The genus Hypocenomyce (Lecanorales, Lecideaceae), with special emphasis on the Norwegian and Swedish species

Ten species are recognized in the genus Hypocenomyce. Their morphology, anatomy, chemistry, and ecology are discussed, a key is provided, and their distribution in Norway and Sweden is mapped. Hypocenomyce australis Timdal and H. foveata Timdal are described as new, and the combinations H. castaneocinerea (Räsänen) Timdal and H. praestabilis (Nyl.) Timdal are proposed. The genus can be divided into four species groups on the basis of apothecial and conidial characters, type of pigment in the epithecium and pyenidial wall, and chemical properties of the thallus. The delimitation of the genus in relation to Lecidea s. lat. is in need of further elucidation.     

Phylogenetic affiliations of members of the heterogeneous lichen-forming fungi of the genus Lecidea sensu Zahlbruckner (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota)

The genus Lecidea Ach. sensu lato (sensu Zahlbruckner) includes almost 1200 species, out of which only 100 species represent Lecidea sensu stricto (sensu Hertel). The systematic position of the remaining species is mostly unsettled but anticipated to represent several unrelated lineages within Lecanoromycetes. This study attempts to elucidate the phylogenetic placement of members of this heterogeneous group of lichen-forming fungi and to improve the classification and phylogeny of Lecanoromycetes. Twenty-five taxa of Lecidea sensu lato and 22 putatively allied species were studied in a broad selection of 268 taxa, representing 48 families of Lecanoromycetes. Six loci, including four ribosomal and two protein-coding genes for 315- and 209-OTU datasets were subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. The resulting well supported phylogenetic relationships within Lecanoromycetes are in agreement with published phylogenies, but the addition of new taxa revealed putative rearrangements of several families (e.g. Catillariaceae, Lecanoraceae, Lecideaceae, Megalariaceae, Pilocarpaceae and Ramalinaceae). As expected, species of Lecidea sensu lato and putatively related taxa are scattered within Lecanoromycetidae and beyond, with several species nested in Lecanoraceae and Pilocarpaceae and others placed outside currently recognized families in Lecanorales and orders in Lecanoromycetidae. The phylogenetic affiliations of Schaereria and Strangospora are outside Lecanoromycetidae, probably with Ostropomycetidae. All species referred to as Lecidea sensu stricto based on morphology (including the type species, Lecidea fuscoatra [L.] Ach.) form, with Porpidia species, a monophyletic group with high posterior probability outside Lecanorales, Peltigerales and Teloschistales, in Lecanoromycetidae, supporting the recognition of order Lecideales Vain. in this subclass. The genus name Lecidea must be redefined to apply only to Lecidea sensu stricto and to include at least some members of the genus Porpidia. Based on morphological and chemical similarities, as well as the phylogenetic relationship of Lecidea pullata sister to Frutidella caesioatra, the new combination Frutidella pullata is proposed here.     

Cephalodiate Arten der GattungLecidea sensu lato (Ascomycetes lichenisati)

(1) The ability to produce cephalodia is usually a genus-specific character in lichens. (2)Lecidea shushanii Thoms., is a member of the genusTephromela, closely related toT. aglaea. It is not clear, whether or not the cephalodia of this taxon are true cephalodia or colonies of epiphytic cyanobacteria and whether or notLecidea shushanii is an independent species. (3)Lecidea dovrensis Nyl., is, in contrast to the traditional concept, not conspecific withLecidea alpestris Sommerf., but an earlier name forLecidea pallida Th. Fr. (4)Lecidea dovrensis is described in some detail. Chemically the species is characterized by the presence of isousnic acid (previously unknown in lecideoid lichens). It is restricted to areas north of the 60th parallel with an oceanic climate. (5) In connection with the attempt to clarify the taxonomic relationships ofLecidea dovrensis, figures of ascus apical structures of the following species are given (marked by an asterisk are genera where we found discrepancies with published data):Austrolecia antarctica, Catillaria chalybeia, Lecidea alpestris, L. caesioatra, L. limosa, Lecidoma demissum, Koerberiella wimmeriana, Micarea assimilata, M. crassipes, M. melaenida, M. prasina, Pilophorus robustus, Placodiella olivacea, Placolecis opaca, Porpidia trullisata, Protoblastenia rupestris, Psilolechia lucida, Psorula rufonigra, Squamarina gypsacea, Xanthopsorella texana. (6) Among crustaceous lichens we find no groups related toLecidea dovrensis. We supportTimal's concept of including this species in the genusPilophorus. Pilophorus, as well asLecidea dovrensis is characterized by the same ascus type, by a similar structure of thallus, cephalodia, paraphyses, and ascocarp (although there is no pseudopodetium developed inLecidea dovrensis), and the presence of isousnic acid. In addition, both taxa are restricted to cool oceanic climates and non-calciferous substrates. The following combination is proposed:Pilophorus dovrensis (Nyl.)Timdal, Hertel & Rambold, comb. nova. (7) The species of theLecidea alpestris-group form an independent genus, probably near toAustrolecia Hertel.

