The Parmelia saxatilis aggregate is comprised of three species in Europe, proposed to differ in morphological, distributional or chemical characters. In this study, we sampled nearly 200 thalli from five sites across a steep ecological gradient in Scotland to investigate the distribution of the species in the aggregate, and we characterized all specimens by morphological, chemical and ITS sequence variation. In our sample, 191 specimens were identified to species using ITS. We confirm that a PCR length assay can be used for separation of P. saxatilis s. str. from P. ernstiae and P. serrana because across our sample, P. saxatilis s. str. consistently includes a group I intron c. 200 bp. Using sequences for specimen identification, we test previously proposed characters to diagnose specimens and use multivariate analysis to identify the most consistent features which may be used for identification among species. First, we test lobe morphology, presence and amount of pruina, distribution of isidia, lobe tip colour, and chemistry. Second, we use classification trees that quantify the contributions of 1) morphological and chemical factors, and 2) morphological and ecological factors, to a priori ITS-barcoded specimens. Parmelia saxatilis s. str., P. ernstiae and P. serrana all occur across the sampled gradient but differ in the frequency of occurrence, with P. saxatilis s. str. more frequent in the relatively drier east, and P. ernstiae more frequent in the wetter west. Parmelia serrana was collected around a third as often as the other two species, but more frequently on tree branches than expected. For all the morphological characters examined, all the species show some overlap and no morphological features are diagnostic, though trends are apparent by species. The classification tree approach holds promise for discovering the most meaningful variation for field workers to approach correct identifications. Chemical variation using TLC is perhaps the best way to distinguish most specimens but, even here, overlap in chemosyndromes exists among the species.

A new species of Chaenotheca, C. biesboschii, has been found in the freshwater tidal area of the Biesbosch in the Netherlands, a national park well known for harbouring several rare and threatened mosses and lichens. A phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region revealed some strongly supported infrageneric clades in Chaenotheca which were given informal names, and some were assigned provisional names in anticipation of generic recognition. The analysis also showed that the new species differed in the sequenced region from other European Chaenotheca species. Chaenotheca biesboschii might be mistaken for C. gracillima but, in addition to a considerable difference in the ITS region, it also differs from this species in morphology. It is also similar to C. servitii but again differs in morphology. Chaenotheca biesboschii inhabits decorticated wood in the oldest stages of forest development of abandoned willow coppices. In 2016 and 2017 a fairly large population was found in an area comprising several square kilometres. In the Biesbosch area, extensive woodlands have developed only since the 1950s and therefore C. biesboschii might have been recently established in the area, possibly following climatic warming. The new species is characterized by having an immersed, glaucous green thallus; apothecia 0·9–1·4 mm high; capitulum on the lower side when young with a ring-like thickening covered by a yellow pruina; when mature with a rusty brown pruina on the capitulum and upper part of stalk; spherical spores, 3·5–5·5 µm diam., ornamented by irregular cracks, medium brown; photobiont Stichococcus. A key to the European species of Chaenotheca is provided.

An identification key to the 39 species of Menegazzia recorded for Australia and its offshore islands (including Tasmania) is presented. Distribution patterns are discussed and summarized. Mainland Australia supports 19 species, with seven endemics, and shares 12 species with Tasmania, six with New Zealand and one with South America. The new species, Menegazzia williamsii Kantvilas from New South Wales, is described and is characterized by an inflated, fragile, esorediate thallus containing stictic acid but lacking isopigmentosin, 2-spored asci and an inspersed epihymenium. In addition, M. hypernota Bjerke, formerly known only from New Zealand, is recorded from Tasmania for the first time.

Phylogenetic reconstructions based on ITS/5.8S and mtSSU DNA sequence data suggest a close relationship between two Lecanora species containing calycin and usnic acid and the Lecanora polytropa group. Lecanora solaris Yakovchenko & Davydov sp. nov. is described from the Altai Mountains in Russia. Its gross morphology resembles that of L. somervellii as both species have an effigurate, citrine-yellow thallus (due to the production of calycin). However, L. solaris is distinguished from L. somervellii by having a small, squamulose to marginally lobate umbilicate thallus and apothecia with a persistent margin, whereas L. somervellii has a large, distinctly placodioid thallus and an apothecial margin that is soon excluded.

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region harbours some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet that are now facing substantial threats through changes in climate, land use and human population growth, with serious consequences for the biodiversity in this mountainous region. In this paper we evaluated the effects of climate change on the distribution of the tripartite epiphytic macrolichen Lobaria pindarensis, considered to be endemic to the Himalayas. To predict the current and future distribution of this species we applied the Random Forest modelling algorithm and climatic variables with a post-processing of projected distributions using a map of habitat types in the study region. We calibrated models based on 1397 species presences within an altitudinal range of 2036–4000 m and extrapolated them according to two IPCC scenarios of climate change (RCP 2·6 and RCP 8·5). Based on the results of ensemble modelling, two new localities where L. pindarensis might potentially occur were predicted. Our simulations predicted a range expansion of this epiphytic lichen to the north-east and to higher altitudes in response to climate change, although the species’ low dispersal abilities and the local availability of trees as a substratum will considerably limit latitudinal and altitudinal shifts. By contrast, assuming the species can migrate to previously unoccupied areas, and depending on different future climate scenarios, our models forecasted a habitat loss of 30–70% for L. pindarensis. The main reason for the simulated habitat loss is the expected increase in mean annual temperature (by 1·5–3·7 °C) and total annual precipitation (by 56–125 mm). Our results contribute further evidence for the high sensitivity of tripartite macrolichens, especially those from mountain areas, to climate change and particularly emphasize the vulnerability of L. pindarensis. Thus, we stress the need to develop and formulate conservation measures and strategies for the protection of this endemic species in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.

Our knowledge of ontogenetic development and reproductive biology in lichen-forming fungi is rather poor. Here, we aim to advance our understanding of the reproductive biology of Parmelina carporrhizans and P. quercina for which mycobiont fungi of both species were cultured in aposymbiotic conditions from ascospores. For P. carporrhizans 48 hours were necessary for 98·6% of apothecia to eject spores, while for P. quercina 100% of apothecia ejected spores in the first 24 hours. In P. quercina, large apothecia ejected more spores than smaller ones. In both species the percentage of spores germinating seemed independent of apothecium size. The percentage germination was higher in P. carporrhizans (72·4%) than in P. quercina (14·3%). Moreover, P. carporrhizans was grown more successfully on culture media than P. quercina. These results suggest that these species have different reproductive strategies, given that P. carporrhizans expels larger spores and in greater numbers than P. quercina as well as having different nutritional requirements (since P. carporrhizans grew successfully in the selected media but P. quercina did not). These characteristics may explain the sympatric speciation of these species.