Ann. Bot. Fennici 42: 317–326 ISSN 0003-3847 Helsinki 28 October 2005 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2005 Distribution, status and ecology of the lichen Cyphelium notarisii in Sweden Veronika Areskoug1 & Göran Thor2 1) Swedish Biodiversity Centre, P.O. Box 7007, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden (e-mail: veronikaA@ icraf-cm.org) 2) Department of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7002, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden (e-mail: [email protected]) Received 5 May 2004, revised version received 21 Jan. 2005, accepted 29 Mar. 2005 Areskoug, V. & Thor, G. 2005: Distribution, status and ecology of the lichen Cyphelium notarisii in Sweden. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 42: 317–326. An inventory of the two largest Swedish occurrences of the lichen Cyphelium notarisii, situated on Visingsö in Småland and at Kovik on Gotland, respectively, was conducted. A third occurrence on Fårö, Gotland was discovered. A total of 21 localities were vis- ited. Only cultural substrates such as wooden barn walls, fishing sheds and gates were utilised by fertile specimens. The species is mostly found on south- to southwest-facing walls with no shade cover, close to a water-body. The current distribution is greatly reduced compared to the historical range of the species. The major current occurrences are characterised by a high concentration of old wooden structures, which strongly indicates that measures to ensure the viability of the species should be taken at the land- scape level, rather than on individual localities. Cyphelium notarisii is reported as new to Estonia and Kazakhstan, and C. tigillare is reported as new to Gotland, Sweden. Key words: Cyphelium notarisii, lichens, red-listed, substrates, wood Introduction Since 1969 C. notarisii has been accepted as a separate species due to its submuriform spores Cyphelium notarisii is red-listed as Critically (Tibell 1969). For a comprehensive summary of Endangered (CR) in Sweden (Gärdenfors 2005). the species’ taxonomy and distribution, see Nils- The species is a crustose lichen of the family son (1930) and Tibell (1969, 1971, 1975, 1984). Caliciaceae, and it was first described by Tulasne For a morphological description see Tibell (1999). (1852) under the name Acolium notarisii. Blom- In gross morphology C. notarisii is indistinguisha- berg and Forssell (1880) subsequently transferred ble from C. tigillare, but differs by the spore shape the species to the genus Cyphelium. Vainio (1927) (Tibell 1999). The thallus has numerous irregular placed Cyphelium notarisii in its own monotypic groups of conspicuous, irregular, black multilocu- genus based on the submuriform spore morphol- lar pycnidia. Very similar pycnidia are also present ogy, referring to the species as Pseudacolium in C. tigillare (Tibell 1999), but sterile thalli with notarisii. Weber (1967) claimed C. notarisii to abundant pycnidia are often referred to C. nota- be a variety of its relative Cyphelium tigillare. risii. For photographs see e.g. Tibell (1999). 318 Areskoug & Thor • ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 42 This paper summarises the current and former (Hultengren & Danielsson 1996). A finding was distribution, status and ecology of the species in made in 1997 on the island of Biskops-Arnö, Sweden, and the prerequisites for its long-term Uppland, by Svante Hultengren (pers. comm.). survival in Sweden are discussed. The paper is Unfortunately, the substrate barn wall was painted based on a degree project at the Swedish Univer- over very shortly after the discovery, destroying sity of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Areskoug the occurrence. A second rather nearby locality in 2000). Uppland was recently found, but also there, the wall has now been painted over (Foucard 2004). These incidents demonstrate the current vulner- Former status and distribution in Sweden ability of the species. A few additional unpub- lished localities have also been found in northern The distribution range of Cyphelium notarisii for- Uppland and Dalarna by J. Hermansson during merly extended from Skåne (56°N) in the south the past few years (see Appendix). to Hälsingland (61°N) in the north (Appendix). Most collections were made prior to the end of the 1930s. Only three collections were made during Status and distribution outside Sweden the 1940s (Bohuslän, 1942, Magnusson; Gästrik- land, 1942, Ahlner; Västmanland, 1949, Kjell- The species is widely distributed in North Amer- mert), and two during the 1950s (Västmanland, ica, Asia and Europe, stretching from 116°W 1950, Kjellmert; Södermanland, 1958, Hasselrot). to 86°E and from 39°N to 61°N (Appendix). All old herbarium specimens utilised cultural sub- Collections of C. notarisii outside Sweden are strates. During the 1960s, 1970s and a large part sparse, with no more than a single collection of the 1980s no collections were made, and the from several countries. Few findings of C. nota- species