Lichens

Abstract: The lichen biota of eastern North America is fairly well-documented with most taxa reported from terrestrial ecosystems. While some taxa are described as living near water bodies potentially subjected to inundation, no amphibious lichen communities have been described. To address this gap in our understanding of the region’s lichen ecology, thirteen rocky river sites in two river basins of central North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract: From recent surveys of Piedmont rocky river habitats, 22 noteworthy species of lichens and two lichenicolous fungi are presented, including 18 species new to North Carolina, three new to eastern North America, three new to North America and three potentially new to science. Most taxa here reported include amphibious lichens and lichens that otherwise are found in exposed, arid environments.

Arthonia rubrocincta morphologically and anatomically fits the generic concept of Coniocarpon and is here transferred to the latter genus as Coniocarpon rubrocinctum. Specimens from southeastern United States and Bahamas were studied and the range of the species is found to extend north into North Carolina, USA and southeast to the Bahamas. Thatch palm (Coccothrinax argentata) is reported as a new phorophyte. An emended description based on examined material is presented for the species.

We studied lichen communities on bole and base tree trunk segments along forest edge-to-interior gradients on opposite sides of a major highway and a control site in central North Carolina, U.S.A., to investigate if these two communities differ and if so, do they differ in response to highway pollution.

Abstract: One hundred five species of lichenized and allied fungi are reported from recent and historical collections made in the Mitchell Mill State Natural Area in northeastern Wake County, North Carolina, USA. Mitchell Mill is unique among granitic flatrock communities in the southeastern United States by having riparian elements from the Little River, which flows directly over the flatrock, supporting semi-aquatic lichen communities along creek edges represented by species in Dermatocarpon, Verrucaria, and Lichinales.