Frau Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess zu ihrem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Squamarina scopulorum (Lecanoraceae), a new lichen species from Norway

The new species Squamarina scopulorum Haugan & Timdal (sect. Petroplaca ) is described from Norway. It differs from the sympatric and morphologically closely similar species S. magnussonii and S. pachylepidea mainly in the color of the apothecial disc and in the thallus chemistry. The delimitation of the genus Squamarina and the family Squamarinaceae are briefly discussed.     

Savoronala, a new genus of Malmideaceae (Lecanorales) from Madagascar with stipes producing sporodochia

The new genus and species Savoronala madagascariensis is a lichenized hyphomycete characterized by its pale glaucous placodioid thallus with erect, short but robust stipes apically producing sporodochia with brown, subspherical conidia, whose cells are wrapped around a single chlorococcoid algal cell. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU and mtSSU sequences place Savoronala in the Malmideaceae (Lecanorales). The new species was collected on Erica stems and inhabits coastal dunes near Taolanaro (southeast Madagascar). Lecidea floridensis is shown to belong to Malmidea whereas Lecidea cyrtidia and L. plebeja are also resolved in the Malmideaceae. The genus Sporodochiolichen Aptroot & Sipman is reduced into synonymy with Tylophoron.     

Paxillus orientalis sp. nov. (Paxillaceae,Boletales) from south-western China based on morphological and molecular data and proposal of the new subgenus Alnopaxillus

The new species Paxillus orientalis is reported from Yunnan Province (south-western China). Based on morphological and molecular characters the novel taxon belongs to the sibling, holarctic alder-associated P. rubicundulus complex. Colour pictures of fresh basidiomes and line drawings are provided, accompanied by notes concerning its taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within the genus. The new subgenus Alnopaxillus is established to accommodate P. rubicundulus and allied undescribed taxa characterized by basidiomes usually associated with Alnus and with a distinctly areolate–squamulose pileal surface.     

新疆网衣属地衣中国新记录种（英文）

大量采集新疆各地网衣属（LecideaAch.）地衣标本,发现1个中国新记录种L.hypocrita,4个新疆新记录种L.berengeriana,L.confluens,L.lactea,L.lithophila。文中对这些新记录地衣进行了详细描述,并提供了反映地衣特征的彩色图片。     

Taxonomic study of the genus Brachybacterium: Brachybacterium nesterenkovii sp. nov.

A new species, Brachybacterium nesterenkovii, is proposed for a group of coryneform bacteria that were isolated from milk products. These organisms have morphological, biochemical, and chemotaxonomic characteristics that are peculiar to the genus Brachybacterium. In contrast to strains of the only previously described species of the genus, Brachybacterium faecium, the representatives of the new species lack glycine in their peptidoglycan, although the peptidoglycan is of the same general type, and have large amounts of rhamnose in their cells. The strains of B. nesterenkovii exhibit no serological relationship with strains of B. faecium; in a numerical phenotypic analysis the two species were easily separated and formed clear-cut clusters. DNA-DNA hybridization between the type strains of B. faecium and B. nesterenkovii showed a level of homology of 22%. Strain 35 (= IMV Ac-752) is the type strain of B. nesterenkovii.     

Gamma-proteobacteria Aquicella lusitana gen. nov., sp. nov., and Aquicella siphonis sp. nov. infect protozoa and require activated charcoal for growth in laboratory media

