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The study of the effect of temperature on the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites by lichens Flavocetraria cucullata (Bellardi) Kärnefelt & Thell and Cetraria laevigata Rass was carried out. Lichen samples were taken out from under the snow (-20 °C) together with the soil substrate and transferred to the climatic chamber. Then the temperature in the climatic chamber was sequentially increased to +10 and +20 °C. The lichen exposure was carried out for 30 days for each temperature regime. The analysis of primary metabolites was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was shown that in lichens F. cucullata and C. laevigata at temperatures of +10 and +20 °C, an increase in the content of mannitol, ribitol, sucrose, and hydroxyproline was observed, as well as a decrease in the content of unsaturated fatty acids as compared to the initial samples. At the same time, the content of glycerol and arabitol in the thalli of the initial lichens (-20 °C) was higher than after exposure at +10 and +20 °C, which, apparently, is associated with the cryoprotective properties of these compounds. The content of secondary metabolites in lichens was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. It was shown that the content of usnic, allo-protolichesterinic, and protolichesterinic acids in F. cucullata increased after exposure in a climatic chamber, which may be associated with a general activation of metabolic processes with an increase in temperature. At the same time, the content of fumarprotocetraric acid in C. laevigata lichens decreased at temperatures of +10 and +20 °C compared to the initial samples, which may be associated with its protective properties under the action of low-temperature stress.

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.

Metabolic profiles of lichens Flavocetraria cucullata and Cetraria laevigata were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, samples of which were taken monthly throughout the year in a pine-lingonberry forest in Central Yakutia. In the obtained metabolic profiles of the studied lichens, 77 metabolites were identified, of which 44 were identified. Among them, 5 polyols, 8 mono- and disaccharides, 8 amino acids, 8 carboxylic acids, 5 fatty acids. On the obtained statistical models, it was shown that the metabolomes of the studied lichens collected from June to August (climatic summer) differed from the samples taken from October to April (climatic winter). It was revealed that in the summer period the accumulation rate of polyols, hydroxyproline and sucrose increased, which is associated, on the one hand, with the activation of photosynthetic processes, and, on the other hand, with resistance to dehydration. While during the climatic winter, an increased accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids and glycerol was observed, which is probably due to the protective functions of these compounds when exposed to low temperatures.

A new lichenicolous genus Kukwaea is introduced for a species discovered on Cetraria islandica from coniferous forests in European and Asian parts of Russia. The new fungus is characterized by its cupulate, brown ascomata with grey to blackish disc surrounded by brownish grey hairs, exciple of textura angularis type, with crystals in the lower part, with granulose excipular hairs obtuse at the tips, simple to forked paraphyses, Calycina-type asci, and hyaline, aseptate ascospores. The DNA sequence data confirmed its placement in Helotiales, but the exact affiliation remains open. A worldwide key for lichenicolous fungi occurring on Cetraria s. str. is provided.

The ground (Cladina arbuscula, C. rangiferina, C. stellaris, Cetraria islandica) and epiphytic (Hypogymnia physodes and Bryoria subcana) lichens in taiga forests of the European Northeast were examined as habitats of oribatid mites. In total, in different species of lichens, 55 species of oribatids from 30 families were found. Five ecological groups of oribatid mites as inhabitants of lichens were identified. It was found that the specificity of the oribatid mite population in epiphytic lichens consisted of dominant arboricolic species also not numerous arboricolic species. Dominant hemiedaphic species and not numerous hemiedaphic species were characteristic of ground lichens. The arboricolic‒hemiedaphic group includes species that live in both ground and epiphytic lichens. The ecologically vicariating species in relation to epiphytes were identified; these are species of the genera Carabodes, Mycobates, Oribatula, and Phauloppia.

Lichens are symbiotic photosynthesizing organisms with thalli formed by fungi and algae/cyanobacteria that possess high stress tolerance. One of the factors that contributes to the ability of a lichen to tolerate harsh environmental conditions is the presence of unique metabolites, including high-molecular-weight dark pigments termed melanins. The chemical composition and structure of lichen melanins remain poorly studied. We analyzed the elemental composition, the main functional groups, and the physicochemical properties of melanin extracted from Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea lichens. Based on the C/N ratio, this pigment is allomelanin. We also identified functional groups that provide photoprotective and antioxidant properties of melanin. Melanin synthesis might be an essential defense mechanism contributing to the survival of lichens under exposure to UV radiation.

