Opuscula Philolichenum, 13: 102-121. 2014. *pdf effectively published online 15September2014 via (http://sweetgum.nybg.org/philolichenum/) Lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Grasslands National Park (Saskatchewan, Canada) 1 COLIN E. FREEBURY ABSTRACT. – A total of 194 lichens and 23 lichenicolous fungi are reported. New for North America: Rinodina venostana and Tremella christiansenii. New for Canada and Saskatchewan: Acarospora rosulata, Caloplaca decipiens, C. lignicola, C. pratensis, Candelariella aggregata, C. antennaria, Cercidospora lobothalliae, Endocarpon loscosii, Endococcus oreinae, Fulgensia subbracteata, Heteroplacidium zamenhofianum, Lichenoconium lichenicola, Placidium californicum, Polysporina pusilla, Rhizocarpon renneri, Rinodina juniperina, R. lobulata, R. luridata, R. parasitica, R. straussii, Stigmidium squamariae, Verrucaria bernaicensis, V. fusca, V. inficiens, V. othmarii, V. sphaerospora and Xanthoparmelia camtschadalis. New for Saskatchewan alone: Acarospora stapfiana, Arthonia glebosa, A. epiphyscia, A. molendoi, Blennothallia crispa, Caloplaca arenaria, C. chrysophthalma, C. citrina, C. grimmiae, C. microphyllina, Candelariella efflorescens, C. rosulans, Diplotomma venustum, Heteroplacidium compactum, Intralichen christiansenii, Lecanora valesiaca, Lecidea atrobrunnea, Lecidella wulfenii, Lichenodiplis lecanorae, Lichenostigma cosmopolites, Lobothallia praeradiosa, Micarea incrassata, M. misella, Physcia alnophila, P. dimidiata, Physciella chloantha, Polycoccum clauzadei, Polysporina subfuscescens, P. urceolata, Rhizocarpon viridiatrum, Rinodina conradii, Sarcogyne hypophaea, S. similis, Sphaerellothecium cladoniae, Staurothele monicae, Taeniolella rolfii, Tetramelas pulverulentus, Xanthomendoza fulva, Xanthoparmelia loxodes, X. subdecipiens and Zwackhiomyces coepulonus. Fifteen species are rare in the Park and of these Caloplaca lignicola, Rinodina juniperina, R. luridata, R. parasitica, R. straussii and R. venostana are quite likely rare in Canada, as well. Comments on selected species and a key for the Heteroplacidium and Verrucaria species in the Park are provided. KEYWORDS. – Great Plains, Prairies Ecozone, Mixed Grassland Ecoregion. INTRODUCTION Lichens are an easily observed but underappreciated feature of Grasslands National Park. This is the first attempt to compile a list of the lichens of the Park. The aim of the study is to raise awareness of lichens as a part of the biodiversity of the Park, inform park management policies and practices as they affect the lichen biota, and to contribute to our knowledge of the lichen flora of Saskatchewan and Canada. Previous reports on the lichens of southern Saskatchewan include Looman (1962, 1964) and Macoun (1902). A vegetation survey prepared as part of the process of establishing Grasslands National Park (Michalsky & Ellis 1994) made but a brief reference to “abundant terricolous lichens.” Three reports referring to individual species collected in the Park are noted below. The Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre maintains lists of lichen species for the province (De Vries 2011). MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight visits to Grasslands National Park of approximately five days each were made between 2008 and 2013. Initially, exploratory visits were made to all major landforms and botanical communities (Fargey 1 COLIN E. FREEBURY – Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4, Canada. – e-mail: [email protected] 102 Figure 1, location of the study area and an outline of proposed boundaries. Shaded areas show holdings as of 2012. Note that the East Block water shed is largely seasonal; only the easternmost branch, Rock Creek, is a permanent water source. et al. 2000, Michalsky & Ellis 1994), after which research efforts focussed on habitats that appeared to have the highest potential for lichen diversity. Some localities were visited more than once to obtain better quality specimens and to take advantage of better collecting conditions. Examples of all lichen species were collected from each locality, with the exception of the most common species. Specimens were examined using a Wild M5 stereomicroscope and a Wild M20 compound microscope. Hand-cut sections of ascocarps were studied in water and/or with the addition of a 10% solution of potassium hydroxide (K). Polarised lenses were used to detect crystals in apothecial sections. A 0.5% Lugol’s solution (I) following pretreatment with K was used for the detection of amyloid reactions in ascus tips. Spot tests were conducted with K, household bleach (C) and a saturated alcohol solution of para-phenylenediamine (P). Chemical analyses were made with the assistance of Irwin M. Brodo, using the thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) methods of Culberson (1972) and subsequent modifications summarized in Orange et al. (2001). Determinations were also aided by comparisons with the extensive and diverse collections kept at the National Lichen Herbarium of Canada (CANL). Selected specimens were determined by specialists. The following documentation and websites were particularly helpful in making determinations: Bird (1970), Brodo (2011), Brodo et al. (2001), Culberson et al. (2011), McCune and Rosentreter (2007), Nash III et al. (2002, 2004, 2007), Sheard (2010), Smith et al. (2009), Thomson (1984, 1997), Wetmore (1967) and Wirth (1995). Primary literature resources for the determination of lichenicolous fungi included Diederich (1996, 2004), Hawksworth (1979, 1981, 1983), and Ihlen and Wedin (2008). Previous lichen records were researched in Bird (1972), Brodo (2012), Brodo et al. (2001), De Vries (2011), Esslinger (2014), Looman (1962, 1964), and Marsh (2010). An extensive literature search was conducted for previous records of lichenicolous fungi, which resulted in the production of a database organized by province and territory, and by parasite-host relationship (Freebury in prep.). Botanical nomenclature follows Esslinger (2014), excluding the incomplete taxonomic revisions to the family Teloschistaceae proposed in Arup et al. (2013). Vouchers are deposited at CANL. THE STUDY AREA Grasslands National Park (Figure 1) is located in the extreme south of Saskatchewan on the Canadian border with the United States. At the time of the study the Park comprised 571 of a total proposed 103 Figure 2, habitats in Grasslands National Park. A, grassland slopes in the Two Trees Area. B, wooded valley and grassland plateau in the Wood Mountain Uplands. C, crumbling rock outcrop on 70 Mile Butte, with the Frenchman River Valley in the distance. D, short-grass prairie along the Three Sisters Trail. E, Buellia elegans growing over Placidium squamulosum on an eroded grassland slope. F, Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa growing attached to soil (scale bar = 1.0 cm). 921 km2 of land divided into two blocks approximately 27 km apart (Parks Canada 2007). The Park was officially established as a national park under the new Canada National Parks Act on February 19, 2001. The Park comprises a tiny remnant of the once extensive Mixed Grassland Ecoregion, which lies within the Prairies Ecozone, a northern extension of the Great Plains of North America (Shorthouse 2010, Wiken 1986,). The physical geography is characterized by grassland plains, rolling hills, coulees, badlands, mudflats, river grasslands and wooded uplands (figure 2). Most of the Park was and remains uncultivated ranch land. Mean elevation ranges between 776 meters and 920 meters above sea level. The climate is semi-arid and features abundant sunshine, frequent high winds, and relatively cold winters and hot summers. From 1961 until 1990 the mean annual precipitation was 312.5 mm, 29% of which fell as snow. Daily mean temperatures during this period ranged from −13º C in January to +18.7º C in July (Environment Canada 2011). 104 Within the two subunits (“blocks”) of the Park, the main collection localities were as follows. West Block: Two Trees Area. Grassland slopes, mixed grasses (Bouteloua gracilis and Hesperostipa comata), abundant Selaginella densa (hereafter referred to as Selaginella) and Phlox hoodii, widely scattered glacial till and several large piles of rock taken from long-abandoned grain fields. Within 1.5 km north, east and south of the Two Trees landmark at 49°11′N, 107°42′W, elev. 796–843 m. Syrenne Ranch. Ulmus pumila-Caragana arborescens (Ulmus and Caragana, respectively) windbreak close to an abandoned ranch house at the foot of grassland slopes, Salix amygdaloides (Salix) along periodically flooded oxbows. 49°10′N, 107°41′W, elev. 789 m. Three Sisters Trail. Grassland plateau and steep, gravel-strewn, north-facing grassland slopes with Juniperus horizontalis (Juniperus). 49°08′N, 107°38′W, elev. 836–858 m. 70 Mile Butte and Eagle Butte Area. Badlands with mudrock outcrops, mossy north-facing slopes with abundant Juniperus. Within 1.3 km north and west of 70 Mile Butte. 49°11′N, 107°39′W, elev. 823–917 m. Ecotour Plateau. Mixed-grass plateau with scattered glacial till, gravel washouts at the base of steep coulee slopes, and a prairie dog colony. Within 2.5 km south of the park entrance. 49°13′N, 107°33′W, elev. 842–863 m. Frenchman River Valley. Saline mudflats with patches of bare soil, short grasses, eroded stream banks, scattered Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Sarcobatus) and Artemisia cana (Artemisia), abandoned wooden ranch structures and a prairie dog colony. 49°10′22.30″N, 107°33′16.50″W to 49°07′37.07″N, 107°28′37.96″W, elev. 779–772 m. North Gillespie Trail. Mixed-grass plateau, deep coulees, isolated thickets,