The Lichen Flora of the Caliente Field Office Lincoln County, Nevada

Nastassja Noell

Lichens form a conspicuous and diverse biota in the Caliente Field Office (CFO). Their varied colors can be seen on the cliffs along the highway through Rainbow Canyon and on boulders and junipers along mountain biking trails. Recently a trail in Cedar City, Utah was even named for its lichens (Miller 2015). Prior to surveys by the authors and colleagues in Great Basin National Park (Carter et al. 2019), no full-scale inventory of lichens had been conducted in the Great Basin Desert. Floristic lichen inventories have been conducted in the Mojave (Knight et al. 2002, Sweat et al. 2004, Jackson et al. 2005, Knudsen et al. 2013, Proulx and St. Clair 2013, Proulx et al. 2016) but this is the first study to survey the lichen flora of the Mojave and Great Basin along an ecotonal gradient. This report and anno- tated checklist are the product of three years of field work carried out in the CFO from 2016 to 2018. Specimens from these surveys are deposited at the Brigham Young University Herbarium of Non-Vas- cular Cryptogams (BRY-C). This work establishes a robust baseline of lichen diversity for the CFO. A total of 361 taxa of lichens, 57 lichenicolous fungi and 3 allied fungi are reported from the field office. Twelve species are new reports for North America (Arthonia hertelii, Ascochyta candelariellicola, Caloplaca teicholyta, Cercidospora melanophthalmae, Endococcus karlstadtensis, Lawalreea lecanorae, Lichenochora epinashii, Lichenostigma gracilis, L. triseptatum, Megaspora rimisorediata, Polycoccum evae and Psorotichia numidella var. flageyna). An additional 56 species of lichens and 46 species of licheni- colous fungi, many probably new to science, are discussed and require further study. This report pro- vides an annotated checklist of the currently documented lichen flora of the Caliente Field Office and Basin and Range National Monument, including distribution, habitat, substrate preferences and conser- vation status for each species. Rare species and habitats are discussed, and detailed notes are provided for species ranked as critically imperiled (S1 rank). This report is accompanied by a field guide that includes photographs and field identification notes for over 180 common lichen species of the Great Basin Desert. The highest diversity of lichens in the CFO is found on high-elevation mountain peaks, especially Highland Peak, which also hosts a diverse, closed canopy, mesic forest of White Fir and actively recruiting Bristlecone Pines. While high-elevation sites are per unit area the richest, Pinyon–Juniper woodlands host the most diverse assemblage of lichen species. The northeastern portion of the Mojave hosts an unusual species assemblage, potentially owing to its location in the ecotone of three floristic regions: Mojave, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. As evidence mounts demonstrating that the southern Great Basin biota is at high risk of climate change impacts (Bradley 2010, Still and Richardson 2015), of primary interest is whether lichens can be utilized as early-warning bioindicators of climate change (Root et al. 2014). Candidate bioindicator species are presented and preliminary species distribution and local conservation status is given for each species. Further research is required in order to build upon this robust baseline and create a suite of tools useful for land management, including field-testing monitoring methods, and implementing long-term monitoring plots for candidate bioindicator species.