Although there is an abundance of species delimitation methods on the market, most approaches depend on predefined assignment of specimens to species or populations. Assignment-free methods, which can simultaneously infer boundaries and relationships among species, are of high importance in cases, when correct pre-assignment is difficult or not at all possible. In this study, we use assignment-free multispecies coalescent-based species delimitation (STACEY, tr2-delimitation, and BP&P), phylogenetic methods, and clustering algorithms to investigate the inter- and infraspecific relationships within a common and widespread group of lichens with contentious species boundaries. The Cetraria aculeata group presents a good example of extreme morphological variability and unclear species delimitation in lichens. Based on DNA-sequence data from 26 fungal loci and 10 microsatellite loci, as well as morphological and chemical data, our results provide evidence for the occurrence of five different taxa within the group and highlight the difficulties of morphologically distinguishing these species. We discovered a separate lineage (clade C) within C. aculeata s. str., which does not fully coincide with any of the a priori identified species C. aculeata, C. crespoae, or C. steppae and conclude that this clade constitutes a semi-cryptic, genetically isolated lineage within C. aculeata. We recognize this lineage at subspecific rank as C. aculeata subsp. steppae and synonymize Cetraria crespoae with C. aculeata subsp. aculeata. Epitypes are designated for all involved names to stabilize their usage. The PKS8 gene locus is recommended as a barcode for the separation of C. aculeata subsp. aculeata and subsp. steppae. We demonstrate the potential use of microsatellite data for species delimitation in lichens that might offer an alternative insight or be used to test species delimitation hypotheses, when dealing with closely related or potentially cryptic species. Our results also confirm the presence of an undescribed sister lineage to C. odontella previously misidentified as C. muricata and extend the known range of this lineage to Central Asia (Altay Mts.) and the Central European Alps (France, Switzerland), which calls for a critical reappraisal of records of C. aculeata and C. muricata from these mountain ranges.

Some lichenized ascomycetes synthesize melanic pigments in their upper cortices when exposed to ultraviolet light and high solar radiation. Our previous work showed that melanized chloro- and cyanolichens from both high light and more shaded habitats were less photoinhibited than pale ones during controlled exposure to high light. However, protection from high light might not necessarily be the consequence of just sun-screening by melanins in upper cortices. An inherent problem with earlier experiments was that the photobionts of melanized thalli might have received more light than those beneath pale cortices. The photobionts may therefore have possessed other light-induced tolerance mechanisms that gave protection from photoinhibition. Here, we aimed to test directly the inherent tolerance of lichen photobionts to photoinhibition. The method involved removing the lower cortices and medullas of three lichen species, Cetraria islandica, Crocodia aurata and Lobaria pulmonaria, and exposing the photobionts to light from below. Results confirmed that most of the improvement in tolerance to photoinhibition in melanized lichens derives from fungal melanization in the upper cortex. However, in C. islandica, the most heavily melanized species, algae from melanized thalli possessed a significantly higher tolerance to photoinhibition than those from pale thalli, suggesting that photobionts can also adapt themselves to high light.

Questions How do mat thickness, physical structure and allelopathic properties of terricolous mat‐forming lichens affect recruitment of vascular plants in dwarf‐shrub and lichen heath vegetation? Location The mountains of Dovrefjell, central Norway. Methods In autumn, seeds of ten vascular plant species were collected and sown in a common garden experiment with mats of six lichen species and bare soil controls as experimental treatments. We recorded growing season soil temperature and moisture, and seedling recruitment and growth after one year. The effect of lichen secondary compounds on germination was tested in a growth chamber experiment and compared to the lichen–plant interactions detected under field conditions. Results The lichen mats buffered extreme soil temperatures and soil drying in dry weather, with soils below the thickest mats (Cladonia stellaris and C. rangiferina) experiencing the lowest temperature fluctuations. Seedling recruitment and seedling growth in the field and seed germination in the lab were species‐specific. Seedling recruitment rates were overall higher within lichen mats than on bare soil, but the c. 6.5‐cm‐thick mats of C. stellaris reduced recruitment of many species. The lab experiment suggested no overall strong effect of lichen allelopathy on seed germination, and effects on seed germination were only moderately correlated with the lichen–plant interactions observed for seedling recruitment in the field. Conclusions In harsh environments like alpine dwarf‐shrub and lichen heaths, the presence of lichens and the resulting amelioration of the microclimate seem more important for vascular plant recruitment than are allelopathic effects often reported in lab experiments. We might therefore expect most terricolous lichens, depending on the plant species in focus, to facilitate rather than hamper the early stages of plant recruitment into lichen‐dominated arctic‐alpine heath vegetation. Locked until 28.5.2020 due to copyright restrictions. This is the peer reviewed version of an article, which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12773]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

Lichens (Lichenophyta phylum), the least exploited subdivision of fungus, are composite plants used in folk medicine for the treatment of diverse pathologies, from respiratory to digestive diseases, as they contain over 500 potentially bioactive compounds identified up-to-date. Lichen acids, such as usnic acid, lobar acid, lecanoric acid or salazinic acid, are among these compounds, with biopharmaceutical applications as antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic agents. The objectives of this study were to extract usnic acid from Romanian Cetraria islandica, (Parmeliaceae family), to characterize the extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The extracts were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy and HPTLC techniques. The extracts and pure usnic acid have shown high antioxidant activity and have activity against certain Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi such as Candida albicans. Therefore, the analyzed bioactive compounds could be used as the basis of pharmaceutical formulations to treat various respiratory and digestive disorders.

