A taxonomic revision of the lichenized species of the genus Omphalina in the Iberian Peninsula is presented, based upon fungal and lichen herbarium material, as well as on fresh collections. Relevant morphological and ecological features are discussed and a diagnostic key is provided. Four lichenized species, O. ericetorum, O. hudsoniana, O. meridionalis and O. velutina are recognized. A squamulose vegetative thallus (Coriscium-type) is present only in O. hudsoniana, while the other three species form a thallus of hyphal globules (Botrydina-type). Anatomical features of the vegetative thallus cannot be used to distinguish between these last three species. Whilst O. hudsoniana is known only from the montane belt of the Eurosiberian Region and O. meridionalis seems to restricted to the Mediterranean Region, living in more or less humid sites of the Supramediterranean belt, the other two species, O. ericetorum and O. velutina, are widespread.

The specimens upon which Lecidea petraea var. obscurata Ach., the basionym of Rhizocarpon obscuratum (Ach.) Massal., is based are shown to be mostly referable to the species currently known as R. lavatum (Fr.) Hazslin. Rhizocarpon reductum Th. Fr. is resurrected to accommodate specimens with small ascospores previously referred there. The related species R. sublavatum is described from the Scottish Highlands and descriptions provided for R. anaperum (Vain.) Vain, and R. amphibium (Fr.) Th. Fr. These species are compared with R. reductum, R. lavatum and R. petraeum. Rhizocarpon rubescens Th. Fr. is shown to be a distinct species recorded from Europe and N. America.

In our earlier work, we demonstrated the presence of the multicopper oxidases tyrosinase and laccase in the cell walls of lichens from the Peltigerales, while these enzymes appeared to be absent in lichens from other orders. Likely roles for tyrosinase in lichens include melanin synthesis, the generation of quinones needed for laccase-mediated redox cycling, and the removal of harmful reactive molecules formed by this cycling. Non-Peltigeralean lichens will not need tyrosinase to detoxify laccase-generated radicals. However, many non-Peltigeralean lichens are often heavily melanized. Apparent absence of tyrosinase activity in these species prompted us to suggest that, in these lichens, melanins are probably synthesized by the polyketide pathway, which does not involve tyrosinase. Here, we surveyed intracellular tyrosinase activity in thallus homogenates from a range of lichens. Results showed that Peltigeralean species generally have much higher activities than species from other orders. However, the non-Peltigeralean lichen Dermatocarpon miniatum displays significant tyrosinase activity. In D. miniatum, tyrosinase differs from the corresponding enzyme from Peltigeralean lichens with respect to cellular location, substratum specificity, stability and pH optimum. Furthermore, unlike Peltigeralean lichens, in D. miniatum tyrosinase activity increased strongly following the rehydration of dry thalli. These differences are possibly a consequence of the role of tyrosinase in melanin synthesis rather than laccase-mediated redox cycling.

The new lichenicolous fungus Capronia suijae growing on the thallus of corticolous Xanthoria parietina is described from Belarus and compared with similar species. In addition to its host selection, the species is characterized by comparatively small ascomata, 40–80 μm diam., and (0–1–)3-septate ascospores, 9·5–11·5×4·0–5·0 μm. A key to the lichenicolous fungi growing on Xanthoria s. str. is provided.

A lichen flora of Northumberland is presented; it accepts 589 species. During the preparation of this work 7 lichens new to Britain and 271 new to the county were discovered. Complementing the species inventory is an analysis of factors affecting lichen distribution, a description of the major lichen habitats and a section on the history of lichen recording. Extensive tracts of semi-natural vegetation, steep climatic gradients and some of the least polluted air in England provide conditions suitable for a rich lichen flora; 40% of the British species have been recorded. Particularly notable habitats are sandstone crags in the uplands, Whin Sill (basalt) outcrops and sites contaminated with heavy metals. The County contains a major parkland, and several sites with a lichen flora characteristic of ancient woodland. A short list of lichenicolous fungi is included.

The lichen flora of 40 lakes in England, Scotland and Wales is described and related to ecological variables. A zonation scheme consisting of four overlapping bands of lichen vegetation related to height above water level has been adopted. Due to the lack of scour, and the influence of wave action, they do not correspond exactly to the zones identified beside streams, so have been named ‘splash zones’. About a hundred species are involved, a number being rarely recorded aquatic specialists. The flora of all zones is strongly influenced by the alkalinity and pH of the water which have provided a framework for arranging the communities. Lichens are reliable indicators of the sequence: acid, very soft, soft and medium hard water bodies. An investigation into the effect of man-induced eutrophication was undertaken. Other factors of ecological importance are shade and humidity. The conservation of the lake habitat is discussed and a comparison made between streamside and lakeside communities.

The new species Megaspora rimisorediata Valadbeigi & A. Nordin is described from Iran, where it mainly grows on tree bark but also on calciferous rocks and mosses. It is characterized by a pale ochraceous to bluish grey, cracked and sorediate thallus, very rarely producing ascomata. It appears to be rather commonly distributed in Iran. Its close affinity with Megaspora verrucosa is illustrated in a graph resulting from a phylogenetic network analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences from specimens representing the different genera of Megasporaceae.

Two new species of Xanthoria are described and illustrated, and comments about their differences from related taxa are provided. These are: X. ascendens from bark and shrub remains in sea-shore sand dunes and hillsides in Argentina, Chile and Peru, and X. ucrainica, from bark, stones, and some man-made substrata in the Ukraine, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Asian Russia.

