A taxonomic revision of the lichenized species of the genus Omphalina in the Iberian Peninsula is presented, based upon fungal and lichen herbarium material, as well as on fresh collections. Relevant morphological and ecological features are discussed and a diagnostic key is provided. Four lichenized species, O. ericetorum, O. hudsoniana, O. meridionalis and O. velutina are recognized. A squamulose vegetative thallus (Coriscium-type) is present only in O. hudsoniana, while the other three species form a thallus of hyphal globules (Botrydina-type). Anatomical features of the vegetative thallus cannot be used to distinguish between these last three species. Whilst O. hudsoniana is known only from the montane belt of the Eurosiberian Region and O. meridionalis seems to restricted to the Mediterranean Region, living in more or less humid sites of the Supramediterranean belt, the other two species, O. ericetorum and O. velutina, are widespread.

The new genus Sporostigma is introduced for the remarkable species Arthonia melaspora. The genus is characterized by mazaediate ascomata and dark brown ascospores. Relationships with other genera are discussed.

Twenty-six taxa of Trichotheliaceae are reported from rock, bark and leaves on Christmas Island in the north-eastern Indian Ocean. Trichothelium oceanicum P. M. McCarthy sp. nov., a common foliicolous species, is described.

ITSl and ITS2 regions were sequenced from a number of Parmeliopsis ambigua and P. hyperopta specimens from Uppland, Sweden. The data were analysed cladistically and the ITS region was found to contain enough variation to support the hypothesis that the taxa should be regarded as species rather than chemotypes.

The lichen flora associated with twenty saline lagoons in England is described. Though often scarce, lichens were present on shingle, miscellaneous stones, half-submerged concrete structures, retaining walls, salt marsh vegetation, wooden posts, and strand-line materials. Sites that had been modified by the activity of man often held richer assemblages than ones in a more natural condition. The lichen flora is a mixture of common-place species and maritime specialists. The large lagoon behind Chesil Beach, known as ‘The Fleet’, was the most important site surveyed. Many of the marine lichens present are typical of very sheltered coastlines. Caloplaca suaedae, found at two sites, is described as new to science.

The lichen composition on wayside Quercus robur in the Netherlands was related tobark properties (pH, EC, NH4+, SO42-, NO3-)and levels of air pollution (SO2 and NH3). The pH of the bark and the susceptibility to toxic substances appear to be the two major primary factorsaffecting epiphytic lichen composition. These factors have independent effects on the lichen composition.Most of the so-called nitrophytic species appear to have a low sensitivity to toxiceffects of SO2; their only requirement being a high bark pH. An increased bark pH appears to be the primary cause of the enormous increase in nitrophytic species and the disappearance of acidophytic species over the last decade in the Netherlands. Measurements of ambient NH3 concentrations in air show that there is a nearly linear relationship between the NH3concentration andthe abundance of nitrophytes on Quercus. The abundance of nitrophytes was not correlated with SO2 concentrations. Most of the acidophytic species appear very sensitive to NH3 since in areas with concentrations of 35 µg m-3 or more, all acidophytic species have disappeared. Current methods using species diversity to estimate or monitor SO2 air pollution need some modification, otherwise the air quality may be erroneously considered to be relatively good in areas with high NH3 levels.

A new method has been developed to measure chlorophyll a fluorescence of bryophytes and lichens in situ in the field. Specially designed aluminium stands fixed to rocks or other suitable substrata allow several cryptogam thalli to be measured sequentially with only one pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) chlorophyll a fluorescence analyser. The stands guarantee a fixed position for the fluorescence probe in relation to the thallus surface and also provide the possibility to darken the thalli so that both the apparent and the potential quantumefficiency of PSII (▵F/Fm′ and Fv/Fm) can be measured. A detailed analysis of chlorophyll a quenching parameters (qP, qN, NPQ) can also be performed with only minimal changes in the environmental conditions. The method allows easy detection of periods of metabolic activity and inactivity of the poikilohydric organisms. In combination with gas–exchange and microclimatic measurements the carbon balance also can be calculated. The method is described in detail and examples of its application in the field are presented