Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Emission,Xanthophyll Cycle Activity,and Net Photosynthetic Rate Responses to Ozone in Some Foliose and Fruticose Lichen Species

The lichens Parmelia quercina, Parmelia sulcata, Evernia prunastri, Hypogymnia physodes, and Anaptychia ciliaris were exposed to ozone (O₃) in controlled environment cuvettes designed to maintain the lichens at optimal physiological activity during exposure. Measurements of gas exchange, modulated chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and pigment analysis were conducted before and after exposure to 300 mm³ (O₃) m^–3, 4 h per d for 14 d. No changes in the efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemistry, the reduction state of Q_A, or the electron flow through PS2, measured by Chl fluorescence, were detected in any of the five lichen species studied. Additionally, neither photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation nor xanthophyll cycle activity or photosynthetic pigment concentration were affected by high O₃ concentrations. Thus the studied lichen species have significant capacities to withstand oxidative stresses induced by high concentration of O₃.     

A Fourier Transform-Raman Spectroscopic Study of Lichen Strategies on Granite Monuments

The biodeterioration of granite by Lecidea fuscoatra (L.) Ach., Porpidia cinereoatra (Ach.) Hertel & Knoph, and P. macrocarpa (DC.) Hertel & Schwab growing in the same environmental conditions has been studied by using Fourier transform-Raman spectroscopy. Results were significantly different for the three species, with P. cinereoatra being the most active biodeteriorative lichen. This lichen was also the only one in which calcium oxalate and gypsum were identified spectroscopically. Physical disturbances to the substratum were evidenced in all lichens studied by the incoporation of material, such as quartz and feldspar, into their thalli, but this phenomenon varied considerably from species to species. The results indicate that lichen species can adopt different strategies and can have different biodeteriorative effects on granite, independently of environmental conditions and substrate.     

新疆博格达山岩面生地衣群落结构特征

根据对新疆博格达山岩面生地衣群落20个样点(20m×20m)调查的数据,以各地衣种的盖度为指标结合双向指示种分析方法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析法(DCA)对博格达山岩面生地衣群落进行数量分类并分析了群落结构特征及其多样性和相似性。采用典范对应分析法(CCA)对各群落的物种分布格局与环境因子的关系进行研究。结果表明,TWINSPAN分析和DCA排序将分布在博格达山的37种岩面生地衣分为以下5个群丛。群丛1:斑纹网衣(Lecidea tessellate Florke)+粉芽盾衣(Peltula euploca(Ach.)Poelt)+杜瑞氏黄梅(Xanthoparmelia durietzii Hale)群丛,有25个种,总覆盖度为30.145%,多样性为4.025;群丛2:袋衣(Hypogymnia physodes(L.)Nyl.)+白边平茶渍(Aspicilia sublaqueata(H.Magn.)J.C.Wei)+砖孢胶衣(Collema subconveniens Nyl.)群丛,有17个种,地衣总盖度为15.885%,多样性为3.196;群丛3:聚茶渍(Lecanora accumulate H.Magn.)+丽石黄衣(Xanthoria elegans(Link)Th.Fr.)+亚洲平茶渍(Aspicilia asiatica(H.Magn.)Yoshim.)群丛,有30个种,地衣总盖度为37.87%,多样性为4.357;群丛4:中华石果衣(Endocarpon sinense H.Magn.)+伴藓大孢蜈蚣衣(Physconia muscigena(Ach.)Poelt.)+垫脐鳞衣(Rhizoplaca melanophthalma(DC.)LeuckertPoelt)群丛,有24个种,地衣总盖度为30.458%,多样性为3.912;群丛5:石胶衣(Collema flaccidum(Ach.)Ach.)+短绒皮果衣(Dermatocarpon vellereum Zschacke)+绿黑地图衣(Rhizocarpon viridiatrum(Wulfen)Korber.)群丛,有18个种,地衣总盖度为19.331%,多样性为3.515。CCA排序结果反映,该地区岩面生地衣的分布与海拔高度、光照强度、岩石pH和人为干扰有关,其中影响最大的因素是海拔高度,其次为光照强度和干扰。坡向和岩石大小对地衣种类分布的影响不显著。     

