Lendemeriella nivalis

Lendemeriella nivalis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Teloschistales
Family:	Teloschistaceae
Genus:	Lendemeriella
Species:	L. nivalis
Binomial name
Lendemeriella nivalis (Körb.) S.Y.Kondr. (2020)
Synonyms [1]
List Zeora nivalisKörb. (1853) Gyalolechia nivalis(Körb.) A.Massal. (1853) Callopisma nivale(Körb.) Körb. (1855) Sporoblastia nivalis(Körb.) Trevis. (1856) Biatorina nivalis(Körb.) Th.Fr. (1861) Lecanora nivalis(Körb.) Nyl. (1866) Caloplaca nivalis(Körb.) Th.Fr. (1871) Placodium nivale(Körb.) Tuck. (1882) Caloplaca pyracea var. nivalis(Körb.) Boistel (1903) Candelariella nivalis(Körb.) Lettau (1912)

Lendemeriella nivalis is a species of muscicolous (moss-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. ^[2] It can be found in various cold-climate locations including Greenland, Svalbard, Ukraine, and throughout mid to high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. First discovered and described in 1853, this organism forms a thin, skin-like or granular crust that ranges from pale to dark grey in colour as it spreads over its moss host. The lichen's reproductive structures (apothecia) appear as small, round discs measuring up to 0.7 millimetres across, featuring a distinctive combination of orange and grey colouration with an outer grey rim containing algal cells and an inner orange border. Over its long scientific history, this species has been reclassified numerous times and known by at least ten different scientific names before receiving its current designation in 2020.

Taxonomy

It was first formally described as a new species in 1853 by the German lichenologist Gustav Wilhelm Körber, who called it Zeora nivalis. ^[3] Sergey Kondratyuk transferred it to the newly proposed genus Lendemeriella in 2020. ^[4]

Description

Lendemeriella nivalis is characterized by its spreading ( effuse ), finely granular thallus that ranges from light to darkish grey in colour. When tested with potassium hydroxide solution (K), the thallus shows no colour change. The reproductive structures (apothecia) measure 0.2–0.75 mm in diameter and are initially flat before becoming convex with age. These apothecia display distinctive colouration ranging from orange-brown or orange to olive. The outer rim of the apothecium consists of a granular thalline margin (containing algal cells) that gradually disappears as the structure matures, while the proper margin (the inner rim) remains entire and develops a blackish colouration. ^[5]

Internally, the spore-producing layer (hymenium) is approximately 80  μm high. The sterile filaments (paraphyses) within this layer are slender, measuring about 1 μm in thickness, and are either simple or forked ( furcate ). These paraphyses show minimal enlargement at their tips, are divided by cross-walls (septate), and frequently display a slightly beaded appearance (somewhat moniliform ) in their upper portions. The spore-containing sacs (asci) are club-shaped ( clavate ) and measure 70–80 by 20 μm. ^[5]

A distinct feature of L. nivalis is its large ascospores , which are either simple or show a slight, narrow thickening in the middle region (median zone). These spores measure 24–38 by 5–7 μm and have an elongated elliptical (elongate-ellipsoid) or spindle-like ( fusiform ) shape. ^[5]

Habitat and distribution

Lendemeriella nivalis occurs in northern and central Europe, and North America. ^[6] It has also been recorded from Greenland, ^[7] Svalbard, ^[8] and Ukraine. ^[9] Its distribution broadly encompasses mid to high latitudes. ^[10] It grows on tufts on living mosses, especially from the genera Andreaea and Grimmia . ^[11]

References

1. "Synonymy. Current Name: Lendemeriella nivalis (Körb.) S.Y. Kondr., in Kondratyuk, Lőkös, Farkas, Kärnefelt, Thell, Yamamoto & Hur, Acta bot. hung. 62(1-2): 121 (2020)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
2. "Lendemeriella nivalis (Körb.) S.Y. Kondr". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
3. Körber, Gustav Wilhelm (1853). Denkschrift zur Feier ihres fünfzigjährigen Bestehens herausgeg. von der Schlesischen Gesellschaft für vaterländische Kultur[Commemorative publication for the celebration of its fiftieth anniversary, published by the Silesian Society for Patriotic Culture] (in German). Vol. 1. p. 231.
4. Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Lőkös, L.; Farkas, E.; Kärnefelt, I.; Thell, A.; Yamamoto, Y.; Hur, J.-S. (2020). "Three new genera of the Teloschistaceae proved by three gene phylogeny" (PDF). Acta Botanica Hungarica. 62 (1–2): 109–136. doi:10.1556/034.62.2020.1-2.7.
5. Wade, A.E. (1965). "The genus Caloplaca Th. Fr. in the British Isles". The Lichenologist. 3 (1): 1–28. doi:10.1017/S0024282965000038.
6. Fletcher, A.; Laundon, J.R. (2009). "Caloplaca Th. Fr. (1860)". In Smith, C.W.; Aptroot, A.; Coppins, B.J.; Fletcher, F.; Gilbert, O.L.; James, P.W.; Wolselely, P.A. (eds.). The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed.). London: The Natural History Museum. p. 267. ISBN   978-0-9540418-8-5.
7. Hansen, E.S. (2022). "Lichens of Nuuk area, South West Greenland" (PDF). Studia botanica hungarica. 53 (1): 95–104. doi: 10.17110/StudBot.2022.53.1.95 .
8. Konoreva, Liudmila; Chesnokov, Sergey (2021). "Lichens of the Frankenhalvøya Peninsula (Northern of Barentsøya, Svalbard archipelago)" (PDF). Polish Polar Research: 37. doi: 10.24425/ppr.2021.138591 .
9. Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Popova, L.P.; Khodosovtsev, O.Y.; Lőkös, L.; Fedorenko, N.M.; Kapets, N.V. (2021). "The Fourth Checklist of Ukrainian Lichen-Forming and Lichenicolous Fungi with Analysis of Current Additions" (PDF). Acta Botanica Hungarica. 63 (1–2): 97–163. doi: 10.1556/034.63.2021.1-2.8 .
10. Lee, Beeyoung-Gun; Hur, Jae-Seoun (10 July 2023). "A new lichenized fungus, Lendemeriella luteoaurantia, with a key to the species of Lendemeriella". Diversity. 15 (7): e845. doi: 10.3390/d15070845 .
11. Kossowska, Maria (2011). "New, rare and noteworthy lichens in the Giant Mountains". Biologia. 66 (5): 755–761. doi:10.2478/s11756-011-0084-4.