Some lichenized ascomycetes synthesize melanic pigments when exposed to ultraviolet light and high solar radiation. Here, we used chlorophyll fluorescence in order to test the effect of melanisation on the ability of the lichens Cetraria islandica, Lobaria pulmonaria, Peltigera aphthosa, P. membranacea, Pseudocyphellaria gilva, and Sticta sublimbata to tolerate high-light stress. For each species, melanised and pale thalli were selected from relatively exposed and shaded individuals of the same population. For all species, melanised thalli displayed significantly less photoinhibition than pale thalli following a controlled exposure of hydrated thalli to high light. Melanised thalli were less photoinhibited than pale thalli in lichens from both high light and more shaded habitats, and those that possess either green-algal or cyanobacterial photobionts. Photoinhibition also occurred when dry lichens were exposed to high light; melanised thalli showed again less photoinhibition. Melanised thalli are less sensitive to the adverse effects of high light.

The aim. The aim of this study was to propose methods of standardization of Eucalyptus globulus leaves and Cetraria islandica slan by the main group of biologically active substances (BAS). This was done for further development of complex medicines based on Eucalyptus globulus leaves and Cetraria islandica slan. These studies provide an opportunity for further development and standardization of extracts from these plants, and the main aim of this study is the development and standardization of a complex medicine. Materials and methods. Thin layer chromatography was used to determine the presence of these markers. Quantitative values of these biologically active substances were determined by spectrophotometric method according to the relevant methods of the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine. Results. Markers for the certification of Cetraria islandica and Eucalyptus globulus have been proposed in this study. Chlorophylls and 1,8-cineole were chosen as a marker for the study of Eucalyptus globulus, and polysaccharides were chosen as a marker for Cetraria islandica. The qualitative and quantitative content of these markers in the studied objects was studied. Further research in this direction will be aimed at developing methods for control and standardization of water and alcohol extracts from these plants. Conclusions. Biologically active substances in medicinal plant raw materials were studied. It is proposed to study extracts and finished products from Eucalyptus globulus leaves and Cetraria islandica slan using these methods. The method of qualitative and quantitative determination of polysaccharides in Cetraria islandica slan is easy to apply and easily reproducible. It is important to be able to standardize Eucalyptus globulus leaves for essential oils and chlorophylls. The biologically active substances-markers found in Eucalyptus globulus leaves and Cetraria islandica slan will be used for the development of herbal medicines, the standardization of which will be carried out for the same compounds.

The diversity of lichen-associated bacteria from lichen taxa Cetraria, Cladonia, Megaspora, Pseudephebe, Psoroma, and Sphaerophorus was investigated by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Physiological characteristics of the cultured bacterial isolates were investigated to understand possible roles in the lichen ecosystem. Proteobacteria (with a relative abundance of 69.7–96.7%) were mostly represented by the order Rhodospirillales. The 117 retrieved isolates were grouped into 35 phylotypes of the phyla Actinobacteria (27), Bacteroidetes (6), Deinococcus-Thermus (1), and Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria (53), Betaproteobacteria (18), and Gammaproteobacteria (12)). Hydrolysis of macromolecules such as skim milk, polymer, and (hypo)xanthine, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, production of phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid, and fixation of atmospheric nitrogen were observed in different taxa. The potential phototrophy of the strains of the genus Polymorphobacter which were cultivated from a lichen for the first time was revealed by the presence of genes involved in photosynthesis. Altogether, the physiological characteristics of diverse bacterial taxa from Antarctic lichens are considered to imply significant roles of lichen-associated bacteria to allow lichens to be tolerant or competitive in the harsh Antarctic environment.