Predicting lichen hydration using biophysical models

Two models for predicting the hydration status of lichens were developed as a first step towards a mechanistic lichen productivity model. A biophysical model included the water potential of the air, derived from measurements of air temperature, relative humidity and species-specific rate constants for desiccation and rehydration. A reduced physical model, included only environmental parameters, assuming instantaneous equilibration between the lichen and the air. These models were developed using field and laboratory data for three green algal lichens: the foliose epiphytic Platismatia glauca (L.) W. Culb., the fruticose epiphytic Alectoria sarmentosa (Ach.) Ach. and the fruticose, terricolous and mat-forming Cladina rangiferina (L.) Weber ex Wigg. The models were compared and validated for the same three species using data from a habitat with a different microclimate. Both models predicted the length and timing of lichen hydration periods, with those for A. sarmentosa and P. glauca being highly accurate—nearly 100% of the total wet time was predicted by both the biophysical and physical models. These models also predicted an accurate timing of the total realized wet time for A. sarmentosa and P. glauca when the lichens were wet. The model accuracy was lower for C. rangiferina compared to the epiphytes, both for the total realized wet time and for the accuracy of the timing for the hydration period. These results demonstrate that the stochastic and continually varying hydration status of lichens can be simulated from biophysical data. Further development of these models to also include water-related activity, light and temperature conditions during the hydration events will then be a potent tool to assess potential lichen productivity in landscapes and habitats of various microclimatic conditions.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of some lichen species

The aim of the research is to explore the overall in vitro antioxidant activity, total phenol content, reduction power and antimicrobial activity of the methanol extracts of the lichens Cetraria pinastri, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia fimbriata, Fulgensia fulgens, Ochrolechia parella and Parmelia crinita. The methanol extract of the Cetraria pinastri showed a strong antioxidant activity, whereas the extracts of the species Fulgenesi fulgens, Cladonia fimbriata and Parmelia crinita showed the moderate one and the extract of the species Ochrolechia parella and Cladonia digitata the weak one. The methanol extract of the lichen Cetraria pinastri had the biggest total phenol content (32.9 mg/g of the dry extract). A certain correlation was established between the antioxidant activity and the total phenol content for the researched lichen extracts. The work also explores the antimicrobial activity of the methanol extracts of the mentioned species of lichens against six bacterial and eleven fungi species by the disc-diffusion method and by establishing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The methanol extracts of the lichens Cetraria pinastri and Parmelia crinita showed the strongest both antibacterial and antifungal activity against most of the tested microorganisms. These researches suggest that the lichens Cetraria prunastri can be used as new sources of the natural antioxidants and the substances with antimicrobial features.     

Ecological traits of the lichen flora of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (Yugra)

A lichen biodiversity study conducted in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (district) reports 958 species in 199 genera and 72 families. Cetrelia alaskana (Llano) W. L. Culb. et C. F. Culb. is new to West Siberia; Graphis elegans (Borrer ex Sm.) Ach., Porpidia hydrophila (Fr.) Hertel et A. J. Schwab, and Sclerococcum sphaerale (Ach.) Fr. are new to Siberia; Acarospora fusca B. de Lesd., Cliostomum tenerum (Nyl.) Coppins et S. Ekman, Pertusaria corallina (L.) Arnold, and P. stalactiza Nyl. are new to Russia. High diversity of epilithic lichens is ecologically due to a variety of ecotopes that include mountain habitats on the eastern spurs of the Subarctic and Northern Urals in addition to plain ones.     

