Journal of Świętokrzyskie Mountains Region
Series B – Natural Sciences
2009, No 30, 15-28
CONTRIBUTION TO THE RECOGNISION OF LICHENS IN BELLSUND (SW SPITSBERGEN)
MAŁGORZATA JÓŹWIAK
Key words: thallus, fruiting body, spores, habitat, „green zone”.
Lichens are a group of funguses that narrow down coexistence with symbiotic component – eukaryotic photobiont: Chlorophyceae representative (90%) or prokaryotic Cyanophyta (10%). Coming into relationship and forming a complex physiological system is named lichenization, and taxa-lichens formed in such a way are lichenized funguses. Physiological feature of lichens is that they are biotopic pioneers. Their role as pioneering forms is of remarkable importance in polar regions where they enter areas exposed by melting glaciers. Lichen species list from Spitsbergen region was elaborated by Lynge (1938), Elvebakk, Hertel (1996) and there is no information about any future attempts to verify or update it.
Field research was performed during stay in Spitsbergen in August 2003 and 2007. Herbarium material was collected from the area in the west side of Calypsostranda. Lichens were determined with classical taxonomic methods. Comparing the above lichen species list to the material collected in August 2003 and 2007 and determined allows to supplement the list with 6 species, i.e. Cetraria delisei (de Bary ex Schaer) Kärnefelt & Thell, Cetraria hepatizon (Ach.) Vain, Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach, Flavocetraria nivalis (L.) Kärnefelt & Thell, Cetraria aculeata (Schreb.) Ach, Flavocetraria cucullata (Bellardi) Kärnefelt & Thell.
