Martin Kukwa

University of Gdańsk | UG · Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation

This article is the 17th in the Fungal Diversity Notes series which allows the researchers to publish fungal collections with updated reports of fungus-host and fungus-geography. Herein we report 97 taxa with four new genera distributed in three phyla (Ascomycota, Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota), 11 classes, 38 orders and 62 families collected fr...

The genus Coniambigua is characterized by stromatic, sporodochial to pseudopycnidial conidiomata, a hyaline to pale brown conidiomatal wall, a thallic conidiogenesis, and dark brown, 0(‒1)-septate conidia. The generic type, C. phaeographidis, is confined to Phaeographis s. lat. hosts. The new C. graphidis, found on Graphis scripta in Poland, is dis...

The basidiomycetous genus Heteromycophaga includes two mycoparasitic species and a new lichenicolous species, H. cladoniae, described from the Azores, Denmark and France on Cladonia thalli, distinguished from the generic type by its shorter and broader conidia, and shorter conidiogenous cells.

With the simultaneous growth in interest from the mycological community to discover fungal species and classify them, there is also an important need to assemble all taxonomic information onto common platforms. Fungal classification is facing a rapidly evolving landscape and organizing genera into an appropriate taxonomic hierarchy is central to be...

The paper presents the first records of Cora dewisanti, C. elephas and C. hawksworthiana from Bolivia. The recognition of the three species was supported by molecular data. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer region (nuITS rDNA) clustered the Bolivian collections with sequences from previous worldwide collections. Detaile...

Fungi are one of the most diverse groups of organisms with an estimated number of species in the range of 2–3 million. The higher-level ranking of fungi has been discussed in the framework of molecular phylogenetics since Hibbett et al., and the definition and the higher ranks (e.g., phyla) of the ‘true fungi’ have been revised in several subsequen...

TABLE OF CONTENTS Bartolomeo G. et al. Exploring diversity and specificity of photobionts in Antarctic lichens: a new Trebouxia lineage from an endemic lichen 10 Beck A. et al. The use of microCT for 3D analyses in lichens 11 Boccato E. et al. Zoospore diversity and sexual reproduction in Trebouxia: from neglected evidence to new facts 12 Canós C....

The paper presents two saxicolous species of the family Megasporaceae, Aspicilia fluviatilis and Circinaria leprosescens , discovered as new to Poland. Aspicilia fluviatilis is a rare, arctic-alpine species with elongated marginal areoles, and Circinaria leprosescens , occurs only in marine and strongly nitrophilous habitats and is often found ster...

The paper presents the first records of Ramalina europaea in Poland and new sites of rarely recorded species, mostly microlichens. The occurrence of Lecanora flavoleprosa in northern Poland is confirmed by molecular data. The species descriptions include information on similar species, habitats, and distribution.

The analysis of the interaction between main bionts (mycobiont and photobiont) in the lichen symbiosis delivers substantial information about their preferences in the selection of symbiotic partners, and their ecological preferences. The selectivity in the Parmelia genus has been defined as strong so far. However, data on this lichen genus, which i...

Two isidiate species, Sticta arenosella and S. cellulosa, are reported from South America for the first time and the former species also as new to Southern Hemisphere. Sticta arenosella was found in Chile and S. celulosa in Bolivia. The identification of both species was confirmed by sequencing of the nuITS rDNA marker, a universal barcode of fungi...

Lichen thalli host complex microbial communities, which may foster the ecological stability and longevity of the lichen symbiosis. Yet, we lack a holistic understanding of the processes contributing to the assembly of the lichen holobiont. This study assessed the diversity and community structure in taxonomically diverse co-occurring lichens associ...

W publikacji przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 40 gatunków porostów oraz 12 grzybów naporostowych (oznaczonych gwiazdką), które są zagrożone w Polsce lub rzadkie w kraju lub regionie. Ponadto, w pracy zamieszczono nowe notowanie niezlichenizowanego grzyba Naevia punctiformis (Ach.) A. Massal. (oznaczony plusem), który ze względu na podobieństwo do zlic...

