–32×7–10 µm, without inspersion and without lichexanthone; P. guianensis Aptroot from French Guiana and Surinam with a hyaline hamathecium with inspersion, a thallus with lichexanthone and 3-septate ascospores 21–25×6–9 µm; P. hexamera Aptroot from Venezuela with 5-septate ascospores 16–21×6–7 µm, lumina clearly diamond-shaped; P. thallina Lücking & Aptroot from Costa Rica with a greenish corticate thallus and 3-septate ascospores, 21–25×6–9 µm; Trypethelium infraeluteriae Aptroot & Gueidan from Vietnam which is similar to T. subeluteriae but with lower pseudostromata and ascospores 7–9-septate, 37–42×9–11 µm; Viridothelium inspersum Aptroot from Papua New Guinea with solitary, immersed ascomata, an inspersed hamathecium, and 12–14-septate ascospores, 60–75×12–17 µm; V. kinabaluense Aptroot from Sabah which is similar to V. indutum with emergent black ascomata, but with 17–25-septate ascospores 100–150×18–23 µm; and V. solomonense Aptroot from the Solomon Islands having ascomata with lateral, partly fused ostioles and black clypeus, and ascospores 15–19-septate, 75–98×17–20 µm. The new species are known from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Guyana, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sabah, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Surinam, Venezuela and/or Vietnam.

The effects of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on five lichens with different photobionts, ecology, and tolerance to the pollutant were studied by means of samples exposed in closed chambers containing two known H2S solutions. The H2S concentration in the void volume at equilibrium with the liquid phase was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, combined with the use of solid phase micro extraction (GC/MS SPME). It was determined as 8 and 28 ppm H2S in the absence of lichen material, and c. 2 and 10 ppm H2S respectively with living lichen material inserted for 8 hours in the exposure chambers. Significant differences in the species-specific emission of chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlaF) were observed, with a pronounced depression of Fv/Fm already detectable after 2 h exposure at 28 ppm H2S in all the species. The decreased intensity was positively correlated to sample surface and, to a lesser extent, to the species-specific pre-exposure Fv/Fm value. Dark-exposed samples were less affected than light-exposed ones. All four chlorolichens could recover the pre-exposure ChlaF emission after two days in the absence of H2S, both in the light and in the dark, whereas the cyanolichen did not recover when kept in the dark. The results are thoroughly discussed on the basis of the known action mechanisms of H2S on the photosynthetic apparatus of vascular plants and cyanobacteria.

Five new species of Cryptothecia: C. alboglauca, C. bengalensis, C. farinosa, C. multipunctata and C. verruculifera, and two new species of Herpothallon: H. granulosum and H. isidiatum are described from India. Herpothallon australasicum (Elix) Elix & G. Thor and H. granulare (Sipman) Aptroot & Lücking are also reported as new records.

The type collection of Parmelia goebelii (Bulbothrix goebelii) was discovered to be a mixture of several different Bulbothrix species. The true identity of B. goebelii is established and problems regarding the variability of this species discussed. The species B. papyrina, B. scortella and B. subdissecta, synonymized with B. goebelii by Hale, are resurrected as valid taxa. A detailed description of B. goebelii is presented, its lectotype is selected, and the characteristics of all four species discussed.

Belonia and Pachyphiale were recently shown to be nested within Gyalecta. Here, new combinations and names are introduced for species earlier classified in Belonia: Gyalecta calcicola (Walt. Watson) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. herculina (Rehm) Baloch, Lumbsch & Wedin comb. nov., G. incarnata (Th. Fr. & Graewe) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. lumbrispora (Etayo) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. lyngei Baloch & Lücking nom. nov. (for Belonia arctica Lynge), G. mediterranea (Nav.-Ros. & Llimona) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. nidarosiensis (Kindt) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. pellucida (Coppins & Malcolm) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. russula (Körb. ex Nyl.) Baloch, Lumbsch & Wedin comb. nov., G. uncinata (P. M. McCarthy & Kantvilas) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., and G. vezdana (Malcolm & Coppins) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov.; and for species earlier placed in Pachyphiale: Gyalecta arbuti (Bagl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. gyalizella (Nyl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. himalayensis (Vězda & Poelt) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., and G. ophiospora (Bagl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov.

Topeliopsis darlingtonii A. Frisch & Kalb and Topeliopsis elixii A. Frisch & Kalb from Australia and Topeliopsis meridensis Kalb & A. Frisch from Venezuela are described as new species. Thelotrema decorticans Müll. Arg. and Ocellularia subdenticulata Zahlbr. are transferred to Topeliopsis and are the correct names for T. corticola Kalb and T. vezdae Kalb, respectively. A revised key of the genus Topeliopsis is presented. Ascoconidia, produced in old ascospores of T. elixii, are described for the first time for the Thelotremataceae.

