Márcia Isabel Käffer

Distribution and composition of the lichenized mycota in a landscape mosaic of southern Brazil

Lichenized fungi are epiphytic components of forest areas where anthropogenic activities may cause changes in species composition and spatial distribution. The aim of this work is to evaluate how the lichen community is distributed on native and planted vegetation, and also to investigate possible preferences of the lichen community for specific host trees related to bark pH values. A total of 120 host-trees distributed in 12 remnants of native and planted vegetation were analyzed: native Araucaria forest and Araucaria, pine and eucalyptus plantations. Additional samples of lichenized fungi were collected in all vegetation types and adjacent trails, using a non-systematic sampling protocol. One hundred thirteen taxa of lichenized fungi were recorded, of which 78 species originated from the survey comparing the four habitats and 35 were added by additional collections. The highest species diversity was recorded in the Araucaria plantation while the greatest occurrence of shade tolerant taxa was found in the native Araucaria forest type. The largest number of lichen taxa was recorded on host-trees with basic bark pH. The wide variety of lichen community composition and distribution registered may be related to the host-tree characteristics found in these areas.

Liquens como bioindicadores da qualidade do ar numa área de termoelétrica, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Os liquens sao reconhecidos por serem muito sensiveis a poluicao atmosferica, sendo assim sua utilizacao como indicadores biologicos da qualidade ambiental, tem sido um procedimento cada vez mais amplo. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do monitoramento passivo realizado na area de abrangencia de uma usina termoeletrica, na regiao sul do Brasil. Os liquens foram avaliados em cinco pontos da usina onde foi amostrado um total de 50 forofitos. Foram registrados 45 taxons, cinco destes sao citados na literatura como bioindicadores da qualidade do ar. As areas amostradas nao apresentam condicoes adequadas para o estabelecimento e desenvolvimento da micota liquenizada, pois sofrem influencia antropica direta. A ocorrencia de especies tolerantes a poluicao pode ser explicada pelo desaparecimento das especies mais sensiveis, proporcionando mais espaco para o seu desenvolvimento.

A world key to Stirtonia ( Arthoniaceae ), with three new Stirtonia species and one new Crypthonia species from the Neotropics

A world key to the 21 species of Stirtonia is presented. Three new Stirtonia species are described from the Neotropics: Stirtonia ibirapuitensis Aptroot, Kaffer & S. M. Martins, with whitish to cream amoeboid ascigerous areas with lichexanthone on a greenish thallus without lichexanthone and ascospores of 27-32 � 9� 5-12� 5 mm; Stirtonia punctiformis Aptroot & Sipman, with ascigerous structures of thallus colour, consisting of one or more brown asci with brown walls with surrounding tissue, in groups or irregular lines and brown ascospores 61-73 � 27-35 mm; and Stirtonia viridis Aptroot, L. I. Ferraro, Sipman & M. Caceres, with ascigerous structures mostly linear, branched and anastomosing, whitish, and contrasting with the often greenish thallus and with ascospores 50- 58 � 15-22 mm. In addition, a specimen of S. neotropica is reported that contains some patches of lichexanthone, S. curvata is reported new to the Neotropics from Brazil and the Netherlands Antilles, and S. nivea is reported new to the Northern Hemisphere from Puerto Rico. Also, Crypthonia divarica- tica Aptroot & Sipman, with an irregular, thick thallus with divaricatic and usnic acids and flat white ascigerous areas and macrocephalic 5-9-septate ascospores 20-27 � 9� 5-12� 5 mm is described from Mexico. While only one Stirtonia species was known from the Neotropics as recently as 2009, the total number of Stirtonia species known from the Neotropics is now 12, an equal number to the 12 species that are known from the Palaeotropics.

A new hairy Leptogium (section Mallotium) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

A new hairy Leptogium (section Mallotium) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil). The hairs of Leptogium species are complex structures which determine taxonomic groups within the section Mallotium. The hairs composed of cylindrical cells can be short and, when present on the surface, give origin to glass-or velvet-like hairs. Leptogium involutum, collected in Southern Brazil, a new species with velvet-like hairs is described herewith.

