Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)

More documents

Recommendations

Info

LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE 91 (Anon, 1980; Fowler et al., 1982). Acid rain effects, resulting from the pollution emitted from the industrial areas of west-central Scotland (Clydeside and Glasgow conurbation), are probably the explanation for the prevalence on the trunks of mature trees (e.g. Quercus, Alnus, Betula, and Fraxinus) of such species as M. alabastrites, M. cinerea, M. peliocarpa, M. stipitata, and M. synotheoides in the deciduous woodlands of the Cowal Peninsula in southern Argyllshire. The communities in which these species occur are probably referable to the Parmelietum laevigatae, and in areas subjected to 'acid rain' it appears that these communities have to some extent, and in certain situations (especially on Quercus and Fraxinus), replaced the more basicolous communities of the Lobarion pulmonariae. In the deciduous woodlands of drier parts of the British Isles (annual rainfall of
92 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Saxicolous habitats Of the 45 European species of Micarea, 21 have been found growing directly on rock (lists I, II, and IV), although the genus is poorly represented in the main saxicolous lichen alliances of exposed siliceous rocks (e.g. Lecideion tumidae, Rhizocarpon alpicolae, and Umbilicarion cylindricae; list IV). As saxicoles Micarea species are more prevalent in sheltered ravines and woodlands. In dry underhangs in rock faces, steep banks, and below overhanging trees, up to seven species (Hst I) may be found in the ombrophobous, aerohygrophilous Micareetum sylvicolae. The species in this community grow on rock, loose or lodged stones, exposed roots, consolidated soil, and encroaching dry mats of bryophytes. Associated lichens from other genera may include Coniocybe furfuracea, Enterographa hutchinsae, Melaspilea subarenacea, Microcalicium arenarium, Opegrapha gyrocarpa, O. zonata, Porina chlorotica, P. lectissima, Psilolechia clavulifera, and P. lucida. This community is usually well defined, but in some situations it intergrades with other assemblages of shaded rocks such as the Lecideetum lucidae, Coniocybetum fururaceae, Opegraphetum horistico-gyrocarpae, and the Racodietum rupestris. A few Micarea species (list II) may be found on the upper sides of stones, boulders, and rocks where they are subjected to direct wetting by rain, or by drips from the overlying tree canopy. In most cases these are incidental occurrences of species more characteristic of other substrata. However, such situations may be the normal habitat of the little known M. curvata and M. lithinella. In northern and western Britain several Micarea species occur on mossy rocks. The communities involved are often difficult to place, some belonging to bryophyte-dominating syntaxa, others to normally epiphytic communities (e.g. Parmelietum laevigatae), or to chomophytic communities dominated by bryophytes and Cladonia species which, in turn, are often invested by a gelatinous algal scum. Terricolous habitats Areas of lowland heathlands where the peaty or sandy soil has been laid bare of tall vegetation by erosion, disturbance, or burning are colonised by several species of algae bryophytes and lichens. The lichens involved often include species such as Lecidea icmalea, L. uliginosa, L. oligotropha (rare in Britain), Baeomyces rufus, B. roseus, and some Cladonia spp. Micarea species are not usually involved in such communities, although M. melaena may at times be present, occasionally achieving local dominance. In mature Callunetum in the heathlands of eastern England and Jylland (Denmark) M. nitschkeana is sometimes encountered in abundance on litter, as well as on the thin attached twigs of the Calluna. Acidic soils contaminated by heavy metals (especially lead) are often rather bare with an open vegetation, and Micarea species (especially M. lignaria) may occur in quantity growing over moribund bryophytes and plant debris. Soil, plant debris, and moribund bryophytes amongst coastal rocks are often colonized by M. prasina (q.v.). M. melaenida (q.v.) is found exclusively on consohdated fine grained (argillaceous) mineral soils. The terricolous species encountered in upland, montane, or arctic regime are given in list V; the reader is referred to the individual species accounts for further details. Man-made substrata A detailed treatment of the lichens of man-made substrata is given by Brightman & Seaward (1977). Several Micarea species occur on worked wood (list X), but M. denigrata {q. v. ) is by far the most successful species. M. denigrata has also been found on pieces of hardboard lying in a dune slack at Tentsmuir in Fife. Old sackcloth and other fabrics lying on the ground in old lead-mine workings are frequently colonised by lichens, including M. lignaria. A more surpris- ing find was that of M. nitschkeana, growing with Scoliciosporum umbrinum, on a small plastic carton in a heathland on the Isle of Wight. Further field studies will undoubtedly extend this list of artificial substrata. Micarea denigrata and M. prasina are rapid colonisers of newly available substrata, and have been collected respectively on dead culms of Cladium mariscus and Phragmites australis in natural habitats. Both of these reeds are sometimes used as thatch, and a close inspection of thatched roofs ought to reveal the presence of Micarea species.
Page 1 and 2:
O' M' Bulletin of the British Museu
Page 3 and 4:
. 18 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS 11. M.denig
Page 5 and 6:
20 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Micarea The g
Page 7 and 8:
22 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Morphology Th
Page 9 and 10:
24 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS (ii) Goniocys
Page 11 and 12:
26 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS A B Fig. 2 'M
Page 13 and 14:
28 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS 3 00
Page 15 and 16:
30 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 5 Sketch
Page 17 and 18:
32 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 6 Ascus
Page 19 and 20:
34 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 8 M. ala
Page 21 and 22:
36 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 10 A, M.
Page 23 and 24:
38 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 12 A,M.
Page 25 and 26: 40 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS r\ U Fig. 14
Page 27 and 28: 42 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 16 M. in
Page 29 and 30: 44 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 18 M. le
Page 31 and 32: 46 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 20 A-B,
Page 33 and 34: 48 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 22 M. me
Page 35 and 36: 50 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 24 A, M.
Page 37 and 38: 52 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 26 M. pr
Page 39 and 40: 54 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS VJ Fig. 28 A,
Page 41 and 42: 56 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 30 M. su
Page 43 and 44: 58 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 31 - con
Page 45 and 46: 60 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 33 M. tu
Page 47 and 48: 62 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 34 Two t
Page 49 and 50: 64 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Table 1 Conid
Page 51 and 52: 66 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 36 Sugge
Page 53 and 54: 68 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 37 M. ad
Page 55 and 56: 70 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS s o o c o c o
Page 57 and 58: 72 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS n 1/ [\ f] n
Page 61 and 62: 76 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 45 M. li
Page 63 and 64: 78 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS B OOQog Fig.
Page 67 and 68: 82 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS Fig. 51 A, M.
Page 69 and 70: 84 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS In the case o
Page 71 and 72: 86 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS 6 - 5h 4 3 2
Page 73 and 74: . 88 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS the epithec
Page 75: 90 BRIAN JOHN COPPINS fM. elachista
Page 80 and 81: LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE 95 T
Page 82 and 83: LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE 97 a
Page 84 and 85: Infrageneric considerations LICHEN
Page 86 and 87: LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE 101
Page 102 and 103: 5. Micarea bauschiana (Korber) V. W
Page 126 and 127:
LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE 141
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
LICHEN GENUS MICAREA IN EUROPE Tabl
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
32. Micarea osloensis (Th. Fr.) Hed
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
34. Micarea prasina Fr. LICHEN GENU
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186 and 187:
Page 188 and 189:
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
conferanda (Lecidea) 205 confusula
Page 198 and 199:
populina (Lecidea, Micarea) 31,32 p
show all

Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?