An identification key to 128 macrolichen species from Tasmanian rainforest is presented. Additional data on the flora are also included. Five new species, Menegazzia caesiopruinosa P. James, M. confusa P. James, M. inactiva P. James & Kantvilas, M. minuta P. James & Kantvilas and M. subbullata P. James & Kantvilas, are described, and the new combination Leioderma amphibolum (Knight) P. M. Jørgensen & D. Galloway is made.

The lichen family Thelotremataceae was studied in Thailand and Malaysia (including one specimen from Indonesia). Of the 30 new species recognized, 26 are recorded from Thailand: Myriotrema grandisporum, M. khaoyaianum, M. khuntanense, M. rongklaense, M. subanamaliense, M. subgranulosum, M. subminutum, M. thailandicum, M. whalleyanum, Ocellularia brunneospora, O. diospyrosis, O. flavescens, O. inthanonensis, O. kansriae, O. krathingensis, O. melanophthalma, O. neoleucina, O. peremergens, O. pluriporoides, O. rhicnoporoides, O. subleucina, O. wolseleyana, Thelotrema laemense, T. mongkolsukii, T. phliuense and T. rhododiscum; and 4 from Sarawak: M. coppinsii, M. muluense, O. neoperforata, and O. roseotecta.Additional notes are provided on Ocellularia palaeoamplior Aptroot & Sipman and Thelotrema isidiophorum (Kremp.) Zahlbr.

Bacidia adastra Sparrius & Aptroot is newly described from the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Germany. It is related to Bacidia arnoldiana s. lat. and differs from Bacidia caligans, B. neosquamulosa and B. viridescens by thallus structure and pigmentation of the excipulum and epithecium. It usually grows on acid or neutral, eutrophicated bark. It is characterized by the remarkable, pale green, thick, leprose thallus, the pale apothecia with aeruginose or dark brown flecks in the epihymenium and excipulum, and the hyaline hymenium and hypothecium.

A method is described for the selective amplification of single mycobiont rDNA sequences from vegetative, non-ascomatal material of the lichenized thalli of Parmelia sulcata and P. saxatilis. The method includes a simple DNA extraction procedure employing rhizines, which avoids the use of liquid nitrogen disruption methods and phenol based extractions. The resulting amplified DNA is suitable for restriction enzyme analysis, and can be used to provide material for investigating population distribution and species concepts.

The lichen species Sticta alpinotropica is described new to science from Papua New Guinea. It grows on rock between 3900 and 4200 m elevation in an alpine environment virtually on the equator. Although it is locally abundant, it is known only from one small mountain top.

Lecania chlorotiza and L. falcata, described here as new from Spain/Navarra, the Canary Islands and the Azores, do not belong to Lecania s. str. They belong to a strongly supported clade comprising Bacidia, Bacidina, Scutula and Toninia when examined with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences using mtSSU, nuLSU and nuITS sequences. This clade represents the Bacidiaceae and is included in the Ramalinaceae s. lat. Most genera included in that family need further work before a new genus can possibly be described for Lecania chlorotiza and L. falcata.

The new corticolous lichen species Bactrospora angularis is described from Brazil. It has apothecia that are usually irregular in outline and transversely (19–)28–35-septate, filiform ascospores (85–)120–150 × 5–7 μm with some constrictions. A revised world key is given to all currently known species of Bactrospora.

The identity and phylogenetic placement of photobionts associated with two lichen-forming fungi, Umbilicaria spodochroa and Lasallia pustulata were examined. These lichens commonly grow together in high abundance on coastal cliffs in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The mycobiont of U. spodochroa reproduces sexually through ascospores, and must find a suitable algal partner in the environment to re-establish the lichen symbiosis. Lasallia pustulata reproduces mainly vegetatively using symbiotic propagules (isidia) containing both symbiotic partners (photobiont and mycobiont). Based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) we detected seven haplotypes of the green-algal genus Trebouxia in 19 pairs of adjacent thalli of U. spodochroa and L. pustulata from five coastal localities in Norway. As expected, U. spodochroa associated with a higher diversity of photobionts (seven haplotypes) than the mostly asexually reproducing L. pustulata (four haplotypes). The latter was associated with the same haplotype in 15 of the 19 thalli sampled. Nine of the lichen pairs examined share the same algal haplotype, supporting the hypothesis that the mycobiont of U. spodochroa might associate with the photobiont ‘pirated’ from the abundant isidia produced by L. pustulata that are often scattered on the cliff surfaces. Up to six haplotypes of Trebouxia were found within a single sampling site, indicating a low level of specificity of both mycobionts for their algal partner. Most photobiont strains associated with species of Umbilicaria and Lasallia, including samples from this study, represent phylogenetically closely related taxa of Trebouxia grouped within a small number of main clades (Trebouxia sp., T. simplex/T. jamesii, and T. incrustata+T. gigantea). Three of the photobiont haplotypes were found only in U. spodochroa thalli.