Four species of the genus Sticta are described as new from Bolivia, based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis of the fungal ITS barcoding marker. Additionally, two species are reported as new to Bolivia (their identification confirmed by molecular data) and one previously reported species is confirmed by molecular data for the fi...

Loxospora is a genus of crustose lichenLoxospora is a genus of crustose lichens containing 13 accepted species that can be separated into two groups, based on differences in secondary chemistry that correlate with differences in characters of the sexual reproductive structures (asci and ascospores). Molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered these g...

The Neotropics, particularly mountain cloud forests, are characterized by a high diversity of microfungi that inhabit lichens. However, based on our field studies, many of these microfungi remain undescribed, and their phylogenetic relationships are poorly understood. This study focuses on Bolivian lichenicolous Trichonectria inhabiting the genus U...

The first records of Parmelia ernstiae from Madeira, as well as the new localities of P. encryptata from Poland and P. sulcata from Chile, are presented. All records are confirmed by molecular data, BLAST search, and haplotype network analysis of the nucITS rDNA sequences. The discussion on the morphology and secondary chemistry of all three specie...

The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-ca...

Two lichenicolous fungi, Ceratobasidium bulbillifaciens and Sclerococcum phaeophysciae, and one lichen, Xanthoria aureola, are reported for the first time from Poland. For each species, the descriptions with notes on similar species, habitat preferences and general distribution are provided.

The lichen biota of the Karnieszewice Forest Division (N Poland) is presented. Despite it is predominantly a strongly managed woodland area, 270 lichen species were found there including many rare species for Poland, as well as for European Low-land. Near 20% of the whole lichen biota are considered to be threatened in the country (categories CR, E...

Athallia cerinelloides, Caloplaca ulcerosa, Flavoplaca arcis, Lecanora sinuosa and Sclerophora amabilis are reported for the fi rst time from Poland. Descriptions, notes on similar species, habitat preferences and general distribution are provided for each species.

W publikacji przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 49 gatunków porostów oraz 11 grzybów naporostowych (te ostatnie oznaczono gwiazdką), które są zagrożone w Polsce lub rzadkie w kraju lub regionie. Poza wykazem stanowisk, przy każdym z gatunków zamieszczono dane na temat ich cech diagnostycznych oraz rozmieszczenia w Polsce. W zamieszczonych wykazach stano...

Based on a revision of historic herbarium material and recently collected specimens, six lichenized fungi of the family Megasporaceae have been identified. Four of them, Aspicilia verrucigera, Oxneriaria supertegens, Sagedia mastrucata and S. zonata are reported for the first time from Poland. Also, we present new localities for two species, Aspici...

The new genus Pseudolepraria Kukwa, Jabłońska, Kosecka & Guzow-Krzemińska is introduced to accommodate Lepraria stephaniana Elix, Flakus & Kukwa. Phylogenetic analyses of nucITS, nucLSU, mtSSU and RPB2 markers recovered the new genus in the family Ramalinaceae with strong support. The genus is characterised by its thick, unstratified thallus compos...

Two new species of Astrothelium are described from the Yungas forest in Bolivian Andes. Astrothelium chulumanense is characterised by pseudostromata concolorous with the thallus, perithecia immersed for the most part, with the upper portion elevated above the thallus and covered, except the tops, with orange pigment, apical and fused ostioles, the...

The first records of Sticta andina and S. scabrosa subsp. scabrosa from Bolivia are presented. All records are confirmed by molecular data. Sticta andina has flattened, marginal isidia and phyllidia with abundant, submarginal apothecia, while tomentum is dark brown to black, whereas, S. scabrosa subsp. scabrosa has marginal and laminal phyllidia an...

Six species of Sticta are described as new to science on the basis of material from Bolivia and supported by phylogenetic analysis of the fungal ITS barcoding marker. The species were resolved in all three of the clades (I, II, III) widespread and common in the Neotropics, as defined in an earlier study on the genus. Comparison with material from n...

Athallia cerinelloides, Caloplaca ulcerosa, Flavoplaca arcis, Lecanora sinuosa and Sclerophora amabilis are reported for the fi rst time from Poland. Descriptions, notes on similar species, habitat preferences and general distribution are provided for each species.