was presumed to have disappeared from risii have been made in recent years, except in Sweden (Tibell 1992). It was, however, redis- England (Earland-Bennett & Hitch 1997, Dobson covered in 1986 on a barn wall in the province of 2003). The species was published as new to Hälsingland (Ågren 1991, as C. tigillare), but that Spain by Sarrión et al. (1999). An occurrence in locality was destroyed in 1997 by the removal southern Siberia was published by Nimis (1993). of the barn (Å. Ågren, pers. comm.). Two locali- We have, however, seen no Siberian material. ties were subsequently discovered in 1990 on the The available collections are insufficient for island Visingsö in the province of Småland (Thor an accurate analysis of the change in the spe- 1993). The species was also discovered in 1994 cies’ global status. Many historical collections at Kovik fishing village museum on Gotland by exist from Germany and the United States, but Mats Nordin (pers. comm.). the records are sporadic, and no adequate assess- The rediscovery of the species has led to ment of the present situation has been made. It reinventories on many of its former localities. is unlikely that the existing herbarium material Three old localities in Skåne and Blekinge were will ever allow us to obtain certain information revisited by Ulf Arup and Stefan Ekman in 1991 about the historical abundance of the species, or (Arup et al. 1997). They were unable to find the draw definite conclusions regarding its popula- species in its previous localities, but a new site tion development. was discovered on Hallands Väderö, Skåne (Arup et al. 1997; no apothecia). This is the only known occurrence of C. notarisii growing on a natu- Material and methods rally occurring substrate (Juniperus communis) in Sweden. One additional new locality has subse- Data on the Swedish distribution was collected quently been discovered in eastern Skåne (Arup from the Swedish Species Information Centre 1999). In the province of Västmanland, only one (ArtDatabanken), and by means of personal com- old locality could be identified. This site was munication. All specimens of C. notarisii from inventoried, but C. notarisii was neither found B, BM, CANL, COLO, FH, GB, M, NY, S, UPS, there, nor in other appropriate habitats in the area W and the personal herbarium of the author (G. ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 42 • Distribution, status and ecology of Cyphelium notarisii in Sweden 319 Thor) were examined in order to determine the 6. On each individual wall, specimens of C. historical distribution of C. notarisii, in Sweden notarisii were checked for fertility. The high- and globally. The herbarium material is listed in est and lowest point of apothecium occur- the Appendix. The nomenclature follows Santes- rence was measured to the nearest cm, and son et al. (2004). Collections of C. notarisii and a collection for the purpose of microscopic C. tigillare by V. Areskoug and G. Thor (Appen- examination of the spores was usually made. dix) will be deposited in UPS. 7. The thickness of the wooden substrate uti- The two largest remaining occurrences of lised by C. notarisii was measured to the C. notarisii in Sweden (Visingsö, Småland and nearest 1 mm. Kovik fishing museum, Gotland) were revis- 8. The degree of substrate decay was recorded. ited, and a third (Fårö, Gotland) was discovered The following decomposition scale from 1–5 and inventoried. The fieldwork was carried out was developed to evaluate the condition of during September and October 1997. For the the substrate: (1) new wood free from surface purpose of this publication each property unit, cracks and obvious signs of decay, (2) wood often consisting of several structures (barns, fish- intact, firm, cracks < 1 mm wide, (3) wood ing sheds, fences), was defined as one locality. of a silver hue, firm, surface fleeced, cracks This was considered appropriate, as the build- 1–3 mm wide, (4) wood beginning to soften, ings of a specific property are likely to have a cracks 3–5 mm wide, (5) wood in latter similar maintenance regime and historical usage, stages of decay, cracks > 5 mm wide. and to be exposed to the same threats. The following parameters were measured or noted on each locality where C. notarisii was Results present: A total coverage of 731.5 dm2 was found at 1. Distance from water (approximated to within the three occurrences inventoried. Herbarium 100 m). material from Estonia and Kazakhstan, where 2. Distance from dust impregnation source, e.g., there are no previous records of the species (e.g. gravel road or arable field (approximated to Randlane & Saag 1999) was studied. The collec- within 10 m). tion from Estonia has no apothecia, yet the high 3. Percentage shade cover of the C. notarisii abundance of pycnidia suggests that it is a C. growth. notarisii specimen (see above). Occurrence on 4. Directional exposure (measured using a natural substrates appears to be more common handheld compass). outside Sweden. The species was collected on 5.