The Lichen Flora of the Caliente Field Office Lincoln County, Nevada The Lichen Flora of the Caliente Field Office Lincoln County, Nevada Nastassja Noell1,2, Jason Hollinger2 1 Great Basin Institute 16750 Mt Rose Hwy Reno, Nevada 89511 2 Western Carolina University Herbarium Department of Biology Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 December 2019 Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office 1340 Financial Boulevard Reno, Nevada 89502 iii Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents......................................................................................................................................iii Tables........................................................................................................................................................vi Maps........................................................................................................................................................vii Abstract...................................................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................ix Introduction................................................................................................................................................1 Background...........................................................................................................................................1 Study Area.............................................................................................................................................2 Great Basin.......................................................................................................................................2 Mojave..............................................................................................................................................3 Ecotone.............................................................................................................................................3 Methods and Materials...............................................................................................................................3 Results........................................................................................................................................................4 Substrates..............................................................................................................................................5 Native Species.......................................................................................................................................6 Rare or Threatened Habitats..................................................................................................................6 Bioindicator Species..............................................................................................................................7 Rare Species..........................................................................................................................................7 Species of Interest.................................................................................................................................8 Comparisons with Regional Inventories...............................................................................................8 Interesting Locations to See Lichens....................................................................................................9 Discussion..................................................................................................................................................9 Management Recommendations...........................................................................................................9 Recommendations for Future Inventory and Monitoring....................................................................11 Conclusion................................................................................................................................................11 Bibliography............................................................................................................................................12 Appendix I. Site Data...............................................................................................................................17 I.A. Site Summary...............................................................................................................................17 I.B. Biological Soil Crust Lichen Inventories.....................................................................................19 I.C. Sites Targeting Vegetation Alliances............................................................................................20 I.D. Sites Targeting Geology and Elevation........................................................................................21 I.E. Sites Targeting Tree and Shrub Species........................................................................................22 Appendix II. Checklists...........................................................................................................................24 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office.........................................................................24 II.A.1. Lichens................................................................................................................................24 II.A.2. Non-lichenized Lichenicolous Fungi..................................................................................74 II.A.3. Non-lichenized Allied Fungi...............................................................................................85 II.B. Baseline Inventory of Basin and Range National Monument....................................................86 II.B.1. Lichens................................................................................................................................86 II.B.2. Non-lichenized Lichenicolous Fungi..................................................................................91 II.B.3. Non-lichenized Allied Fungi...............................................................................................92 Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species........................................................................................93 III.A. Great Basin Indicator Species on Siliceous Rock.....................................................................98 III.A.1. Lecidea atrobrunnea group...............................................................................................98 III.A.2. Aspicilia nashii..................................................................................................................98 Table of Contents iv III.A.3 Caloplaca epithallina.........................................................................................................99 III.A.4. Caloplaca adnexa............................................................................................................100 III.A.5. Acarospora thamnina......................................................................................................100 III.A.6. Physcia caesia..................................................................................................................101 