Changes in in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in lichen thalli as a function of water content and suggestion of zeaxanthin-associated photoprotection

The function of photosystem II (PSII) during desiccation was investigated via analysis of Chl a fluorescence emission in thalli from Parmelia quercina (Willd.) Vainio, Parmelia acetabulum (Necker) Duby, Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach., Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf., and Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. Water loss followed the same exponential pattern in all these species, the half time being dependent on species. Desiccation affected the fluorescence parameters. Dark-adapted maximum fluorescence (F_m), instantaneous fluorescence (F_o) and the ratio of variable (F_m–F_o) to F_m were dependent on water content and decreased in two distinct phases: a slow and apparently linear phase, followed by a more steep decline at low water content. Actual PSII photochemical yield (φ_PSII), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), efficiency of photon capture (φ_exc), and photochemical quenching (q_p) remained nearly constant until 30% relative water content (RWC), decreasing rapidly thereafter. In contrast, increased NPQ appeared to occur only at water content values lower than 20%. Treatment of thalli with dithiothreitol (DTT) effectively reduced NPQ during desiccation and increased susceptibility to photoinhibition caused by exposure to high light as measured by dark recovery of the F_vF_m ratio. HPLC analysis showed that the level of the de-epoxidized xanthophyll cycle pigments antheraxanthin (Anth) and zeaxanthin (Zea) increased during lichen desiccation. The results point towards the existence of a photoprotective mechanism with the involvement of Zea and Anth in non-radiative dissipation of the desiccation-induced excess of energy.     

Peculiarities of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte plasma membranes of the black sea fish

The phospholipid and the fatty acid composition of the main phospholipid families of erythrocyte plasma membranes was studied in two species of cartilaginous fish: the common thrasher (Raja clavata L.) and the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) and in three bony fish species: the scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus L.), the smarida (Spicara flexuosa Raf.), and the horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus Aleev). It was shown that in the studied fish, 70.0–80.0% of all membrane phospholipids were composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine, monophosphoinositide, and sphingomyelin were minor components whose content in the erythrocyte membrane fluctuated from 3.0% to 13.0%. The fatty acid phospholipids composition was represented by a large specter of acids. From saturated acids, basic for plasma membranes are palmitic (C16: 0) and stearic (C18: 0) acids. From unsaturated acids, the larger part belongs to mono-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaenoic acids in fish phospholipids. The calculation of the double bond index and of the unsaturation coefficient showed difference in the deformation ability of erythrocyte membranes of the studied fish.     

Effects of SO2 fumigations on photosynthetic CO2 gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence emission and antioxidant enzymes in the lichens Evernia prunastri and Ramalina farinacea

The effects of elevated gaseous SO₂ concentrations in the lichens Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. were investigated by means of gas exchange, modulated chlorophyll fluorescence analysis and antioxidant enzyme assays. The response to SO₂ of the studied species differed markedly. Net photosynthetic rates were more adversely affected in E. prunastri than in R. farinacea . In addition, processes dependent on thylakoid membrane integrity such as PSII-mediated electron flow and nonphotochemical quenching were reduced to a greater extent by exposure to SO₂ in E. prunastri . Moreover, the ability to reoxidize the quinone pool was lower in this species. Finally, the activity of chloroplastidic and cytoplasmic antioxidant enzymes was decreased in E. prunastri in response to fumigations but increased in R. farinacea . The results suggest that the ability to process and deal with the SO₂ once it has been absorbed must play a role in determining the sensitivity of these lichen species to this air pollutant.     

Lipid and Fatty Acid composition of chloroplast envelope membranes from species with differing net photosynthesis

Lipid and fatty acid compositions were determined for chloroplast envelope membranes isolated from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) leaves. The lipid composition was similar in sunflower, spinach, and undifferentiated maize chloroplast envelope membranes and different in maize mesophyll chloroplast envelope membranes. The predominant lipid constituents in all envelope membranes were monogalactosyldiglyceride (27 to 46%), digalactosyldiglyceride (18 to 33%), and phosphatidylcholine (7 to 30%). The fatty acid composition was also similar in sunflower and spinach chloroplast envelope membranes in comparison to those from maize. The major acyl fatty acids of the chloroplast envelope membrane were palmitic (C_16:0, 41 and 36%) and linolenic (C_18:3, 29 and 40%) acids for spinach and sunflower; palmitic (77%) and stearic (C_18:0, 12%) acids for young maize; and palmitic (61%), stearic (14%), and linolenic (13%) acids for mature maize. The differences in lipid and acyl fatty acid compositions among these plants which vary in their rates of net photosynthesis were largely quantitative rather than qualitative.     