Streszczenie W publikacji przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 39 gatunków porostów oraz 10 grzybów naporostowych (te ostatnie oznaczono gwiazdką), które są zagrożone w Polsce lub rzadkie w kraju lub regionie. Didymocyrtis epiphyscia s. l. jest podawany poraz pierwszy z obszaru Polski. W zamieszczonych wykazach stanowisk, obok współrzędnych geograficznych...

Asexually reproducing fungi play a significant role in essential processes in managed and wild ecosystems such as nutrients cycling and multitrophic interactions. A large number of such taxa are among the most notorious plant and animal pathogens. In addition, they have a key role in food production, biotechnology and medicine. Taxa without or rare...

In the past few years, new phylogenetic lineages in Trebouxia were detected as a result of molecular approaches. These studies included symbiont selectivity in lichen communities, transects along altitudinal gradients at local and global scales and the photobiont diversity in local populations of lichen-forming fungal species. In most of these stud...

This paper provides an updated classification of the Kingdom Fungi (including fossil fungi) and fungus-like taxa. Five-hundred and twenty-three (535) notes are provided for newly introduced taxa and for changes that have been made since the previous outline. In the discussion, the latest taxonomic changes in Basidiomycota are provided and the class...

Fungi are vital functional members of the biosphere, playing a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems by maintaining the nutrient balance. Many studies have verified the abundance of fungi across all-natural ecosystems and habitats, such as in forests, fresh-water (including both lentic or lotic), marine environments and deserts. With the focus prev...

Kukwa, M. & Ossowska, E. A. 2021. New localities of two rare Ochrolechia species: O. azorica and O. dalmatica. – Herzogia 34: 382–386. The first records of Ochrolechia azorica from Madeira and O. dalmatica from Syria are presented. Ochrolechia azorica was previously known only from the Azores and O. dalmatica from Europe (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Mo...

Bryophytes and lichens are outstanding bioindicators, not only of the plant community in which they develop, but also the substrates on which they grow. Some epiphytic cryptogams, particularly the rare ones, are stenotopic and require a long habitat continuity, for example substrates such as old trees. It could also be a tea plantation, this is bec...

Research highlights: shifts in the composition and functional diversity of lichen biota reflect changes in the environment caused by climate warming and eutrophication. Background and objectives: studies on lichen functional diversity and refinement in the functional traits of lichen biota under the pressure of changing environmental factors are cu...

We studied the biodiversity of Asterochloris photobionts found in Bolivian lichens to better understand their global spatial distribution and adaptation strategies in the context of a worldwide phylogeny of the genus. Based on nuclear ITS rDNA, the chloroplast rbcL gene and the actin type I gene we reconstructed a phylogenetic tree that recovered n...

Current trends emphasize the importance of the examination of the functional composition of lichens, which may provide information on the species realized niche diversity and community assembly processes, thus enabling one to understand the specific adaptations of lichens and their interaction with the environment. We analyzed the distribution and...

The paper presents new localities of 44 lichen species and four lichenicolous fungi, which are considered to be rare or threatened in Poland. In addition to the list of localities, brief comments on their characteristic features and general distribution in Poland are provided.

The aim of this study was to test the sensitivity of epiphytic and epixylic bryophytes and lichens as indicators of forest naturalness, by comparing their diversity patterns with forest structural, compositional and historical features associated with different management/protection regimes and protection time spans. The study was carried out in th...

We studied biodiversity of Asterochloris photobionts found in lichen symbioses in Bolivian Andean vegetation and, to better understand global spatial distribution and adaptation strategies of this algae, in relation to worldwide phylogeny of the genus. Based on nuclear ITS rDNA, chloroplast rbcL gene and actin type I gene we constructed a phylogene...

Lichens are fungi (mycobionts) that form symbiotic associations with photoautotrophic prokaryotes or eukaryotes (photobionts); however, some species can exchange photosynthetic partners during their lifecycles. This phenomenon modifies the morphology of lichens and consequently influences the taxonomy of lichenized fungi. Here, a few such cases in...