III.A.7. Dimelaena oreina, Phaeophyscia sciastra, Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca..............................101 III.B. Great Basin Indicator Species on Calcareous Rock................................................................102 III.B.1. Aspicilia boykinii.............................................................................................................102 III.B.2. Acarospora stapfiana, Caloplaca trachyphylla...............................................................102 III.B.3. Acarospora tintickiana....................................................................................................103 III.B.4. Megaspora rimisorediata................................................................................................103 III.B.5. Seirophora contortuplicata..............................................................................................104 III.B.6. Lecidea tessellata.............................................................................................................104 III.C. Great Basin Indicator Species in Biological Soil Crust Communities....................................105 III.C.1. Caloplaca tominii............................................................................................................105 III.C.2. Candelariella aggregata..................................................................................................105 III.C.3. Aspicilia hispida..............................................................................................................106 III.D. Mojave Indicator Species on Siliceous Rock..........................................................................106 III.D.1. Acarospora heufleriana...................................................................................................106 III.D.2. Buellia nashii, Candelariella citrina, Lichinella americana, Rinodina castanomela.....107 III.E. Mojave Indicator Species on Calcareous Rock.......................................................................107 III.E.1. Peltula obscurans.............................................................................................................107 III.E.2. Caloplaca pellodella........................................................................................................107 III.E.3. Acarospora “alborosulata”.............................................................................................107 III.E.4. Caloplaca teicholyta........................................................................................................108 III.E.5. Staurothele monicae.........................................................................................................108 III.E.6. Lecanora muralis.............................................................................................................109 III.F. Mojave Indicator Species in Biological Soil Crust Communities............................................109 III.F.1. Peltula obscurans.............................................................................................................109 III.F.2. Acarospora bolleana........................................................................................................110 III.F.3. Peltula richardsii..............................................................................................................110 III.G. Recommended Uses of Indicator Species................................................................................111 Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats............................................................................................112 IV.A. Highland Peak..........................................................................................................................112 IV.B. Seaman Range High Point.......................................................................................................114 IV.C. Quartzite Cliffs on Mount Irish................................................................................................115 IV.D. Siliceous Habitat in the Northeastern Mojave.........................................................................116 IV.E. Volcanic Ash Formations..........................................................................................................117 IV.F. Biological Soil Crusts at The Big Hogback near Panaca..........................................................118 IV.G. Biological Soil Crusts in Rangeland........................................................................................119 IV.H. Ponderosa Pine Woodlands in the Clover Mountains..............................................................120 IV.I. Increased Fire Frequency and intensity.....................................................................................121 IV.J. Antelope Canyon.......................................................................................................................121 IV.K. Fossil Fuel Extraction..............................................................................................................122 Appendix V. Rare Species.....................................................................................................................123 V.A. Species with Local Ranking......................................................................................................123 V.B. Critically Imperiled Species......................................................................................................124 V.B.1. Aspicilia peltastictoides.....................................................................................................124 v Table of Contents V.B.2. Caloplaca peliophylla.......................................................................................................125 V.B.3. Rhizoplaca marginalis.......................................................................................................126 Appendix VI. Supplementary Methods.................................................................................................127 VI.A. Site Selection Methods............................................................................................................127 VI.A.1. Study Area.......................................................................................................................127 VI.A.2. Site Stratification.............................................................................................................127 VI.B. Field Methods..........................................................................................................................127 VI.B.1. Survey methods...............................................................................................................127 VI.B.2. Calibration.......................................................................................................................128 VI.B.3. Data Acquisition..............................................................................................................129 VI.B.4. Specimen Collection Materials and Methods..................................................................129 VI.B.5. Survey Precautions..........................................................................................................129 