<<

MarLIN Marine Information Network Information on the and around the coasts and sea of the British Isles

Tar ( maura)

MarLIN – Marine Information Network Marine Evidence–based Sensitivity Assessment (MarESA) Review

Penny Avant

2008-05-22

A report from: The Information Network, Marine Biological Association of the United .

Please note. This MarESA report is a dated version of the online review. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date version [https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1769]. All terms and the MarESA methodology are outlined on the website (https://www.marlin.ac.uk)

This review can be cited as: Avant, P. 2008. Verrucaria maura Tar lichen. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.17031/marlinsp.1769.1

The information (TEXT ONLY) provided by the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available here. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk (page left blank) Date: 2008-05-22 Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) - Marine Life Information Network

See online review for distribution map

Chthamalus montagui on the black lichen Verrucaria maura. Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Photographer: Adrian Worley Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). To Copyright: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.

Researched by Penny Avant Refereed by Admin Authority Wahlenberg, 1803 Other common - Synonyms - names

Summary

 Description Verrucaria maura is a lichen that forms a thin, matt-black layer on rock surfaces that can resemble an oil stain. Reproductive bodies may be present as tiny black spots. Under magnification the surface is seen to be covered with a mesh of fine cracks that resemble dried mud.

 Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Very common on rocky shores all around the British Isles.

 Global distribution Widely distributed on the shores of northwest Europe.

Verrucaria maura is found intertidally on almost all rocky shores except where the rocks are soft and crumbly. It is usually the main constituent of the black band of below a band orange lichens and extends from well above the level of high down to the zone of mussels and barnacles. The width of the band depends on the wave and tidal exposure of the shore.

 Depth range -

https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/1769 3 Date: 2008-05-22 Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) - Marine Life Information Network

 Identifying features

An encrusting lichen forming a thin, matt-black coating, up to 1mm thick, on rock surfaces. May cover a large area. Difficult to remove from the rock. The surface appears cracked under magnification. Reproductive bodies, or perithecia, may be present as black dots.

 Additional information -none-

 Listed by

 Further information sources

Search on:     NBN WoRMS

https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/1769 4 Date: 2008-05-22 Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) - Marine Life Information Network

Bibliography

CABI Bioscience, 2000. Index Fungorum Database. [On-line] http://194.131.255.3/cabipages/index.htm, 2002-04-23 Dobson, F.S., 1997. Lichens of Rocky Shores. [Foldout pamphlet]. Shrewsbury: Field Studies Council. Dobson, F.S., 2000. Lichens: an illustrated guide to the British and Irish species. Slough: The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd. Fish, J.D. & Fish, S., 1996. A student's guide to the seashore. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fletcher, A., 1975a. Key for the identification of British marine and maritime lichens. 1. Siliceous rocky shore species. Lichenologist, 7, 1-52. Fletcher, A., 1975b. Key for the identification of British marine and maritime lichens. II. Calcereous and terricolous species. Lichenologist, 7, 73-115. Gibson, R., Hextall, B. & Rogers, A., 2001. Photographic guide to the sea and seashore life of Britain and north-west Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hayward, P., Nelson-Smith, T. & Shields, C. 1996. Collins pocket guide. Sea shore of Britain and northern Europe. London: HarperCollins.

Datasets

Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, 2017. BRERC species records recorded over 15 years ago. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/h1ln5p accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25. British Mycological Society, 2018. Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ietmop accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25. Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal . Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25. Cofnod – North Wales Environmental Information Service, 2018. Miscellaneous records held on the Cofnod database. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hcgqsi accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25. Dorset Environmental Records Centre, 2017. Dorset Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) species records 2000-2008. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/r1ebqb accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25. Dorset Environmental Records Centre, 2017. Dorset SSSI Species Records 1952 - 2004 (Natural England). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/vcjzts accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25. Environmental Records Information Centre North East, 2018. ERIC NE Combined dataset to 2017. Occurrence dataset: http://www.ericnortheast.org.uk/home.html accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-38 Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews 2015. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/xtrbvy accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27. Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre, 2017. Lichens: Records for Kent.. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/c9skic accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. Lancashire Environment Record Network, 2018. LERN Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/esxc9a accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2017. Isle of Man wildlife records from 01/01/2000 to 13/02/2017. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/mopwow accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2018. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1990 to 1994. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/aru16v accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. Manx Biological Recording Partnership, 2018. Isle of Man historical wildlife records 1995 to 1999. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/lo2tge accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. National Trust, 2017. National Trust Species Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/opc6g1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. NBN (National Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org. Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service, 2017. NBIS Records to December 2016. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/jca5lo accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. North East Scotland Biological Records Centre, 2017. NE Scotland and lichen records 1800-2010. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/v6mt0g accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. OBIS (Ocean Biogeographic Information System), 2019. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2019-03-12 Outer Hebrides Biological Recording, 2018. Fungi and Lichens, Outer Hebrides. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/tmlsm4 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2018. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (E). Occurrence dataset: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/1769 5 Date: 2008-05-22 Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) - Marine Life Information Network

https://doi.org/10.15468/ypoair accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02. South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. SEWBReC Lichen (South East Wales). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/pzectv accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02. South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project. Occurance dataset: http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/ accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-02 Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service., 2017. Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service (SBIS) Dataset. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/ab4vwo accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02. Greater Manchester Unit, 2018. Distribution of Fungi and Lichen in Greater Manchester. Occurrence dataset: https://www.tameside.gov.uk/ecologyunit accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-27. John Muir Trust, 2017. Knoydart Lichens, 1990. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/bxyy29 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.

https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/1769 6