天山森林生态系统树生地衣植物群落数量分类及其物种多样性的研究

地衣是由低等植物中的藻类与菌类中的真菌和兰细菌共生而成的一群特殊的植物。由于耐寒耐旱对生活中的养分要求不高,在养纷贫瘠、环境恶劣的高山寒漠、平原、戈壁和沙漠中地衣都能生长,因而广泛地分布和生长在不同的生态环境中。有关新疆地衣方面的研究报道集中在物种分类水平上,对于地衣群落结构方面的研究比较少。因此,我们应用多元分析中的主分量分析及聚类分析方法对分布在天山森林生态系统中树生地衣植物群落进行数量分类并对群落结构物种多样性、相似性和均匀度等群落参数进行了比较系统的研究。结果表明, 在西部天山不同森林生态系统中树生地衣群落的分布与海拔高度和树种有密切的关系, 不同海拔的不同类型的森林生态系统中分布着不同种类的树生地衣植物。 根据多元分析结果和生境的综合特征,该地区的树生地衣可划分为4种类型: 1) 茎口果粉衣+金黄茶衣群丛Chaenotheca stemonea+Candellaria aurella Association; 2)叉小孢衣+裸扁枝衣+粉唇蜈蚣衣群丛Bryoria furcellata+Evernia esorediosa+Physcia tribacoides Association; 3)亚广开梅衣+槽梅衣+疑小梅衣群丛Parmelia fertilis+Parmelia sulcata+Parmeliopsis ambigua Association; 4)睫毛黑蜈蚣衣+黑蜈蚣衣群丛Phaeophyscia ciliata+Phaeophyscia nigricans Association。其群落多样性指数以亚广开梅衣+槽梅衣+疑小梅衣群丛为最高 (1.920), 叉小孢衣+裸扁枝衣+粉唇蜈蚣衣群丛为最低 (1.562)。     

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the lichens <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasallia pustulata,Parmelia sulcata,Umbilicaria crustulosa</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Umbilicaria cylindrica</Emphasis>

The antimicrobial properties of acetone, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the lichens Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia sulcata, Umbilicaria crustulosa, and Umbilicaria cylindrica were studied comparatively in vitro. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts of different lichens were estimated by the disk diffusion test for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungal organisms, as well as by determining the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). The obtained results showed that the acetone and methanol extracts of Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia sulcata, and Umbilicaria crustulosa manifest antibacterial activity against the majority of species of bacteria tested, in addition to selective antifungal activity. The MIC of lichen extracts was lowest (0.78 mg/ml) for the acetone extract of Lasallia pustulata against Bacillus mycoides. Aqueous extracts of all of the tested lichens were inactive. Extracts of the lichen Umbilicaria cylindrica manifested the weakest activity, inhibiting only three of the tested organisms.     

