23155_Peltigera:ascophyllum leaflet - Plantlife

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BACK FROM THE BRINK MANAGEMENT SERIES Peltigera lephidophora © Stephen SharnoffThis leaflet reveals more about the elusive Ear-lobed Dog-lichen (Peltigeralepidophora) and other species of lichens that grow along rocky rivers. Whatto do if you find them, and how you can help them to thrive.Plantlife is the UK’s leading charity working toprotect wild plants and their habitats. The charityhas 10,000 members and owns 23 nature reserves.In 2008, Plantlife is ‘Lead Partner’ for 77 speciesunder the UK Government’s Biodiversity ActionPlan. Conservation of these species is deliveredthrough the charity’s Back from the Brink speciesrecovery programme, which is jointly funded byCountryside Council for Wales, Natural England,Scottish Natural Heritage, charitable trusts,companies and individuals. It involves its membersas volunteers (Flora Guardians) in delivering manyaspects of this work. Plantlife’s head office is inSalisbury, Wiltshire, and the charity has nationaloffices in Wales and Scotland.Plantlife ScotlandBalallan HouseAllan ParkStirlingFK8 2QGTel. 01786 478509www.plantlife.org.ukscotland@plantlife.org.uk
BACK FROM THE BRINK MANAGEMENT SERIESWhat are lichens?Lichens are curious dual organisms. They areoften thought of as plants but in fact they area tight association between an alga orcyanobacteria (photobiont) and a fungus(mycobiont). Lichens gain their nutrients fromthe photobiont, which captures the sun'senergy through photosynthesis. The fungusprotects the photobiont from drying and fromthe harmful effects of the sun’s rays. Thismeans that lichens can inhabit some of themost inhospitable places on earth.The main body of a lichen is known as thethallus. Lichens reproduce using fruitingbodies, known as apothecia, or by means offragmentation of the lichen itself in specialpeg-like structures (isidia) or powderystructures (soralia).Lichens of rocky river edgesScotland, with its wet climate, great varietyof rock types and glacial history has some ofEurope’s best developed river communitiesof plants, fungi and lichens. River rocksprovide important habitats for lichens.There are over 80 restricted to this habitatalone including seven British Red Data Bookspecies. Lichen communities are bestdeveloped in the upper to middle stretchesof rivers, whereas eutrophication and heavysilting reduces lichen diversity in the loweralluvial stretches. Fast water flow in thehigher reaches can cause heavy scouring ofrocks, making them unstable habitats. Lichensoccur in bands depending on how well theyare adapted to submergence. The richestsites are rocky stretches that are not toodeeply shaded by bank-side vegetation, andwhere there are large areas of exposed rockoutcrops and boulders. Rock type isimportant. Some of the richest sites containbasic rocks (such as mildly calcareoussedimentary rocks like sandstones andmudstones) or igneous rocks (such as basaltsand andesites). Lichens of limestone riversare very different from those found on highlysilicaceous river rocks such as quartzite andgranite.The Ear-lobed Dog-lichen (Peltigeralepidophora) is extremely rare inScotland.The Ear-lobed Dog-lichen is one of Britain’srarest lichens. First recorded for Britain in1971, to date it has still been recorded onlyon a single rocky outcrop in a river gorge inPerthshire.Dog-lichens (Peltigera lichens)● Peltigera species are leafy (foliose) lichensand have a distinctly different upper andlower surface. The upper surface issometimes smooth and shiny or matt andminutely hairy. The lower surface alwayshas root-like structures, known as rhizines,and often has pale or dark veining.● They are among the largest and fastestgrowing of all the lichens and may grow upto 2 to 3 centimetres per year.● Dog-lichens are also known as Dog-toothlichens as their root-like rhizines resemblecanine fangs. These rhizines are found inother lichens but they are rarely aspronounced as in the Dog-tooth lichens. Inmedieval times Peltigeras were thought tobe a good remedy for dog bites.● They sometimes produce red-brown orblack fruiting bodies. These are sporebearingapothecia, which are saddleshaped, flattened or oval. The apothecia areproduced on the ends of the lobes.1
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23155_Peltigera:ascophyllum leaflet - Plantlife

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