New for Ukraine species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from marl limestones in the Northern Black Sea Region

Abstract

During the recent field season, we focused on lichens and lichenicolous fungi of petrophytic steppe habitats. They are widespread within the Black Sea Lowland in Ukraine. The marl limestones and pure limestone pebbles are outcropped in the central parts of the steppe slopes. The stone surfaces are colonized by pioneer lichen communities where endolithic life forms are mostly imperceptible. The petrophytic steppe habitats are protected in Europe. Six new for Ukraine species of lichens and two species of lichenicolous fungi from these habitats are reported in the article. A lichenicolous fungus, Acaroconium punctiforme, is characterized by subglobose black pycnidia, ampuliform conidiogenous cells, enteroblastic broadly ellipsoid aseptate pale brown conidia and Sarcogyne regularis as a host. Aspicilia subfarinosa has chalky-white thallus with farinose, smooth surface with occasional small cracks. The lichenicolous fungus Lichenochora wasseri s. l. was found on Xanthocarpia lactea. It is a new host for this lichenicolous fungus. Psorotichia montinii has minutely areolate thin crustose to almost powdery blackish thallus, minute invisible apothecia with punctiform discs. Verrucaria bernaicensis is characterized by pale gray, epruinose, areolate or subsquamulose thallus, immersed perithecia, lacking involucrellum, and small ellipsoid ascospores. Verrucaria papillosa differs from V. viridula by its completely endolytic thallus and undeveloped involucrellum. Verrucaria schindleri is similar to V. muralis, but has dark exciple in the lower part. The localities in Ukraine, ecology and distribution data for the new records are provided.