In this study we used a terricolous lichen (Cetraria islandica) as bioaccumulator of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) to explore spatial patterns of air pollutant deposition along elevational gradients in the Majella Massif (Italy). Samples of C. islandica were collected at 200 m intervals along 6 transects from 1600 to 2600 m, both along the eastern and the western slope of the Majella massif, and analyzed for their PTE content. The results supported the hypothesis that the deposition of PTEs to the Majella massif is largely influenced by elevation and slope. Two main patterns emerged connected either with local soil erosion and long-range atmospheric transport. For some PTEs, namely Al, Cr, Li, Mg, in the absence of any other data, it is supposed that the anthropogenic input is very small compared to the natural input from weathering processes. In contrast, the group of air pollutants subjected to long-range transport, as in the case of Cd, Hg, and Pb, has very limited local input and the main sources responsible for the higher concentrations on the eastern slope are probably to be searched in the Balkan area.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of multivariate techniques to predict antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the selected lichens from the chromatographic data. A simple and reproducible HPLC-DAD technique has been used to obtain the chromatographic fingerprint profiles. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) linear gradient system with methanol, water and phosphoric acid (V) (pH 2.3) as the mobile phase was used (50 min). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied to the evaluation of the phytochemical similarity between studied samples, especially between the same species collected in various places of Poland (Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach., CI, Cladina mitis Sandst., CM, Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., HP). The ability to scavenge free radicals was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods and the total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) test. In the case of DPPH % of inhibition was higher for selected species (Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf, H. physodes in comparison to the literature data. The FRAP test showed that the H. physodes extract had higher ability to scavenge free radical in comparison to Cladonia furcata (Huds.) Schrader and Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., whereas P. furfuracea extract showed higher ability than C. islandica. The high content of phenolics in P. furfuracea and H. physodes confirms their high antioxidant activity. The cytotoxic activity of studied extracts was tested by cell culture method using the human HL-60 / MX2 acute CKL-22 (CRL-2257) promyelocytic leukemia tumor cell line. The lowest values of IC50 [&micro, g∙mL&minus, 1] were obtained for: H. physodes (HP1)&mdash, 99.4, C. digitate&mdash, 122.6, H. physodes (HP)&mdash, 136.5, C. subulata&mdash, 142.6, C. mitis&mdash, 180.2.

Salix herbacea is a relict plant species related to the circumpolar arctic-alpine element of the Holarctic group. The aim of the study was to clarify the data on the distribution of S.herbacea within the Maramures massif of the Ukrainian Carpathians since this species is reported by different authors for the massif without specific geographical and habitats descriptions. Field studies were conducted in the Maramures massif on the slopes of Pip Ivan Marmarosky (1936 m a.s.l.) and Rapa (1872 m a.s.l.) mountains in 2017–2019. The S.herbacea distribution chorology was analyzed based on the inventory of UU, KW, KWHA, LW, Herbarium of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, and Herbarium of the Biology and Ecology Department of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University collections. We have found S.herbacea confined to cliffs on a rocky tourist path between the peaks of Pip Ivan Marmarosky and Rapa mountains in the Rakhiv district of the Transcarpathian region (Zakarpattia oblast). Recently, these rocky formations were occupied by tall grasses such as Calamagrostis villosa, Poa pratensis and Festuca picturata. Meanwhile, the occurrence of Holarctic and Alpine-Carpathian species Vaccinium uliginosum, Potentilla aurea, Pulsatilla alba, Thamnolia vermicularis and Cetraria islandica substantially decreased. These changes were probably caused by a decrease in livestock grazing intensity during the past years in this area, as well as more favorable climate conditions for tall grass species. The exact location and phytocoenological conditions of the site, which is endangered and requires additional conservation measures, were outlined. The necessity of these measures to preserve the habitat of S. herbacea on the Maramures massif was stressed out.

Melanin is the main pigment of human skin, playing the primary role of protection from ultraviolet radiation. Alteration of the melanin production may lead to hyperpigmentation diseases, with both aesthetic and health consequences. Thus, suppressors of melanogenesis are considered useful tools for medical and cosmetic treatments. A great interest is focused on natural sources, aimed at finding safe and quantitatively available depigmenting substances. Lichens are thought to be possible sources of this kind of compounds, as the occurrence of many phenolic molecules suggests possible effects on phenolase enzymes involved in melanin synthesis, like tyrosinase. In this work, we used four lichen species, Cetraria islandica Ach., Flavoparmelia caperata Hale, Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue, and Parmotrema perlatum (Hudson) M. Choisy, to obtain extracts in solvents of increasing polarity, viz. chloroform, chloroform-methanol, methanol, and water. Cell-free, tyrosinase inhibition experiments showed highest inhibition for L. vulpina methanol extract, followed by C. islandica chloroform-methanol one. Comparable results for depigmenting activities were observed by means of in vitro and in vivo systems, such as MeWo melanoma cells and zebrafish larvae. Our study provides first evidence of depigmenting effects of lichen extracts, from tyrosinase inhibition to cell and in vivo models, suggesting that L. vulpina and C. islandica extracts deserve to be further studied for developing skin-whitening products.