VI.B.6. Rare Species....................................................................................................................129 VI.C. Lab Methods............................................................................................................................129 VI.C.1. Voucher Specimen Storage..............................................................................................129 Appendix VII. Site Stratification Maps.................................................................................................130 VII.A. EPA Level III Ecoregions and Major Land Resource Areas..................................................130 VII.B. SWReGAP Vegetation Alliances...........................................................................................131 VII.C. Geology..................................................................................................................................132 VII.D. Site Selection.........................................................................................................................133 About the Authors..................................................................................................................................134 Tables vi TABLES Table 1. Site summary..............................................................................................................................17 Table 2. Biological soil crust lichen inventories......................................................................................19 Table 3. Sites targeting vegetation alliances............................................................................................20 Table 4. Sites targeting geology and elevation.........................................................................................21 Table 5. Sites targeting tree and shrub species.........................................................................................22 Table 6. Sites used in indicator analysis..................................................................................................94 Table 7. Candidate bioindicator species...................................................................................................96 Table 8. Species with local ranking.......................................................................................................123 Table 9. Elevation zones and characteristic vegetation alliances...........................................................128 vii Maps MAPS Figure 2. Location of study area in Western North America.....................................................................2 Figure 3. Collection sites...........................................................................................................................3 Figure 12. Rich lichen habitat on Worthington Peak and Highland Peak..................................................9 Figure 165. Highland Peak.....................................................................................................................112 Figure 166. Siliceous and calcareous high-elevation habitats in and around the CFO..........................112 Figure 168. Seaman Range High Point..................................................................................................114 Figure 171. Mount Irish.........................................................................................................................115 Figure 174. Siliceous site near peak x3740 in the East Mormon Mountains.........................................116 Figure 175. Mojave siliceous habitat in and around the CFO................................................................116 Figure 177. Possible volcanic ash formations in the CFO.....................................................................117 Figure 180. The Big Hogback area........................................................................................................118 Figure 183. Ponderosa woodland in and around the CFO.....................................................................120 Figure 184. Rangeland fires in the CFO, 1900–2014............................................................................121 Figure 185. Antelope Canyon................................................................................................................121 Figure 190. EPA Level III Ecoregions and Major Land Resource Areas..............................................130 Figure 191. SWReGAP Vegetation Alliances........................................................................................131 Figure 192. Geology..............................................................................................................................132 Figure 193. Collection sites...................................................................................................................133 Abstract viii ABSTRACT Lichens form a conspicuous and diverse biota in the Caliente Field Office (CFO). Their varied colors can be seen on the cliffs along the highway through Rainbow Canyon and on boulders and junipers along mountain biking trails. Recently a trail in Cedar City, Utah was even named for its lichens (Miller 2015). Prior to surveys by the authors and colleagues in Great Basin National Park (Carter et al. 2019), no full-scale inventory of lichens had been conducted in the Great Basin Desert. Floristic lichen inventories have been conducted in the Mojave (Knight et al. 2002, Sweat et al. 2004, Jackson et al. 2005, Knudsen et al. 2013, Proulx and St. Clair 2013, Proulx et al. 2016) but this is the first study to survey the lichen flora of the Mojave and Great Basin along an ecotonal gradient. This report and annotated checklist are the product of three years of field work carried out in the CFO from 2016 to 2018. Specimens from these surveys are deposited at the Brigham Young University Herbarium of Non-Vascular Cryptogams (BRY-C). This work establishes a robust baseline of lichen diversity for the CFO. A total of 361 taxa of lichens, 57 lichenicolous fungi and 3 allied fungi are reported from the field office. Twelve species are new reports for North America (Arthonia hertelii, Ascochyta candelariellicola, Caloplaca teicholyta, Cercidospora melanophthalmae, Endococcus karlstadtensis, Lawalreea lecanorae, Lichenochora epinashii, Lichenostigma gracilis, L. triseptatum, Megaspora rimisorediata, Polycoccum evae and Psorotichia numidella var. flageyna). An additional 56 species of lichens and 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, many probably new to science, are discussed and require further study. This report provides an annotated checklist of the currently documented lichen flora of the Caliente Field Office and Basin and Range National Monument, including distribution, habitat, substrate preferences and conservation status for each species. Rare species and habitats are discussed, and detailed notes are provided for species ranked as critically imperiled (S1 rank). This report is accompanied by a field guide that includes photographs and field identification notes for over 180 common lichen species of the Great Basin Desert. The highest diversity of lichens in the CFO is found on high-elevation mountain peaks, especially Highland Peak, which also hosts a