Soon Ok Oh

New additions to lichen mycota of the republic of Korea.

Abstract The current study describes seven species that are new to the lichen mycota of South Korea. A taxonomic description of Arthonia excipienda, A. radiata, Arthothelium ruanum, Enterographa leucolyta, Fissurina elaiocarpa, Rinodina oleae, and Thelotrema porinaceum was given and supported by distribution, ecology, and illustrations. Each species was compared with a species showing close resemblance.

Leiorreuma exaltatum and Trapelia coarctata, New to Korean Lichen Flora

Abstract The present account briefly describes two crustose lichen species new to South Korea. Detailed taxonomic descriptions of Leiorreuma exaltatum and Trapelia coarctata, supported by distribution, ecology and illustrations, are provided. Both species were collected from warm-temperate, humid forests of Jeju Island.

Contributions to the foliicolous lichens flora of South Korea.

Abstract South Korea is covered primarily by temperate vegetation; therefore, foliicolous lichens may not be expected to play an important role in its lichen flora. However, this study describes four foliicolous lichen species, Strigula concreta, S. macrocarpa, S. melanobapha, and S. subelegans, which are new to South Korea. These findings will lead to further research on foliicolous lichens and provide a better understanding of their distribution within the East Asian region. This is the first detailed report on foliicolous lichens and their distribution in South Korea.

Three New Records of Lichen Genera Opegrapha and Phaeographis from the Republic of Korea

This paper provides a description of Opegrapha herbarum, Opegrapha viridis and Phaeographis subdividens, all newly identified in the Republic of Korea. The characteristic features of O. herbarum include Varia-type asci, Subelevata-type ascospores, a lack of secondary metabolites and a saxicolous habitat. O. viridis possesses Calcarea-type asci, Vulgata-type ascospores and no chemicals in the thallus. P. subdividens is recognizable by its curved to sinuous lirellae, divergent labia, a brown and uniformly thick proper exciple which is open at its base, 3~4-septate ascospores, and lack of secondary metabolites. All three taxa are now reported to exist on Bogil Island in the Republic of Korea.

Notes on the Lichen Genus Leptogium (Collemataceae, Ascomycota) in South Korea

Abstract Leptogium (Ach.) Gray is distributed throughout South Korea; however, for nearly two decades no detailed taxonomic or revisionary research on this lichen genus has been conducted. This study examined the specimens deposited in the lichen herbarium at the Korean Lichen Research Institute, and samples were identified using descriptions recently published in the scientific literature. In this revisionary study, a total of fourteen species of Leptogium were documented, including new records of Leptogium delavayi Hue, Leptogium denticulatum Nyl., and Leptogium trichophoroides P. M. Jørg. & A. K. Wallace. Detailed descriptions of each species are given, including their morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics. A key to all Leptogium species known to occur in South Korea is also presented.

New Species and New Records of Buellia (Lichenized Ascomycetes) from Jeju Province, South Korea

Abstract A new species and 2 new records of lichen genus Buellia were discovered from Chuja-do Island in Jeju Province during a recent floristic survey: B. chujana X. Y. Wang, S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös & J.-S. Hur sp. nov., B. halonia (Ach.) Tuck., and B. mamillana (Tuck.) W. A. Weber. The new species is characterized by a brown, areolate thallus, the presence of perlatolic acid, and a saxicolous habitat. Together with previously recorded species, 10 Buellia species were confirmed from Jeju-do Island. Among these species, 3 growing in the exposed rocky area contained xanthone (yellowish lichen thallus, UV + orange), indicating that production of xanthone in this genus might be a defense strategy against the harm of UV light. Although the genus Buellia has been thoroughly studied in Korea before, novel species have been discovered continuously, and large species diversity has been found in this crustose genus, even from a small rocky island. This study indicates that the coastal area harbors a vast number of crustose lichen species, and there is great potential to discover unknown lichens in the coastal rocky area in Korea.

First Report of the Lichen Species, Heterodermia flabellata (Fée) D. D. Awasthi, and Updated Taxonomic Key of Heterodermia in South Korea

Heterodermia flabellata (Fée) D. D. Awasthi was found as a new lichen record in Jeju Island of South Korea in 2012. A detailed taxonomic description and comments are provided for the taxa. An updated key for all recorded species of Heterodermia from South Korea is given.

Evaluation of air quality using lichens in three different types of forest in Korea

There is little available information on lichen diversity and air quality in forests in South Korea. To address this, the present study aims to correlate corticolous lichen diversity with air quality in selected forests in South Korea. Two sites located on Jeju Island and one site located at Mt. Hambaek, Kangwon Province were selected for this study. Twenty trees representing two species (Quercus sp. and Pinus japonica) were chosen at each site. The coverage and frequency of corticolous lichens found on the selected trees were recorded by using 2500 cm2 grids. Ambient SO2, NO2, and O3 levels at each site were determined using Ogawa™ passive samplers having filter pads coated with absorbing reagents. Lichen diversity data collected on selected trees were used to formulate the index of atmospheric purity (IAP). A total of 65 lichen species were found. A negative correlation was observed between lichen diversity expressed as IAP and the concentrations of SO2, NO2, and O3 levels. The results revealed that corticolous lichens could be used as indicators to monitor the air quality of forests in South Korea on a large scale.

New Records of Xylaria Species in Korea: X. ripicola sp. nov. and X. tentaculata.

Abstract During a Korean mushroom diversity survey from 2011 to 2014, we found one new Xylaria species (X. ripicola sp. nov.) and one Xylaria species that had not been previously observed in Korea (X. tentaculata). To confirm the phylogenetic placement of the new species, we conducted a phylogenetic investigation based on internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA sequences. Additionally, the new species, X. ripicola, was subsequently analyzed for RNA polymerase II subunit sequences. We also evaluated the macroscopic and microscopic features of this species. Herein, X. ripicola is described as a new species that was collected from a natural beach habitat and X. tentaculata is formally reported as newly found in Korea.