BRITISH LICHEN SOCIETY OFFICERS AND CONTACTS 2011 PRESIDENT S.D. Ward, 14 Green Road, Ballyvaghan, Co. Clare, Ireland, email [email protected]. VICE-PRESIDENT B.P. Hilton, Beauregard, 5 Alscott Gardens, Alverdiscott, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 3QJ; e-mail [email protected] SECRETARY C. Ellis, Royal Botanic Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR; email [email protected] TREASURER J.F. Skinner, 28 Parkanaur Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 3HY, email [email protected] ASSISTANT TREASURER AND MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY H. Döring, Mycology Section, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, email [email protected] REGIONAL TREASURER (Americas) J.W. Hinds, 254 Forest Avenue, Orono, Maine 04473-3202, USA; email [email protected]. CHAIR OF THE DATA COMMITTEE D.J. Hill, Yew Tree Cottage, Yew Tree Lane, Compton Martin, Bristol BS40 6JS, email [email protected] MAPPING RECORDER AND ARCHIVIST M.R.D. Seaward, Department of Archaeological, Geographical & Environmental Sciences, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, email [email protected] DATA MANAGER J. Simkin, 41 North Road, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9UN, email [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR (LICHENOLOGIST) P.D. Crittenden, School of Life Science, The University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, email [email protected] BULLETIN EDITOR P.F. Cannon, CABI and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; postal address Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, email [email protected] CHAIR OF CONSERVATION COMMITTEE & CONSERVATION OFFICER B.W. Edwards, DERC, Library Headquarters, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ, email [email protected] CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE: E. Green and N. Callaghan, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, email [email protected] and [email protected]. CURATOR R.K. Brinklow, Dundee Museums and Art Galleries, Albert Square, Dundee DD1 1DA, email [email protected] LIBRARIAN R.G. Woods, Ty Mawr Mill, Llanfihangel Brynpabuan, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3SH; e-mail [email protected] WEBMASTER J.I.J. Middleton, 4 Down Close, Heyshott, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 09N, email [email protected] CHAIR OF THE MEMBERS’ SERVICES COMMITTEE D.J. Hill, Yew Tree Cottage, Yew Tree Lane, Compton Martin, Bristol BS40 6JS, email [email protected] FIELD MEETINGS SECRETARY S.G. Price, Woodlands, Combs Rd, Combs High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 9UP, email [email protected] MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL G. Boswell, A. Britton, L. Davies, D. Hawksworth, M. Powell, A. Pentecost, M. Simms, H. Thüs. REFEREES (Regional & Specialist) See web-site: www.thebls.org.uk 2 British Lichen Society Bulletin no. 108 Summer 2011 Welcome to the Summer 2011 Bulletin. The BLS has always had lichen conservation as a prominent part of its remit, and the first two articles celebrate action on a local scale – one bringing lichen understanding to the general public via a dedicated walk in the Bristol area, the other showing what can be done with a quiet word in the ear of the land guardians. I don’t think that either of the progenitors concerned would claim that their actions are earth-shattering in significance, but in the words of the well-known supermarket advert, “every little helps”. The report on the BLS contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity – a study of lichens in gardens – makes for interesting reading. Notable finds included new English records for Caloplaca demissa and Epicladonia simplex (from a garden with close connections to royalty!) Regrettably gardens seemed to be thin on the ground in Scotland and Wales, but responses were received from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. The survey underlines the importance of gardens as reservoirs for lichen diversity, especially in areas where “natural” habitats are sparse or degraded. Other contributions include a note on Rinodina, yet more on Degelia plumbea (this must be the most talked-about lichen species complex in recent years), a further dose of nomenclature (easy to swallow, I promise), and an article on lichens on holiday in California (the author, not the lichens, I’m sure....) Regular articles include a bumper selection of “new and interesting” and accounts of the field meetings to the Isle of Man and Moray. Of especial note is the compilation of field meetings and workshops since the Society’s inception – an extensive list but with some surprising gaps in coverage. If you’d like the Society to come and help survey your neck of the woods, have a word with Steve Price – but expect to be nobbled for the local organization! Finally, we’re all familiar