Rusavskia drevlyanica

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Rusavskia drevlyanica
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Rusavskia
Species:
R. drevlyanica
Binomial name
Rusavskia drevlyanica
S.Y.Kondr. & O.O.Orlov (2020)
Rusavskia drevlyanica
Holotype site: Drevlians Nature Reserve, Ukraine [1]

Rusavskia drevlyanica is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. [2] Described as a new species in 2020, it is found in the East European forest steppe of Ukraine. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2020 by the lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk and Oleksandr Orlov. The species epithet drevlyanica alludes to its prevalent location, the Drevlyansky Nature Reserve in Ukraine. The type specimen was collected in the vicinity of the Hannivka village (Zhytomyr Oblast), specifically on the roof of an old sheepfold building. It was found growing along with various other lichen species. Orlov collected the type specimen in October 2018. [1]

Earlier taxonomic records had grouped Rusavskia drevlyanica under Rusavskia elegans . The former's distinct morphological features and habitat preferences, however, warranted its classification as a separate species. [1]

Description

The thallus of Rusavskia drevlyanica generally spans 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in), occasionally reaching larger diameters up to 3 cm. It takes on a rosette-like shape with prominently visible thalline lobes that measure 5–8 mm in length. These lobes are 0.3–0.5 mm wide along their entire length, appearing to be flat when viewed from the top. A cross-sectional view, however, reveals some concavity and undulations on the underside of the lobes. These lobes initially appear narrow and flat, gradually growing distant from each other to form a net-like thallus. As they mature, the lobes become shorter and wider, with their edges bending downwards. The upper surface of the thallus may appear to have pseudocyphellate characteristics, and its underside is white. [1]

In terms of structure, when sectioned, the thallus is observed to be 125–150  μm thick. The upper cortical layer ranges from very thin at 15–20 μm to quite thick, reaching up to 125 μm. The algal layer within the thallus, which is separated by hyphae of the cortex, is about 50 μm thick. This zone contains green algal cells with a diameter of approximately 10–12 μm. The medulla, located below the algal layer, is often densely packed and ranges from 50 to 70 μm in thickness. The lower cortex is about 15–20 μm thick and has a palisade or paraplectenchymatous structure. There are no rhizines or attachment organs present in this species. [1]

Rusavskia drevlyanica bears apothecia that range from 0.3–1 mm in diameter and 0.3–0.4 mm in thickness. These apothecia have a flat disc and are distinctly attenuated at their base, often resembling a button or a lamp in shape. The discs rise slightly above the level of the thallus. When numerous, these apothecia can significantly affect the thallus's appearance. The disc and its surrounding margins are of the same colour, a form known as zeorine . The apothecia's own margin is thin but clearly visible, while the thalline margin often displays a crenulate pattern. The ascospores vary in shape, from almost spherical to widely ellipsoid, depending on their maturity. [1]

Similar species

Rusavskia drevlyanica shares similarities with both Rusavskia elegans and Zeroviella esfahanensis . It differs in several ways, such as the size and thickness of the thallus, the width of the lobes, and the diameter of the apothecia. While similar in some aspects to Zeroviella esfahanensis, the two differ in terms of thalline lobe dimensions, apothecia size, and distribution. [1]

Habitat and distribution

This lichen species is known to grow on calcium-containing materials, particularly roof tiles. Its primary habitat is the East European forest steppe of Ukraine, especially abundant in the Drevlians Nature Reserve. The authors suggest that its presence may extend to other parts of Eastern Europe. [1]

Related Research Articles

Wilketalia is a fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single species Wilketalia citrinoides, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen found in the Bolivian Andes.

<i>Zeroviella</i> Genus of lichens

Zeroviella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Xanthorioideae of the family Teloschistaceae. It has eight saxicolous (rock-dwelling) species. Zeroviella was segregated from Rusavskia, a closely related genus, in 2015.

Rusavskia indochinensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It occurs in India and China.

Zeroviella esfahanensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) foliose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in various locations across the Palearctic realm, having been recorded in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, where it grows in alpine and cold desert areas.

Caloplaca aliciae is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. It is characterised by a thallus that can grow up to 2 cm wide, featuring colours from dull pink to dull brown, with small, dispersed, flat areoles that are irregularly shaped and occasionally dissected by cracks, displaying a whitish, dull pink, or dull orange-brown surface. Its apothecia are lecanorine in form, initially immersed but often rising above the areoles, with each areole containing one or two apothecia that have a thalline margin matching the thallus colour.