Emittentenbezogene Flechtenkartierung auf Grund von Frequenzuntersuchungen

Zusammenfassung Bisherige Flechtenkartierungsmethoden ermöglichen meist nur die qualitative Erfassung relativ großer Unterschiede der Immissionsintensität. Mit der dargestellten Methode der Frequenzbestimmung aller häufigen Flechtenarten an jedem einzelnen Baumstamm werden auch sehr kleine Immissionsunterschiede festgestellt, und es ist quantitative Abstufung möglich.Untersucht werden die an den Stämmen freistehender Bäume wachsenden Flechten in der Umgebung von Emittenten. Die Frequenzbestimmung erfolgt mit Hilfe einer Leiter aus zehn Feldern; die Auswertung wird elektronisch durchgeführt und ermöglicht statistische Aussagen über die Flechtenhäufigkeit. Bei dem ausgewerteten Zahlenmaterial handelt es sich nicht um Schätzwerte, sondern um reproduzierbare Daten, deren Feststellungsmethode so standardisiert ist, daß sie als Routineverfahren geeignet sein dürfte.In einem Beispiel wird das Vorkommen einiger Flechtenarten in der Umgebung eines Kalibergwerkes beschrieben. Unterschiedlich stark beeinflußte Zonen werden an der veränderten Häufigkeit verschieden empfindlicher Arten erkannt. Die folgenden Arten zeigen steigende Empfindlichkeit gegenüber der betrachteten Immission: Parmelia sulcata, Parmelia dubia, Hypogymnia physodes, Evernia prunastri, Pseudevernia furfuracea.

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Mapping of lichen frequencies as a tool in evaluating intensity of pollution

Summary With the hitherto existing methods of mapping lichen distribution usually only a qualitative record of only relatively great differences in the intensity of pollution is possible. By the following method of evaluating the frequency of the lichen species on individual trunks even very small differences in intensity of pollution can be detected, and quantitative gradation is possible. The lichens growing on the trunks of isolated trees in the surroundings of factories or other pollutants have been investigated. A ladder enclosing ten panels is used to determine the frequency: the calculation is made electronically and permits statistical statements about the quantity of the lichens to be made. The numerical material evaluated consists of reproduceable data obtained by a standardized method that appears to be suitable for routine use.As an example the occurrence of some lichen species in the surroundings of a potassium chloride mine is shown. Zones can be recognized by changes in frequency of the variously sensitive species. The following species show increasing sensitivity to the pollution under consideration: Parmelia sulcata, Parmelia dubia, Hypogymnia physodes, Evernia prunastri, Pseudevernia furfuracea.

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Vortrag, gehalten auf der Tagung der Gesellschaft für Ökologie in Konstanz.     

Differential absorption and esterification of dietary long‐chain fatty acids by larvae of the dragonfly,Aeshna cyanea

In order to evaluate whether dietary long‐chain fatty acids were differentially absorbed, Aeshna cyanea larvae received 5 μl oral doses containing combinations of two radiolabeled fatty acids at nearly equal radioactive and nmolar concentrations: (1) ³H‐oleic and ¹⁴C‐palmitic acids; (2) ³H‐oleic and ¹⁴C‐stearic acids; and (3) ³H‐palmitic and ¹⁴C‐stearic acids. After 3 h or 1 day, hemolymph samples, midgut tissue, midgut contents and fat body tissue were collected and assayed for labeled fatty acids. The ³H/¹⁴C ratios indicated that there was a preference for absorption of the monounsaturated oleic acid over both saturated palmitic and stearic acids and that the shorter palmitic acid was absorbed at a higher rate than the longer stearic acid. There were also differences in the ³H/¹⁴C ratios of the various lipid classes of the midgut wall, hemolymph, and fat body that reflected differential esterifications and transport of these fatty acids. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 40:183–193, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Screening the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the lichens Parmelia saxatilis, Platismatia glauca, Ramalina pollinaria, Ramalina polymorpha and Umbilicaria nylanderiana.

The aim of this study is to investigate in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts of Parmelia saxatilis (L) Ach., Platismatia glauca (L.) W.L. Club. & C.F. Culb., Ramalina pollinaria (Wesstr.) Ach., Ramalina polymorpha (Liljeblad) Ach. and Umbilicaria nylanderiana (Zahlbr.) H. Magn. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by two separate methods: scavenging of free radical DPPH and the inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation. Extracts of Parmelia saxatilis, Platismatia glauca., Ramalina pollinaria and Ramalina polymorpha did not exert any activity in both assays, whereas those of Umbilicaria nylanderiana provided 50% inhibition at 400.2 microg/ml concentration in the former and gave 53% inhibition at 2g/l concentration. Total phenolic constituents of extracts from lichen species tested (P. saxatilis, P. glauca, R. pollinaria, R. polymorpha and U. nylanderiana) were 1.0% (w/w), 1.1% (w/w), 1.0% (w/w), 0.8% (w/w) and (3.0% w/w), respectively (as gallic acid equivalent); implying that the observed activity could be related to the amount of polar phenolics. Extracts were also found to possess antimicrobial activity against some test bacteria and fungi and yeast.     