Functional diversity is considered an important tool for the identification of ecological mechanisms shaping the coexistence patterns of species communities along different environmental gradients. However, there is a huge gap in knowledge regarding the importance of ecological mechanisms in shaping the composition of lichen communities. We analyze...

In August 2019, the Nordic Lichen Society held its bi-annual meeting and excursion in south-western Estonia. The most remarkable findings of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi are recorded herewith, including nine new species (of them two lichenicolous), and one new intraspecific taxon for the country. Full species lists are provided for two notabl...

Lichens of the Ramalina siliquosa complex dominate seashore cliffs in Europe and South-East Asia, but their taxonomy has been vigorously debated for over a century. On many cliffs, they exhibit a bewildering zonation of chemotypes that resembles the classic zonation of organisms that occupy the littoral zone below. Do the chemotypes represent separ...

The main aims of this work were to assess phylogenetic relationships of the trentepohlialean photobionts in tropical, mainly sterile lichens collected in Bolivia, to examine their genetic diversity, host specificity, and the impact of habitat factors on the occurrence of Trentepohliales. Based on rbcL marker analysis we constructed a phylogenetic t...

This article provides an outline of the classification of the kingdom Fungi (including fossil fungi. i.e. dispersed spores, mycelia, sporophores, mycorrhizas). We treat 19 phyla of fungi. These are Aphelidiomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Basidiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomoph...

The landscape-scale extinction of a tree species may have a negative impact on diversity of associated epiphytic species. We used ordination and hierarchical clustering methods to assess landscape and the community level effects of reduction in the abundance of European ash Fraxinus excelsior, caused by ash dieback, on the associated epiphytic lich...

Two new Micarea species, M. minuta and M. pseudotsugae, are described from the Netherlands based on morphological, chemical and molecular data. Micarea minuta belongs to the M. denigrata group and can be distinguished from other similar species of this group by its small apothecia, Sedifolia-grey pigment in the epihymenium, mostly 1-septate and sma...

To evaluate the importance of morphological and chemical characters used in the recognition of species within the Parmelia omphalodes group, we performed phylogenetic, morphological and chemical analyses of 335 specimens, of which 34 were used for molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses, based on ITS rDNA sequences, show that P. pinnatifida is di...

Lepraria juanfernandezii is described as a new species. It differs from all other species of Lepraria by its aggregate thallus with sparse prothallus hyphae, the absence of a hypothallus, the presence of divaricatic acid and the absence of zeorin, and its occurrence in the Southern Hemisphere. A key to all species of Lepraria containing divaricatic...

Neotropical mountain forests are characterized by having hyperdiverse and unusual fungi inhabiting lichens. The great majority of these lichenicolous fungi (i.e., detectable by light microscopy) remain undescribed and their phylogenetic relationships are mostly unknown. This study focuses on lichenicolous fungi inhabiting the genus Lobariella ( Pel...

The whole article may be obtained till end of November 2019 free of charge from Fungal Ecology via link https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Zv8C6ExPyWjsN Taxonomy and diversity of symptomatic lichenicolous fungi (visible as fruitbodies on lichen thalli, their discoloration, and/or deformation) and their specificity to lichen hosts is becoming more and...

Anthropogenic disturbances can have strong impacts on lichen communities, as well as on individual species of lichenized fungi. Traditionally, lichen monitoring studies are based on the presence and abundance of fungal morphospecies. However, the photobionts, as well photobiont mycobiont interactions also contribute to the structure, composition, a...

Six new Micarea species are described from Europe. Phylogenetic analyses, based on three loci, i.e. mtSSU rDNA, Mcm7 and ITS rDNA and ancestral state reconstructions, were used to evaluate infra-group divisions and the role of secondary metabolites and selected morphological characters on the taxonomy in the M. prasina group. Two main lineages were...

Lichens, symbiotic consortia of lichen-forming fungi and their photosynthetic partners have long had an extremely poor fossil record. However, recently over 150 new lichens were identified from European Paleogene amber and here we analyse crustose lichens from the new material. Three fossil lichens belong to the extant genus Ochrolechia (Ochrolechi...