Several isolates, belonging to two new species of the same novel genus of gamma-proteobacteria, were recovered from drilled well (borehole) and spa water at S?o Gemil in central Portugal. These organisms are phylogenetically most closely related to the strictly intracellular uncultured species of the genus Rickettsiella, which cause disease in arthropods, and to the facultatively intracellular species of the genus Legionella, some of which cause Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. The S?o Gemil strains grew only on media containing charcoal, as is also true of the species of the genus LEGIONELLA: Unlike the vast majority of Legionella isolates, the new isolates did not require L-cysteine or ferric pyrophosphate for growth but like the legionellae had an absolute requirement for alpha-ketoglutarate. Strains SGT-39(T) and SGT-56 grew consistently between 30 and 43 degrees C, while strains SGT-108(T) and SGT-109 grew between 30 and 40 degrees C. The pH ranges for growth of these organisms were surprisingly narrow: strains SGT-39(T) and SGT-56 grew between pH 6.3 and 7.3, while strains SGT-108(T) and SGT-109 grew between pH 6.3 and 7.0. Both organisms proliferated in the amoeba Hartmannella vermiformis but did not grow in U937 human cells. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and physiological, biochemical, and chemical analysis we describe two new species of one novel genus; one species is represented by strain SGT-39(T), for which we propose the name Aquicella lusitana, while strain SGT-108(T) represents a second species of the same genus, for which we propose the name Aquicella siphonis.     

Three new species of the genus Peptostreptococcus isolated from humans: Peptostreptococcus vaginalis sp. nov., Peptostreptococcus lacrimalis sp. nov., and Peptostreptococcus lactolyticus sp. nov.

We describe three new species of the genus Peptostreptococcus which were isolated from human specimens and were tentatively identified as Peptostreptococcus prevotii. These three organisms were not homologous with previously described type strains of the genus Peptostreptococcus. A total of 12 strains that were identified biochemically as P. prevotii were divided into five independent DNA similarity groups; 10 of these strains were divided into three similarity groups which exhibited significant phenotypic differences from previously described species. Therefore, we propose the following new species: Peptostreptococcus vaginalis for group 1 strains, Peptostreptococcus lacrimalis for group 2 strains, and Peptostreptococcus lactolyticus for group 3 strains. The type strain of P. vaginalis is strain GIFU 12669 (= JCM 8138), the type strain of P. lacrimalis is strain GIFU 7667 (= JCM 8139), and the type strain of P. lactolyticus is strain GIFU 8586 (= JCM 8140).     

Taxonomy of four marine bacterial strains that produce tetrodotoxin

Four strains of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria isolated from a red alga and from pufferfish were characterized. Two of these strains are members of the genus Listonella MacDonell and Colwell. The phenotypic characteristics, guanine-plus-cytosine contents, and base sequences of the 16S rRNAs of these organisms indicated that they are members of Listonella pelagia (Vibrio pelagius) biovar II. The other two strains are members of the genus Alteromonas Baumann et al. and the genus Shewanella MacDonell and Colwell. These two strains are mutually distinct and distinct from the previously described Alteromonas and Shewanella species and therefore are placed in new species. The names Shewanella alga and Alteromonas tetraodonis are proposed for these organisms; the type strains are strains OK-1 and GFC, respectively.     

Chemotaxonomic differentiation of coryneform bacteria isolated from biofilters.

Coryneform bacteria that were isolated from biofilters which are used for waste gas treatment of animal-rendering plant emissions were differentiated and partially identified by using chemotaxonomic methods. On the basis of the results of a numerical analysis of whole-cell fatty acid profiles, 79 isolates were divided into two major groups; the members of the first group contained saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, whereas the members of the second group were characterized by iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids. Division into subclusters was based mainly on quantitative differences in fatty acid composition and was confirmed by the results obtained for additional chemical markers (e.g., respiratory quinones, mycolic acids, polar lipids, cell wall amino acids, and whole-cell sugar patterns). By combining the results obtained for chemotaxonomic analyses that were performed for strains containing saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, we were able to identify the genus Corynebacterium (two Corynebacterium species were differentiated on the basis of the occurrence of tuberculostearic acid), the genus Gordona, and the genus Mycobacterium. Among the strains that produced iso-anteiso fatty acid patterns, one subgroup was affiliated with the "nicotianae" group of the genus Arthrobacter; however, some strains contained a new combination of chemical markers. Peptidoglycan type A4 alpha, L-Lys-Gly-L-Glu was combined with menaquinones MK-7 and MK-8, whereas peptidoglycan type A4 alpha, L-Lys-L-Glu occurred together with MK-8 and MK-9. The second subgroup was characterized by a new type B peptidoglycan and MK-11, as well as small amounts of MK-12. Differentiation that was based first on chemotaxonomy and second on physiology gave reliable results. Thus, coryneform strains with new characteristics were isolated from biofilters.     