The composition of fatty acids (FAs) is known to discriminate families within genera of bacteria, fungi, octocorals and algae. Here, we applied the more sensitive gas chromatographic (GC) analysis to investigate the taxonomic value of using FA composition to discriminate 15 species of lichen, including three chlorolichens (two Cladonia species and Stereocaulon scutelligerum), nine tripartite lichens (Stereocaulon species) and three cyanolichens (Lichina pygmaea, Collema cristatum, Peltigera membranacea). One macroscopic cyanobacterium (Nostoc sp.), corresponding to the photobiont partner of Peltigera and Collema cyanolichens, was included for comparison. Five lipid extraction methods were evaluated, using Stereocaulon scutelligerum. Shaking at 80 °C with chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v) was the most efficient and reproducible method. The total FA composition of the 16 species was compared, using GC coupled with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry. A statistical hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine the similarity between the FA profiles, based on total, saturated, unsaturated and branched-chain FAs (BCFAs). The BCFA profile allowed a distinction between the Stereocaulon species and the cyanolichens, in contrast to all the other types of FAs. A detailed characterization of eight FA subclasses, provided by the GC analysis, suggested a preferential pathway for the biogenesis of unsaturated FAs through desaturases, which was especially favoured in the cyanolichens.

A taxonomic revision of the lichen genus Gymnoderma Nyl. sensu Yoshimura & Sharp (Cladoniaceae) based on an integrative analysis of polyphasic characters supports the segregation of a new genus Cetradonia J.-C.Wei & Ahti in a new family Cetradoniaceae J.-C.Wei & Ahti. The monotypic genus and family are based on Cladonia linearis Evans. In addition, two species are recognized in genus Neophyllis F. Wilson and two species are retained in the genus Gymnoderma Nyl. of the Cladoniaceae.

The diversity of species of Ramalina occurring on the outlying islands of the New Zealand geographic area is linked to their methods of dispersal and the origin and principal climatic features of the islands themselves. It appears that species of Ramalina have reached these islands by transoceanic, wind-borne dispersal of ascospores and soredia, not necessarily in the direction of the prevailing winds. Species have become established on the islands only if both climatic and habitat requirements have been met.

The genus Haematomma is treated as part of the Ticolichen biodiversity inventory in Costa Rica. Together with literature reports, fourteen taxa are recognized as occurring in the country (plus three species to be expected), and three of them are new to science: Haematomma nicoyense Nelsen, Lücking & Chaves, with a sorediate thallus, russulone and atranorin, and zeorine apothecia with a split between proper excipulum and thalline margin, Haematomma staigeriae Nelsen, Lücking & Umaña, with a sorediate thallus, russulone and lichexanthone, and submuriform ascospores, and Haematomma fluorescens var. longisporum Nelsen, Lücking & Navarro, with russulone and lichexanthone and ascospores up to 120 μ m in length with up to 27 septa. A key is presented for the 17 taxa known or expected from Costa Rica.

The first detailed survey is presented of a recently discovered population of Erioderma pedicellatum, a globally rare lichen, in the primeval spruce forests of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Three subpopulations are described, located in the Levaya Schapina River basin, in the Kimitina River basin, and on the slopes of the extinct volcano, Nikolka. In total, we observed 1894 thalli on 167 Yezo spruce trunks. In Kamchatka, E. pedicellatum occurs exclusively on bark-covered spruce twigs of mainly young and dwarf-stressed older trees. We discovered a high number of juvenile thalli, which suggests that this population is reproducing. However, its habitat is declining because spruce forests in the region are the target of industrial clear-cutting and there is a high incidence of forest fires. Over the next 60 years, which corresponds to three generations of E. pedicellatum, we infer that continued habitat loss will induce a 48% decline in these lichen populations. As a result of our analyses, the Asian population is classified as ‘Vulnerable’, based on IUCN Red List criteria.

The anatomy of Chondropsis semiviridis (Nyl.) Nyl. shows adaptations to a vagrant life form and sub-arid habitat. The differential swelling of the thick upper cortex and the medulla is responsible for the rolling movement of the thallus under successive wet and dry conditions.

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region harbours some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet that are now facing substantial threats through changes in climate, land use and human population growth, with serious consequences for the biodiversity in this mountainous region. In this paper we evaluated the effects of climate change on the distribution of the tripartite epiphytic macrolichen Lobaria pindarensis, considered to be endemic to the Himalayas. To predict the current and future distribution of this species we applied the Random Forest modelling algorithm and climatic variables with a post-processing of projected distributions using a map of habitat types in the study region. We calibrated models based on 1397 species presences within an altitudinal range of 2036–4000 m and extrapolated them according to two IPCC scenarios of climate change (RCP 2·6 and RCP 8·5). Based on the results of ensemble modelling, two new localities where L. pindarensis might potentially occur were predicted. Our simulations predicted a range expansion of this epiphytic lichen to the north-east and to higher altitudes in response to climate change, although the species’ low dispersal abilities and the local availability of trees as a substratum will considerably limit latitudinal and altitudinal shifts. By contrast, assuming the species can migrate to previously unoccupied areas, and depending on different future climate scenarios, our models forecasted a habitat loss of 30–70% for L. pindarensis. The main reason for the simulated habitat loss is the expected increase in mean annual temperature (by 1·5–3·7 °C) and total annual precipitation (by 56–125 mm). Our results contribute further evidence for the high sensitivity of tripartite macrolichens, especially those from mountain areas, to climate change and particularly emphasize the vulnerability of L. pindarensis. Thus, we stress the need to develop and formulate conservation measures and strategies for the protection of this endemic species in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.

Two 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.