Lichens and lichenicolous fungi of the “ Golczewskie Uroczysko ” nature reserve ( NW Poland )

Lichens of the “Golczewskie Uroczysko” nature reserve were studied in 2007–2008 and 2015–2016. Within the examined area, 68 species of lichens and 5 lichenicolous fungi were observed. Eleven species are included in the red list of threatened lichens in Poland, six as vulnerable (VU) (Bryoria fuscescens, Buellia disciformis, Calicium viride, Ochrolechia androgyna, Pertusaria pertusa and Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla) and five as near threatened (NT) (Alyxoria varia, Chaenotheca furfuracea, Evernia prunastri, Graphis scripta and Hypogymnia tubulosa). Porosty rezerwatu „Golczewskie Uroczysko” (NW Polska) Słowa kluczowe porosty, rezerwat, Polska, Pomorze Streszczenie Badania prowadzono nad biotą porostów rezerwatu „Golczewskie Uroczysko”. Stwierdzono w sumie 68 gatunków porostów i 5 grzybów naporostowych. Ponad 56% bioty porostów stanowiły gatunki nadrzewne, wsród których występowały taksony rzadkie i zagrożone w skali całego kraju. Blisko połowę wszystkich gatunków stanowiły porosty o plesze skorupiastej. Charakterystyczna cechą lichenobioty badanego rezerwatu jest duży udzial gatunków występujących na pojedynczych stanowiskach.


Introduction
The "Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve is located in West Pomerania Province, in Golczewo Commune.It was created in 2004, covers 101.05 ha, and comprises woodlands and peatlands.The reserve includes patches of nearly natural, old coniferous and mixed bog forest, with several-hundred-year-old trees.The dominant trees are oaks (Quercus sp.), as their contribution to the tree layer is up to 40%.Also birches (Betula sp.) and pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) are frequent there.Another valuable characteristic of the landscape are peat deposits in the bog in the central part of the reserve (Zawal, Stępień, 2006).
So far, lichens have not been studied in the reserve.The aim of this study was to present the current biota of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the reserve.

Material and methods
Field research was conducted in the years 2007-2008 and 2015-2016.The random point method was used, which enabled us to explore the area objectively and evenly.Easily identifiable species of lichens were recorded in the field, while all the others were collected and identified in the laboratory of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection of the University of Szczecin.Species names follow Fałtynowicz and Kossowska (2016) and Czyżewska and Kukwa (2009).
The list of species is ordered alphabetically.Types of substrate are given for each species.Names of lichenicolous fungi are marked with asterisks(*).The list of threatened species, with their threat category, is based on the Polish red list (Cieśliński et al., 2006).

Results
As a result of the research at 53 sites, 481 records were collected (herbarium specimens or records in the field) (Figure 1).In total, in the "Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve, 68 species of lichens and 5 lichenicolous fungi were found.The contribution of lichens to the landscape is remarkable, although it varies between habitats.

Epiphytic lichens
The most numerous were epiphytic lichens, which accounted for 56% of the lichen biota of the study area (Figure 2).Among the morphological types of this group of species, crustose lichens were most numerous, accounting for nearly half (23 taxa) of the total number of epiphytic species (Figure 3).The base of tree trunks was most often colonized by Coenogonium pineti, Porina aenea and Parmeliopsis ambiqua, while higher parts of tree trunks, by Hypogymnia physodes, Lecanora conizaeoides, Parmelia sulcata and Phlyctis argena.
Bark of Quercus sp.ranked second (29 species), and some species were exclusive to this microhabitat: Alyxoria varia, Melanelixia fuliginosa, Pseudevernia furfuracea, and Tuckermanopsis chlorophylla (Figure 4).They were supplemented with the rich flora of lichens associated with the bark of Pinus sylvestris (23 species), Acer sp., and Fagus sylvatica (10 species).Most of the taxa are frequent or common in the western part of Polish Pomerania (Fałtynowicz, 1992).Some of the recorded epiphytic species are protected by Polish law and/or threatened in Poland (Cieśliński et al., 2006;Fałtynowicz, Kukwa, 2007) (Table 1).These include 10 exclusively epiphytic species, found on very old trees.The sites of protected and threatened species are scattered all over the reserve.

Epixylic lichens
Lichens found on decaying or rotting wood of logs and trunks were classified as epixylic.On such substrates we recorded 18 species, which accounted for 21% of the lichen flora of the study area (Figure 2).They were mostly frequent and common lichens of the genera Cladonia, Micarea, Placynthiella, and Trapeliopsis.In moist patches near the bog, young stumps were most often colonized by crustose lichens, such as Lecanora conizaeoides, Micarea denigrata, Placynthiella uliginosa, and Trapeliopsis flexuosa.On more strongly decomposed wood, they were succeeded by fruticose lichens, mostly of the genus Cladonia.Hypocenomyce scalaris and Lepraria sp. were also abundant there.

Epigeic lichens
Epigeic lichens accounted for nearly 16% of the total number of species recorded in the "Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve (Figure 2).They were found at the edges of the bog and of forest glades, and were represented most frequently by lichens of the genus Cladonia.Less frequently, species associated with thermophilous sandy pine forests were present, such as Cladonia arbuscula subsp.mitis or Cladonia uncialis.Only sporadically we recorded Bacidia bagliettoana, and Peltigera rufescens.

Epilithic lichens
This group of lichens was represented exclusively by species colonizing anthropogenic substrates, such as concrete poles or walls.In this study it included only 6 taxa, which are common calcicolous lichens: Flavoplaca citrina, Calogaya decipiens, Candelariella aurella, Myriolecis albescens, M. dispersa, and Lepraria sp.

Discussion
Natural bogs and poor fens are ecosystems characterized by a low abundance of lichens.This is due to the high moisture content of the substrate.Lichens in such communities grow mostly on tree bark and at the drier crests of hummocks.However, in the "Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve, its protection succeeded to preserve the natural vegetation and safeguard valuable ecological systems, which constitute a refuge for many threatened and protected species.
In comparison with other nature reserves in northern Poland (Fałtynowicz, 1983(Fałtynowicz, , 1996)), species diversity in our study area is relatively high.The total number of species ( 68) is close to that observed in similar study areas.For example, in the "Bagno Biel" nature reserve, protecting peatland covering a 3-fold larger area, as many as 81 species were recorded, while in the "Bagnisko Niedźwiady" nature reserve, which is 4-fold larger, only 52 species.The large number of species in the "Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve, in spite of its smaller area, is linked with the richness of plant hosts.Our study area comprises not only pine forest, which is poor in lichens, but also patches of nearly natural, old forest, with several-hundred-year-old oak trees.
In all the 3 nature reserves, epilithic lichens were the rarest, as suitable natural sites were absent there.Epilithic species were found only sporadically, on concrete electricity poles or small poles marking forest sections.
It can be concluded that the study area is valuable from a lichenological point of view and is an important nature reserve protecting lichen diversity in the western part of Polish Pomerania.

Table 1 .
Lichen species of the" Golczewskie Uroczysko" nature reserve included in the red list of threatened lichens in Poland, red list of threatened lichens in Pomerelia(Gdańsk Pomerania) Explanations: VU -vulnerable; NT -Near Threatened.