Waynea hirsuta, a new epiphytic lichen species from Central Siberia

A new lichen, Waynea hirsuta is described from the Tunkinsky range, Lake Bajkal region, Central Siberia. It has a squamulose, sorediate thallus, (0-) 1 (-3) septate spores, labriform soralia, and positive reactions to K and to N of epithecium, excipulum and upper cortex. The thalline squamules have a dense cover of hyaline hairs. The material was collected on the bark of old Populus balsamifera trees in a close stand of Pinus sibirica. The affinities with the other three species of the genus, and with some Hypocenomyce species are discussed.     

Photobiont Selectivity and Interspecific Interactions in Lichen Communities. I. Culture Experiments with the Mycobiont Fulgensia bracteata

Abstract: Lichen communities are characterised by interspecific interactions that not only include interactions between different lichen species but also between the symbionts within a single lichen species. The community “Bunte Erdflechtengesellschaft”, growing on weathered calciferous rocks known as Gravel Alvar on Gotland (Baltic Sea, Sweden), shows a high complexity of inter‐ and intraspecific interactions, including Fulgensia bracteata, F. fulgens, Toninia sedifolia, Squamarina cartilaginea, Psora decipiens and Lecidea lurida. F. bracteata and F. fulgens are the dominant species of this community, showing a tendency to overgrow the other species involved and even parasitic behaviour. Culture experiments have been performed to investigate the selectivity of the mycobiont of F. bracteata towards a variety of potential photobionts. The results provide evidence for the selectivity of the mycobiont and varying compatibility of the respective symbionts that can be interpreted as a cascade of interdependent processes of specific and non‐specific reactions of the symbionts involved.     

Generic and species concepts in Microglena (previously the Chlamydomonas monadina group) revised using an integrative approach

Traditionally the genus Microglena Ehrenberg has been used to contain species that belong to the Chrysophyceae; however, the type species of Microglena, M. monadina, represents a green alga, which was later transferred to the genus Chlamydomonas. The taxonomic status of the genus has therefore remained unclear. We investigated 15 strains previously assigned to C. monadina and two marine species (C. reginae and C. uva-maris) using an integrative approach. Phylogenetic analyses of SSU and ITS rDNA sequences revealed that all strains form a monophyletic lineage within the Chlorophyceae containing species from different habitats. The strains studied showed similar morphology with respect to cell shape and size, but showed differences in chloroplast and pyrenoid structures. Some representatives of this group have the same type of sexual reproduction (homothallic advanced anisogamy). Three different morphotypes could be recognized. Strains belonging to type I have a cup-shaped chloroplast with a massive basal part, in which a large, single, ellipsoidal pyrenoid is located. The members of type II also have a cup-shaped chloroplast, which is partly lobed and has a thinner basal part than type I; here the pyrenoid is half-ring or horseshoe-shaped and occupies different positions in the chloroplast depending on the strain. The strains of type III have multiple pyrenoids, which appear to have developed from the subdivision of a single ring-shaped pyrenoid into several parts. We compared the results of our morphological investigations with the literature and found that 15 strains could be identified with existing species. Two strains did not fit with any described species. As a result of our study, we transfer all strains to the genus Microglena, propose 11 new combinations, and describe two new species. Comparison of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 secondary structures confirmed the species delineations. All species have characteristic compensatory base changes in their ITS secondary structures and are supported by ITS-2 DNA barcodes.     

Phyllopsora longispora sp. nov.

A species with a squamulose thallus, a hypothallus, and acicular spores is described and placed on balance in the genus Phyllopsora Müll. Arg. rather than Bacidia de Not.     

新疆泡鳞衣属地衣的研究

该文采用形态解剖、化学及生态等传统分类方法,以及显色反应(CT)、薄层层析(TLC)等生物化学方法,对新疆天山南麓巴音布鲁克山区和天山中部米泉哈熊沟泡鳞衣属地衣进行了分类学研究,并鉴定采样区泡鳞衣属的地衣种类。结果表明:共鉴定出似皮革泡鳞衣Toninia alutacea(Anzi)Jatta、兰黑泡鳞衣T.caeruleonigricans(Lightf.)Th.Fr.、白泡鳞衣T.candida(Weber)Th.Fr.、泡状泡鳞衣T.physaroides(Opiz)Zahlbr.、暗色泡鳞衣中亚亚种T.tristis subsp.asiae-centralis(H.Magn.)Timdal等5个种,其中2个为中国新记录种:似皮革泡鳞衣T.alutacea和泡状泡鳞衣T.physaroides;同时描述了5个种的形态解剖特征、化学特征及其生境,并提供了相关彩色图片和新疆泡鳞衣属地衣检索表。研究结果可为新疆地衣的研究提供实验数据,为中国泡鳞衣属研究提供科学依据。