Lichen-inhabiting fungi are highly specialized mycoparasites, commensals or rarely saprotrophs, that are common components of almost every ecosystem, where they develop obligate associations with lichens. Their relevance, however, contrasts with the relatively small number of these fungi described so far. Recent estimates and ongoing studies indica...

Leprariacryptovouauxii is described as a new semicryptic species similar to L.vouauxii, from which it differs geographically (South America) and phylogenetically; both species differ in nucleotide position characters in nucITS barcoding marker. Leprariaharrisiana is reported as new to South America and L.nothofagi as new to Antarctica, Bolivia, and...

Fuscidea multispora Flakus, Kukwa & Rodr. Flakus and Malmidea attenboroughii Kukwa, Guzow-Krzemińska, Kosecka, Jabłońska & Flakus are described as new to science based on morphological, chemical and molecular characters. Lepra subventosa var. hypothamnolica is genetically and chemically distinct from L. subventosa var. subventosa and a new name, Le...

To test the taxonomic significance of secondary chemistry (particularly lobaric acid and fatty acids) and pruina in Parmelia ernstiae, P. saxatilis, P. serrana, P. submontana and P. sulcata in Europe, 3684 specimens were analysed morphologically and chemically, and 82 ITS rDNA sequences were prepared. A comparison of the resulting phylogram with th...

A sterile sorediate member of the genus Bacidia s.str., B.albogranulosa , is described here as a new species. It is characterised by its very thin, pale grey thallus, white, farinose to granular soredia, the production of atranorin and the absence of ascomata and pycnidia. It grows on slightly acidic to subneutral bark of broad-leaved trees in old-...

Ochrolechia incarnata comb. nov. is reinstated from the synonymy of O. parella. This saxicolous species is morphologically very similar to O. parella, but differs from the latter phylogenetically and chemically in the production of olivetoric acid causing a C+ red reaction of the apothecial margin medulla. Ochrolechia incarnata is so far known from...

This paper presents the results of lichenological studies done in central and northern parts of the Mrągów Lakeland. The analysed biota consists of 152 taxa, including 139 lichens and 13 non-lichenized, lichenicolous or saprobic fungi. Fourteen of the noted taxa are protected by law and 48 are on the list of endangered lichens in Poland. The biota...

In this paper three new species of Plectocarpon, P. dimorphosporum (on Ricasolia patinifera), P. parmotrematis (on Parmotrema reticulatum) and P. ramalinae (on Ramalina celastri), are described from tropical montane forests in the Bolivian Andes. Plectocarpon dimorphosporum is characterized by strongly convex ascomata covered by the host cortex whe...

Epiphytic lichens are sensitive bioindicators responding to climate change and atmospheric pollutants. Climate warming changes in lichen biota have been reported from Western and Central Europe; therefore, similar trends in the biota of the close-to-natural forests of Eastern Europe were expected. In both examinations (1987-1989 and 2015-2016) of 1...

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to am...

Loxospora cristinae sp. nov. is a sterile corticolous lichen characterized by sorediate, thin, smooth, folded, cracked-areolate and non-verruculose to partly verruculose thalli, soralia soon becoming confluent and the production of 2’-O-methylperlatolic acid. The new species is similar to the recently described L. assateaguensis and L. confusa, whi...

Phylogenetic analyses using mtSSU and nuITS sequences of Buellia violaceofusca (previously placed in Lecanoromycetes), a sterile, sorediate lichen having a trebouxioid photobiont, surprisingly prove that the species is conspecific with Lecanographa amylacea (Arthoniomycetes), a fertile, esorediate species with a trentepohlioid photobiont. These res...

Two new species of Arthoniaceae are described from old-growth European forests: Arthonia thoriana from Horner Combe in Great Britain and Inoderma sorediatum from the Białowieża Forest in Poland. Phylogenetic analyses using mtSSU sequences were used to determine the generic affiliation of the two species. Arthonia thoriana is characterized by a non-...

The paper contains a list of 195 lichen species collected in the central part of Western Pomerania (northern Poland).