Evaluation of the environmental quality of a protected riparian forest in Southern Brazil

Las areas de proteccion ambiental (APA) son de importancia para la conservacion de las especies y su establecimiento. Se investigaron diferentes areas de bosques riberenos en el area de proteccion ambiental de Ibirapuita, sur de Brasil. Se analizo la calidad ambiental de estas areas de la comunidad liquenica, utilizando el indice de pureza atmosferica (IPA), con el factor de clasificacion ambiental (FCA) como el factor de correccion. La comunidad liquenica fue analizada en 12 sitios del bosque ribereno ubicados en la region sur de la APA. Se registraron los liquenes en 60 arboles, de 50 cm a 150 cm sobre suelo, en las exposiciones norte y sur. Se utilizo el analisis de conglomerados para verificar cambios en la similitud de especies liquenicas entre los diferentes sitios del bosque. Se registro un total de 193 especies de liquenes. Los sitios fueron clasificados en zonas pobres, de transicion y normal para el desarrollo de los liquenes. El analisis de conglomerados mostro grupos distintos, lo que demuestra diferencias en la composicion de especies entre los sitios del bosque. En el 80 % de los sitios se registraron especies de liquenes indicadoras. En las zonas mas conservadas se registro mayor riqueza de especies, mayor numero de especies fructicosas, ademas de la presencia de especies del genero Lobaria. La preservacion de las areas de proteccion ambiental es esencial para la conservacion de la biodiversidad. Los resultados obtenidos confirman que el uso del indice de pureza atmosferica con FCA permite evaluar la calidad ambiental de las areas forestales.

Fungos liquenizados da Mata Atlântica, no sul do Brasil

The results of a survey based on data of lichenized fungi collections from some localities in the Atlantic Rainforest of South Brazil are presented. A total of 88 taxa distributed in 18 families and 36 genera were identified; from these, two are new records for Brazil and one is a new occurrence for the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

A new, locally common Graphis (Graphidaceae) species from southern Brazil

Abstract The new lichen species Graphis obtectostriata is described from Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. It is characterized by lirellae that are almost totally covered by thallus, but are striate underneath, and long, transversely septate ascospores. All species so far known with similar ascomata, the so-called consanguinea-morph, have muriform ascospores.

Composição da comunidade liquênica em floresta ribeirinha na APA do Ibirapuitã, RS, Brasil

Lichen community composition in riparian forest in the APA of Ibirapuita, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil). The lichens are part of an extremely diverse group and are important components in forested areas. The aim of this study is to analyze the lichen species composition and investigate the phytosociological patterns of taxa occurring in riparian forest, in the APA of Ibirapuita, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The mapping of lichen species was performed using the acetate method, in 60 phorophytes distributed in 12 riparian forest areas. Two hundred fifty-four lichenized fungi taxa were recorded, of which 199 were registered in the quantitative study, with two new species to science, three new citations for Brazil and 14 new records for the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The species Heterodermia obscurata (Nyl.) Trev. was the most important in the community, showing the highest value of importance, frequency, and coverage. The environmental quality of some riparian forest areas, associated with the availability of appropriate phorophyte and microclimate conditions of forest areas are factors that contributed to the results. The preservation of riparian forests in the analyzed areas is of vital importance to ensure the biodiversity of species, but also for the protection of watercourses of Ibirapuita River and its tributaries.

Morphophysiological variation and metal concentration in the thallus of Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale between urban and forest areas in the subtropical region of Brazil

Anthropic activities such as the emission of pollutants resulting from industrial and agropastoral activities promote several changes in urban and forest areas. Lichens are organisms that are used in air quality evaluations due to their sensitivity to these changes. The aim of this study is to analyze the presence of morphophysiological damages and the metal concentration in samples of the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum, in urban and forest areas, checking for possible parameter variations between these areas, in the different matrices and seasons in the Southern region of Brazil. Six areas were selected (urban and forest), assigned to the rural/urban and urban/industrial matrices belonging to the watershed of the Rio dos Sinos, Brazil. The following parameters were analyzed: Index of photobiont vitality (IPV), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll, carotene, and pheophytin) and metals (Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Ni) in the thallus of the lichen. The data were analyzed by an ANOVA one way, Pearson correlation test, and principal component analysis (PCA). Variations in the morphophysiological parameters were recorded in all the areas revealing significant differences. The lowest IPV values and highest concentration of metals were recorded in the urban environment, while low chlorophyll levels were found in the forest areas. The PCA showed a distinction between the areas and the season. The level of urbanization, vehicle traffic, and the weather conditions might have influenced the results. The use of P. tinctorum, the index of photobiont vitality and chlorophyll and pheophytin content, has proved to be an efficient tool to diagnose the air quality in the areas analyzed, allowing its use as a model in air monitoring studies, both in urban and forest areas, as well as in distinct matrices in the subtropical region.

Bulbothrix bulbillosa, a Presumed Galapagos Endemic, is common in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (Parmeliaceae, Lichenized Ascomycota)

Bulbothrix bulbillosa is recorded for the first time in Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State. The species was described recently from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and known only from the type locality. All specimens found belong to the gyrophoric acid chemotype, whereas material from Galapagos contains either gyrophoric or lecanoric acid. Bulbate cilia / Bulbothrix fungicola / Bulbothrix goebelii / Bulbothrix laevigatula / isidia