with fungi being lichenized. Some have suggested that South American sloths may be regarded as lichenized, as algae reputedly colonize their hair (being slow-moving and all that) and perhaps they contribute to camouflaging. But I was really taken aback to find recently that salamanders may be lichenized. A paper just published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Ryan Kerney and colleagues (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1018259108) describes the presence of algae actually inside eggs and embryonic cells of spotted salamanders. There’s a possible symbiosis here, with the salamander embryos benefiting from increased oxygen levels and the algae gaining from nitrogenous wastes. External associations between salamander eggs and algae have been known for some time and those partnerships seem to promote egg survival, but an association actually inside the egg cells has not been previously reported. Perhaps we should have a joint meeting with the British Herpetological Society? Paul Cannon, BLS Bulletin editor: email [email protected] _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Front cover: Lecanora rupicola parasitized by Arthonia varia, in a churchyard on Islay 1 The tale of a trail Once upon a time, as all good tales begin, and not too long ago, a mature student embarked on a two year ‘Wild Life Biology’ Diploma Course at The School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University. This course offered challenging and stimulating modules with a dissertation as a final project. So – it was in 2008 that I first began to think and look at lichens (never noticed before). I was requested by Mandy Leivers, Avon Gorge & Downs Biodiversity Education Officer to provide documentation on the lichens of the Downs. This held great appeal, regularly dog walking in this area. Also it was important to achieve a piece of work, a dissertation that would be useful. One of my objectives in ‘FURTHER WORK’ was to provide a resource, perhaps in the form of a trail, as an introduction to lichen ecology for the general public. Whilst working on this final assignment, my brother Derek, a clever research scientist died unexpectedly. The dedication of my lichen work is for him and his death gave me further motivation and inspiration to realise my ambitions and helped to nullify the sadness and grief. So – the idea of a Trail was born, and necessities regarding finance and format had to be organised; eventually The Trail was launched in January 2011. The project was a team effort. Mandy Leivers was instrumental as the coordinator, having produced three other Downs Trails – Meadow, Bird and Tree. Finance was a priority and the British Lichen Society and Bristol Naturalists’ Society generously promised funding. The Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project would provide the balance. My part, having initiated the idea was to devise a route, identify the trees and the relevant corticolous lichens. This was indeed a treat as I am familiar with most of the trees and shrubs on the chosen area of the Downs. Mandy and I walked the route and some minor changes were made; avoiding crossing roads to comply with health and safety issues and using a circular route which would ‘map’ neatly. A bright, calm day was chosen for Denice Stout to take photographs. The results were amazing, surpassing all expectations with superb colours, forms and substrates. David Hill enthusiastically walked The Trail offering advice, on the route and the key features of the selected lichens. Later he edited the lichen data for accuracy, at the same time realising the need for the information to be easily understood by the general public. Having assembled the information, the leaflet could be designed and Clare from Dandi Creative was commissioned. She was 2 experienced having worked with the other trails and was patient as draft after draft was revised. Finally after discussions and deliberations a final document and tree and lichen marker discs were ready to be printed. In total 3,000 leaflets were published and to date 1,000 have been circulated. The Trail was publicised in various ways; leaflets as already mentioned, A4 posters, a press release, a promotional talk ‘The Colourful World of Lichens’ given by David Hill and two Downs Lichen Walks led by myself. The response from the local people has been enthusiastic with 45 people attending David’s talk and my walks fully booked. A display illustrating the features of The Trail, first shown at the BLS AGM this year, was displayed in the local library promoting the circulation of over 100 leaflets to date! The leaflet briefly outlines the characteristics of ‘What is a Lichen?’ and describes the three main thallus forms – crustose, foliose and fruticose. A plan of the route is shown identifying six ‘stations’ naming the associated lichens and their key features with detailed