Sugar alcohols (polyols) are abundant carbohydrates in lichen-forming algae and transported to other lichen symbionts, fungi, and bacteria. Particularly, ribitol is an abundant polyol in the lichen Cetraria sp. Polyols have important physiological roles in lichen symbiosis, but polyol utilization in lichen-associated bacteria has been largely unreported. Herein, we purified and characterized a novel ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH) from a Cetraria sp.-associated bacterium Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26621 grown on a minimal medium containing D-ribitol (the RDH hereafter referred to as SpRDH). SpRDH is present as a trimer in its native form, and the molecular weight of SpRDH was estimated to be 39 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 117 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. SpRDH converted D-ribitol to D-ribulose using NAD+ as a cofactor. As far as we know, SpRDH is the first RDH belonging to the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. Multiple sequence alignments indicated that the catalytic amino acid residues of SpRDH consist of Cys37, His65, Glu66, and Glu157, whereas those of short-chain RDHs consist of Ser, Tyr, and Lys. Furthermore, unlike other short-chain RDHs, SpRDH did not require divalent metal ions for its catalytic activity. Despite SpRDH originating from a psychrophilic Arctic bacterium, Sphingomonas sp., it had maximum activity at 60°C and exhibited high thermal stability within the 4-50°C range. Further studies on the structure/function relationship and catalytic mechanism of SpRDH will expand our understanding of its role in lichen symbiosis.

Lichens are traditionally defined as a symbiosis between a fungus and a green alga and or a cyanobacterium. This idea has been challenged by the discovery of bacterial communities inhabiting the lichen thalli. These bacteria are thought to contribute to the survival of lichens under extreme and changing environmental conditions. How these changing environmental conditions affect the lichen-associated bacterial community composition remains unclear.We describe the total (rDNA-based) and potentially metabolically active (rRNA-based) bacterial community of the lichen Cetaria islandica and its response to long-term warming using a 20-year warming experiment in an Icelandic sub-Arctic tundra. 16S rRNA and rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that the orders Acetobacterales (of the class Alphaproteobacteria) and Acidobacteriales (of the phylum Acidobacteria) dominated the bacterial community. Numerous ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) taxa could only be detected in the potentially active community but not in the total community. Long-term warming led to increases in relative abundance on class, order and ASV level. Warming altered the relative abundance of ASVs of the most common bacterial genera, such as Granulicella and Endobacter. The potentially metabolically active bacterial community was also more responsive to warming than the total community.Our results suggest that the bacterial community of the lichen C. islandica is dominated by acidophilic taxa and harbors disproportionally active rare taxa. We also show for the first time that climate warming can lead to shifts in lichen-associated bacterial community composition.

Lichens dominate a significant part of the Earth's land surface, and are valuable bioindicators of various environmental changes. In the northern hemisphere, the largest lichen biomass is in the woodlands and heathlands of the boreal zone and in tundra. Despite the global coverage of lichens, there has been only limited research on their spectral properties in the context of remote sensing of the environment. In this paper, we report spectral properties of 12 common boreal lichen species. Measurements of reflectance spectra were made in laboratory conditions with a standard spectrometer (350–2500 nm) and a novel mobile hyperspectral camera (400–1000 nm) which was used in a multiangular setting. Our results show that interspecific differences in reflectance spectra were the most pronounced in the ultraviolet and visible spectral range, and that dry samples always had higher reflectance than fresh (moist) samples in the shortwave infrared region. All study species had higher reflectance in the backward scattering direction compared to nadir or forward scattering directions. Our results also reveal, for the first time, that there is large intraspecific variation in reflectance of lichen species. This emphasizes the importance of measuring several replicates of each species when analyzing lichen spectra. In addition, we used the data in a spectral clustering analysis to study the spectral similarity between samples and species, and how these similarities could be linked to different physical traits or phylogenetic closeness of the species. Overall, our results suggest that spectra of some lichen species with large ground coverage can be used for species identification from high spatial resolution remote sensing imagery. On the other hand, for lichen species growing as small assemblages, mobile hyperspectral cameras may offer a solution for in-situ species identification. The spectral library collected in this study is available in the SPECCHIO Spectral Information System., Highlights • Reflectance spectra of 12 boreal ground lichen species were measured. • Intraspecific variation in reflectance was large. • Interspecific differences in spectra were largest in ultraviolet and visible regions. • All species had highest reflectance in backscattering direction.