Caloplaca astonii is a rare species of crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Described in 2007, is known for its distinct appearance and very limited distribution in Australia. The lichen has a thin thallus measuring 3–8 mm wide, with confluent spots that are thicker and cracked in the centre, showing a dull rose-orange or dull brown-orange colour, and lecanorine apothecia that transition from being immersed in the thallus to raised above it, revealing a bright reddish-brown disc.

Caloplaca conranii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. The lichen has a bright yellow thallus about 1–2 cm wide, featuring a thick texture with convex, pustule-like formations around the edges and occasionally forming clusters in the centre. Its apothecia are quite large and heavy, ranging from 0.4 to 1.5 mm in diameter, with a flat, dull orange or brownish-orange disc, and long, narrow ascospores.

Caloplaca filsonii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It has a crust-like thallus that is uneven and warty around the edges and more distinctly wart-like in the centre, coloured in shades of grey and brownish-grey near its reproductive structures (apothecia), but lacking a developed prothallus.

Elixjohnia bermaguiana is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen is characterised by its varying areoles, which are thin to moderately thick, flat to slightly convex, and range from bright yellow to whitish in colour, sometimes with a greenish-yellow hue. Its apothecia are small, with a distinct orange margin and a raised brownish-orange or yellowish-brown disc.

Filsoniana australiensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen forms patches up to 9 cm wide, with dull pink to brownish pink lobes and a verrucose central area. It has distinctive, raised reddish-orange apothecia.

Filsoniana kiamae is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen forms small rosettes with brownish-orange areoles, and it occasionally develops isidia. Its rare apothecia are round, with brownish-orange margins and a reddish disc.

Filsoniana rexfilsonii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found in Australia, it was formally described as a new species in 2007. The thallus of Filsoniana rexfilsonii comprises brownish-orange squamules each hosting one to four reproductive structures.

Neobrownliella montisfracti is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. The small lichen has dull pink to grey areoles, characterised by completely immersed, reddish to pink-brown apothecia and lacking soredia and isidia. Its areoles are closely pressed against the substrate, with the apothecia containing small, elongated ascospores and narrowly rod-shaped conidia.

Sirenophila cliffwetmorei is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. Its thallus can reach up to 1 centimetre in width, has a whitish to whitish-grey colour, and is very thin, sometimes almost merging with the substrate, and has paler edges with a darker grey centre. Its numerous tiny apothecia give the thallus a yellow-orange appearance.

Sirenophila maccarthyi is a species of corticolous/lignicolous, crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It has a thallus that is whitish or greyish, often inconspicuous and not always continuous, which can appear darker or dirty grey near its numerous, clustered apothecia. Sirenophila maccarthyi is distributed across regions including Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand, in both coastal and inland habitats. It typically grows on the bark and dead wood of a wide range of trees and shrubs such as Acacia sophorae, Araucaria excelsa, and various Eucalyptus species.

Fauriea trassii is a lichen species in the family Teloschistaceae, described in 2011. It is primarily found in the Far East of Russia, particularly in the Primorsky Krai region.

Eilifdahlia sergeyana is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is endemic to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The lichen thallus has an uneven and scaly texture, forming patches up to 40 mm wide in dull greenish-grey or brownish-grey. Its fruiting bodies (apothecia) are orange to yellow, with a biatorine structure, and range from 0.5 to 1 mm wide. These apothecia have a matte surface and a cup-shaped margin containing golden-yellow crystals. The paraphyses within are slender and branched, and the asci contain ellipsoid spores.

Caloplaca akbarica, a species of lichen saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen described in 2002. Found in Tajikistan, it has a rosette-shaped, lobate thallus, and apothecia that are distinctly pruinose. It was formally described as a new species in 2002 by the lichenologists Imomnazar Kudratov and Oleksandr Khodosovtsev.

Flavoplaca kantvilasii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found in Australia, it was formally described as a new species in 2007.

Dufourea angustata is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is widely distributed across Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Upreti, D.K.; Mishra, G.K.; Nayaka, S.; Ingle, K.K.; Orlov, O.O.; Kondratiuk, A.S.; Lőkös, L.; Farkas, E.; Woo, J.-J.; Hur, J.-S. (2020). "New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi 10" (PDF). Acta Botanica Hungarica. 62 (1–2): 69–108. doi:10.1556/034.62.2020.1-2.6. S2CID   229155510.
  2. ↑ "Rusavskia drevlyanica S.Y. Kondr. & O.O. Orlov". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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