CONVERSION OF [1-14C]PALMITIC ACID TO [1-14C]HEXADECANOL BY DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN CELL-FREE PREPARATIONS

—The conversion of [l-¹⁴C]palmitic acid to [1-¹⁴C]hexadecanol has been demonstrated with a cell-free system from developing rat brain. ATP, Coenzyme A and Mg²⁺ were required for the activity. Fatty aldehyde was found to be an intermediate in this reaction. The conversion of fatty acid to fatty alcohol was mainly localized in the microsomal fraction and the formation of hexadecanol showed absolute specificity towards NADPH while fatty aldehyde was formed even in the absence of exogenous reduced pyridine nucleotides. The brain microsomes showed maximal activity with stearic acid and the activities with palmitic and oleic acids were 65% and 38% respectively of that with stearic acid. This enzymic reduction increased with age and showed a maximum in the 15-day old rat brain.     

Reducing power and radical scavenging activity of four Parmeliaceae species

The methanol extracts of four Parmeliaceae lichens (Hypogymnia physodes, Evernia prunastri, Flavoparmelia caperata and Parmelia sulcata) were screened for antioxidant properties and total phenol content. The H. physodes extract was the most effective at reducing iron(III) and scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, while the P. sulcata extract was the most effective in reducing molybdenum(VI) in an acidic medium. The E. prunastri and H. physodes extracts contained more Folin-Ciocalteu reagent reactive substances than the F. caperata and P. sulcata extracts. Significant activity of the H. physodes extract in DPPH and reducing Fe(III) assays suggest that this lichen can be considered as a potential source of antioxidants.     

Some effects of humidity on the light reaction of photosynthesis in the lichens Cladonia impexa and Collema flaccidium

Luminescence and fluorescence were measured at different relative humidities in the lichen Cladonia impexa Harm. Both parameters showed a constant value at relative humidities lower than 80%: thereafter they increased. Low relative humidity was found to decrease energy transfer from chlorophyll b to chlorophyll a. inhibit electron transport, lower electron holding capacity on the reduced side of photosystem two and impair far-red-induced afterglow, reflecting photophosphorylation. In Collema flaccidium Ach. Ach. energy transfer from the accessory pigments phycocyanin and phycoerythrin to chlorophyll a was only possible at high relative humidity. The results are interpreted as due to conformational changes caused by changed water content in the lichen.     

Growth temperature affects accumulation of exogenous fatty acids and fatty acid composition in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizosaccharomyces pombe</Emphasis>

The incorporation of exogenously supplied fatty acids, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, was examined in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe at two growth temperatures, 20 °C and 30 °C. Fatty acids supplied to S. pombe in the growth medium were found to be preferentially incorporated into the cells, becoming a dominant species. The relative increase in exogenous fatty acids in cells came at the expense of endogenous oleic acid as a proportion of total fatty acids. Lowering the temperature at which the yeast were grown resulted in decreased levels of incorporation of the fatty acids palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and linoleic acid compared to cells supplemented at 30 °C. In addition, the relative amount of the endogenously produced unsaturated fatty acid oleic acid, while greatly reduced compared to unsupplemented cells, was increased in cells supplemented with fatty acids at 20 °C compared to supplemented cells at 30 °C. The differential production of oleic acid in S. pombe cells indicates that regulation of unsaturated fatty acid levels, possibly by control of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase, is an important control point in membrane composition in response to temperature and diet in this species.