Dry pine forests are rare phytocoenoses and in Western Polissya they occupy a small area. Phytosociological association Cladonio-Pinetum Juraszek 1927, where lichens are quite abundant in the ground vegetation, takes a special place among these dry pine forests. This association, in the European ecological network NATURA 2000 is considered to be a priority habitat deserving strict protection, and thus it is an important subject to study it in detail, in Ukraine as well. The value of such phytocoenoses is in the richest species composition of the terrestrial bush lichens of the gender Cladonia and Cetraria. Many kinds of epigeous lichens are characteristic of certain plant associations, so it is appropriate to study the lichenobyota in different types of biotopes, where it is most commonly encountered. Floristic monitoring of lichenobyota can be, e.g., used to analyse the interdependence between lichen cover and pine tree stands features growing in dry conditions. The research was carried out in order to study the current state, distribution, preservation and restoration of lichen pine forests. As a result of the analysis of the field materials and herbarium samples, we conducted a systematic analysis of identified lichen species and we found that all of them belong to two families – Cladoniaceae Zenker and Parmeliaceae Zenker and two genders – Cladonia Hill. ex P. Browne and Cetraria Ach. The identified types of lichens belong to multiregional geoelement of the boreal type of range. The ecological analysis of lichens and their distribution in relation to environmental factors was performed. It was found that due to soil acidity, soil fertility, substrate humidity, light regime and resistance against human impact epigeous lichens of dry pine forest are as follows: either sub-acidophils or neutrophils, oligotrophs, xerophytes, heliophytes, and either oligohemerobes or mesohemerobes. According to the anatomic structure, the lichens in matter are heteromeric, and in the form of thalamus, all species are bushy with transitional forms. The results of the floristic analysis can be the basis for carrying out the monitoring studies of epigeous lichenobyota of the Cladonio-Pinetum Juraszek 1927 in Western Polissya.

The Parmeliaceae is a highly diverse family among the lichenized Ascomycota, both in terms of species number and morphological and anatomical variation. In recent years molecular phylogenetics have helped to establish a more natural classification. However, there are still some poorly known species. One such case has been the Antarctic species Cetraria subscutata. So far, the species has been collected in Antarctica only four times. As a result, it was never included in the recent molecular studies and is currently considered as an enigmatic species. During the 2014 Argentine Antarctic Survey, we collected specimens of ?C. subscutata? and these were used for phylogenetic studies. The results confirmed that the species does not belong to Cetraria, but to the genus Nephromopsis, and, in fact, it is conspecific with N. chlorophylla (Willd.) Divakar, Crespo & Lumbsch. However, the specimens from Antarctica show some differences with collections from other regions, which are here discussed. Fil: Passo, Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Rodriguez, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina Fil: Chiapella, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Messuti, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina

Most lichen-forming fungi are characterized by the production of secondary metabolites. Differences in metabolite patterns have frequently served to distinguish lichen taxa with subsequent controversies about the rank of chemical variants (chemotype, variety, subspecies or species). Using a model system, we investigate whether production of norstictic acid within a group of lichenized ascomycetes is correlated with phylogenetic patterns, population differentiation or single and multi-locus haplotypes. Our study is based on DNA sequences of three gene loci (ITS, GPD, mtLSU) together with HPLC (311) and TLC (594) data from a total of 594 samples of three closely related fruticose lichens:Cetraria aculeataandC. muricatawithout norstictic acid, andC. steppaewith norstictic acid. In nature,C. aculeataandC. steppaeoften occur together and the status ofC. steppaeas a separate species has been questioned. Our results show geographical but no phylogenetic structure of norstictic acid production and few significant associations between genetic clusters and the occurrence of norstictic acid. All frequently distributed haplotypes display differences in norstictic acid content. The few associations at the population level are most likely a by-product of spatial genetic structure, because norstictic acid was expressed only in individuals from the Mediterranean-Central Asian part of the study area. We conclude that the production of norstictic acid in theC. aculeatagroup is most likely triggered by the environment (climate, edaphic factors, associated symbionts).Cetraria steppaemight be a different evolutionary lineage restricted to warm temperate regions but it is not uniquely characterized by the presence of norstictic acid.

Quantifying abundance and distribution of plant species can be difficult because data are often inflated with zero values due to rarity or absence from many ecosystems. Terrestrial fruticose lichens (Cladonia and Cetraria spp.) occupy a narrow ecological niche and have been linked to the diets of declining caribou and reindeer populations (Rangifer tarandus) across their global distribution, and conditions related to their abundance and distribution are not well understood. We attempted to measure effects related to the occupancy and abundance of terrestrial fruticose lichens by sampling and simultaneously modeling two discrete conditions: absence and abundance. We sampled the proportion cover of terrestrial lichens at 438 vegetation plots, including 98 plots having zero lichens. A zero‐inflated beta regression model was employed to simultaneously estimate both the absence and the proportion cover of terrestrial fruticose lichens using fine resolution satellite imagery and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) derived covariates. The probability of lichen absence significantly increased with shallower groundwater, taller vegetation, and increased Sphagnum moss cover. Vegetation productivity, Sphagnum moss cover, and seasonal changes in photosynthetic capacity were negatively related to the abundances of terrestrial lichens. Inflated beta regression reliably estimated the abundance of terrestrial lichens (R 2 = .74) which was interpolated on a map at fine resolution across a caribou range to support ecological conservation and reclamation. Results demonstrate that sampling for and simultaneously estimating both occupancy and abundance offer a powerful approach to improve statistical estimation and expand ecological inference in an applied setting. Learnings are broadly applicable to studying species that are rare, occupy narrow niches, or where the response variable is a proportion value containing zero or one, which is typical of vegetation cover data.

We quantified relative growth rates (RGR) in shade-adapted and melanin-deficient thalli of Cetraria islandica and Lobaria pulmonaria cultivated in short-term growth chamber experiments with and without UV-B radiation. In the first experiment done under optimal PAR (125 μmol m−2 s−1), but high UV-B radiation (1 W m−2), UV-B radiation significantly reduced RGR (P

Perigrapha cetrariae growing on Cetraria laevigata is described from Japan. The new species differs from the generic type in having loculi completely embedded in a stroma and ascospores without caudate appendages.

OBJECTIVE: Deficiencies in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine have been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, cholinesterase inhibitors are potentially clinical effective for the symptomatic treatment of AD. Little is known about the neuroprotective activity of lichens as cholinesterase inhibitors. The aim of the present work is to evaluate for the first time the activity of five methanol extracts of lichens from Cetraroid clade: Cetraria commixta (Nyl.) Th.Fr, Cetraria crespoae (Barreno & Vazquez) Karnefelt, Cetraria cucullata (Bell.) Ach., Cetraria ericetorum. Opiz, Cetraria nivalis (L.) Ach and Asahinea scholanderi (Llano) as acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and butyrilcholinesterase (BchE) inhibitors. METHODS: The AChE and BuChE activities were evaluated using the Ellman’s method at 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml methanol extract concentrations. Chemical analysis was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-UV). RESULTS: Among all lichen extracts, Asahinea scholanderi was found the most potent AchE inhibitor (IC50 = 0.11 ± 0.006) followed by Cetraria nivalis (IC50 = 0.16 ± 0.013), Cetraria cucullata (IC50 = 0.18 ± 0.014). Regarding the action on BchE, Asahinea scholanderi was once again the most active lichen specie (IC50= 0.29 ± 0,004) followed by Cetraria cucullata (IC50= 0.31 ± 0,001) and Cetraria commixta (IC50= 0.49 ± 0,018). Since Asahinea scholanderi was the most active cholinesterase inhibitor, phytochemical analysis was performed. HPLC analysis of methanol extract revealed that the main compounds were α- and β-alectoronic, β-collatolic and usnic acid. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Asahinea scholanderi methanol extract display inhibitory activities against both AChE and BuChE, being a useful promising agent for AD treatment.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is the largest reservoir of organic carbon in the biosphere. However, little is known about the processes of its formation at the pre‐vascular stage. Lichens are among the pioneer colonizers on mineral substrates and are possible early land flora. This study is the first report on the identification and quantification of water‐soluble phenolic compounds (PCs), potential precursors of humic substances, in epigeyic lichens from two systematic groups. Results show (Folin–Denis assay) that cyanobiont‐containing lichens (order Peltigerales) possess three to five times more total soluble PCs than Lecanoralean lichens (Cladonia, Cetraria spp.) and mosses. Soluble PCs in lichens occur in the conjugated form. Alkali‐hydrolysable compounds (esters) predominate over acid‐hydrolysable compounds (glycosides). Phenolic complexes with N‐containing compounds or reducing sugars, or both, have been identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Benzoic acid derivatives were most common among PCs, detected in lichens by reversed‐phase high‐pressure liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). Phenolic acids occur in the order (μg 100 g⁻¹): p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (327–1,007) > syringic acid (87–361) > salycilic acid (135–210) > vanillic acid (12–19) (Peltigeralean lichens); salicylic acid (53–102) > p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (45–54) > caffeic acid (29) > syringic acid (18) > vanillic acid (9–13) (Lecanoralean lichens). Protocatechuic, caffeic and p‐coumaric acids were rare; ferulic acid was not detected. Syringyl and vanillyl aldehydes and ketones occur in much larger amounts than acids. Methoxy‐substituted and ortho‐substituted phenols, detected in lichens, are known for their high reactivity in soils under lignified vegetation, suggesting their important roles in SOM formation under a cryptogam cover. HIGHLIGHTS: Phenolic composition of SOM and humification processes at pre‐vascular stage are largely overlooked Soluble phenolic acids, aldehydes and ketones are quantified in lichens for the first time Lichens are depleted in phenylpropanoids and enriched in syringyl structures and monophenols Lichen‐derived phenolic compounds are potential precursors of humic substances under cryptogam cover

Background Lichens, as a symbiotic association of photobionts and mycobionts, display an unmatched environmental adaptability and a great chemical diversity. As an important morphological group, cetrarioid lichens are one of the most studied lichen taxa for their phylogeny, secondary chemistry, bioactivities and uses in folk medicines, especially the lichen Cetraria islandica. However, insufficient structure elucidation and discrepancy in bioactivity results could be found in a few studies. Purpose This review aimed to present a more detailed and updated overview of the knowledge of secondary metabolites from cetrarioid lichens in a critical manner, highlighting their potentials for pharmaceuticals as well as other applications. Here we also highlight the uses of molecular phylogenetics, metabolomics and ChemGPS-NP model for future bioprospecting, taxonomy and drug screening to accelerate applications of those lichen substances. Chapters The paper starts with a short introduction in to the studies of lichen secondary metabolites, the biological classification of cetrarioid lichens and the aim. In light of ethnic uses of cetrarioid lichens for therapeutic purposes, molecular phylogeny is proposed as a tool for future bioprospecting of cetrarioid lichens, followed by a brief discussion of the taxonomic value of lichen substances. Then a delicate description of the bioactivities, patents, updated chemical structures and lichen sources is presented, where lichen substances are grouped by their chemical structures and discussed about their bioactivity in comparison with reference compounds. To accelerate the discovery of bioactivities and potential drug targets of lichen substances, the application of the ChemGPS NP model is highlighted. Finally the safety concerns of lichen substances (i.e. toxicity and immunogenicity) and future-prospects in the field are exhibited. Conclusion While the ethnic uses of cetrarioid lichens and the pharmaceutical potential of their secondary metabolites have been recognized, the knowledge of a large number of lichen substances with interesting structures is still limited to various in vitro assays with insufficient biological annotations, and this area still deserves more research in bioactivity, drug targets and screening. Attention should be paid on the accurate interpretation of their bioactivity for further applications avoiding over-interpretations from various in vitro bioassays.

Arctic environment is very sensitive to anthropogenic pollutants, especially in terms of radionuclide contamination which persists in polar regions due to very slow biological turnover rate. The main aim of the study was to determine concentrations of 137Cs in selected cryptogamic species (bryophytes and lichens) in different areas of Svalbard archipelago in the period 1985–2017 and thus recognize the level of 137Cs contamination in Svalbard as well as to indicate the best fallout originated radionuclide bioindicators in the Arctic region. The 137Cs activity was measured in 31 samples of cryptogams (Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach., Cetrariella delisei (Bory ex Schaer.) Karnefelt & A. Thell, Flavocetraria nivalis (L.) Karnefelt & A. Thell, Ptilidium ciliare (L.) Hampe, Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid., Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske, Sphaerophorus globosus (Huds.) Vain.) collected between 1985 and 2017 at six different locations in Svalbard: Adventdalen, Bellsund, Kaffioyra, Ny-Alesund, Petuniabukta, and Sorkapp Land. Analyses showed that species R. lanuginosum and C. delisei can be recommended as the best bioindicators of changes in radioactivity level in the Arctic region.

An elemental and radiological characterization was performed on Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. pharmaceutical and food supplementation products purchased in local specialty shops in Italy. Essential elements (K, Ca, P, S, Cl, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Br, I) and nonessential or toxic elements (Al, Ti, Si, Rb, Sr, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb) were determined by Energy Dispersive Polarized X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry; natural radionuclides (238U, 234U, 230Th, 210Po, 232Th, and 228Th) were determined by alpha spectrometry. The results show that C. islandica, whose nutritional value was assessed referring to recommended nutrient intakes, could serve as an important source of essential elements. Moreover, as expected, lichens concentrate airborne 210Po, whose activity ranged from 132 to 489 Bq kg- 1 dw. This value was much higher than those reported by UNSCEAR for leafy vegetables in the world. In addition, total As and Cd were < 1 mg kg- 1 dw and Pb mean concentration was 9.25 mg kg- 1 dw. Health risks associated with the toxic elements contained in C. islandica (L.) products were calculated using risk estimators. Their contribution to total elemental intake does not appear to pose a threat, but the concentrations of these elements should be continuously monitored to protect consumers against potential adverse health effects.