diverse, closed canopy, mesic forest of White Fir and actively recruiting Bristlecone Pines. While high-elevation sites are per unit area the richest, Pinyon–Juniper woodlands host the most diverse assemblage of lichen species. The northeastern portion of the Mojave hosts an unusual species assemblage, potentially owing to its location in the ecotone of three floristic regions: Mojave, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. As evidence mounts demonstrating that the southern Great Basin biota is at high risk of climate change impacts (Bradley 2010, Still and Richardson 2015), of primary interest is whether lichens can be utilized as early-warning bioindicators of climate change (Root et al. 2014). Candidate bioindicator species are presented and preliminary species distribution and local conservation status is given for each species. Further research is required in order to build upon this robust baseline and create a suite of tools useful for land management, including field-testing monitoring methods, and implementing long-term monitoring plots for candidate bioindicator species. ix Acknowledgments ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This cooperative project with the Nevada Bureau of Land Management, the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Great Basin Institute was funded by the Bureau of Land Management through a Cooperative Assistance Agreement (Agreement Number L15AS00064). We thank our external and internal reviewers. For help with identification of lichens, we thank Frank Bungartz, Theodore Esslinger, Kerry Knudsen, Steve Leavitt, Bruce McCune, Matthias Schultz and Tim Wheeler. We thank Todd Trapp (US Forest Service), John Wilson (Bureau of Land Management), Lee Turner (Nevada Department of Wildlife), Maria Jesus (Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden), and Lynn Zimmerman (Great Basin Institute) for making this project possible. Introduction 1 Figure 1. Rich siliceous lichen flora on rhyolite outcrops on Mount Ella in the Clover Mountains. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND Southeastern Nevada represents a void for non-vascular plant studies, particularly the northeastern Mojave Desert and the transition zone between the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts (Beatley 1975, Sweat et al. 2004, Jackson et al. 2005, Knudsen et al. 2013). The Caliente Field Office is located in the heart of this region (Figure 2), encompassing nearly 4 million acres of both deserts and the transition zone. Lichens are important functional components of ecological systems, indicators of air quality and sensitive to large-scale environmental change (Nash 1974, Knudsen et al. 2013). In southern Nevada, residual effects from the Nevada Test Site and an expanding urban population in Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest city, are having ongoing impacts on air quality and ecological health in the region (Proulx and St. Clair 2013). Likewise, climate change is already having significant effects in the eastern Mojave, from range shifts in plant distribution (Cole et al. 2011) to large-scale catastrophic fires in a non-fireadapted ecosystems (e.g., 2005–6 eastern Mojave fires), and poses potential problems for crucial surface and ground water resources in the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts (Seager et al. 2007). Lichens are quite sensitive to annual relative humidity (Knudsen et al. 2013) and could be expected to experience range shifts in response to climate change (Aptroot and van Herk 2002, Ellis 2013, Root et al. 2014). The location of the Caliente Field Office, straddling the ecotone between the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts, provides a unique laboratory to better understand and track these processes relative to lichens. A baseline inventory of lichen distribution and diversity is necessary as a first step in identifying a suite of lichen species for future study to monitor these impacts. Furthermore, as our public lands receive ever-increasing pressure from a cadre of user groups and multiple uses, documenting species diversity, particularly indicator species, which lichens represent, is essential to managing for sustain- 2 Background able use and maintaining biodiversity for present and future generations. STUDY AREA The Caliente Field Office (CFO) comprises nearly 4 million acres situated in southeastern Nevada, and encompasses the newly established Basin and Range National Monument (BRNM). The region is part of the Basin and Range Ecoregion, which is a geomorphic rift system of north-south mountain ranges alternating with deep alluvial basins. The CFO lies on the transition zone between the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts. Great Basin The northern half of the CFO, including the primary landbase of BRNM, is charFigure 2. Location of study area. acterized by Great Basin vegetation habitats (Lowry 2005). Elevation ranges from ca. 1400 to 2846 m (ca. 4600 to 9337 ft) with corresponding vegetation types. The lowest elevations are occupied by salt playas, the playa margins sparsely covered with halophilic shrubs (Atriplex spp.), and Greasewood flats (Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.). Surrounding these basins are gentle alluvial fans, with salt desert scrub (Atriplex spp., Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq., Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & Smit and Picrothamnus desertorum Nutt.) grading into a variety of sagebrush shrublands with increasing elevation (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young, A. arbuscula Nutt., A. nova A. Nelson, commonly with Ephedra nevadensis S. Watson and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.). Big Basin Sage community (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. tridentata and scattered Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little) occupies seasonal washes and areas where subsurface water flows. Riparian communities line permanent watercourses at lower elevations (Populus fremontii S. Watson and Salix spp.). Above the alluvial fans, the sides of mountains are typically dominated by Pinyon–Juniper woodlands (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém. and Juniperus osteosperma), often with patches of various sagebrush communities (Artemisia spp.), and sometimes with groves of Mountain Mahogany shrubland (Cercocarpus spp.). Ranges above 2400 m (7900 ft.) typically host mesic communities more typical of the Rocky Mountains (Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr., Pinus longaeva D.K. Bailey and Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.), with infrequent stands of Aspen woodland (Populus tremuloides Michx.) associated with high-elevation seeps. The Great Basin portion of the study area comprises 17 mountain ranges. These ranges are dominated by volcanic rocks (rhyolite and various types of rhyolitic tuff, with occasional andesite and basalt) and sedimentary rocks (limestone and quartzite, with a small amount of shale and mudstone). Some ranges feature a mixture of rocks in riddled strata. Average annual precipitation ranges from 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 in) at low elevations and upwards of 50 cm (20 in) at high elevations (NRCS 2003). The wettest months are January–March, therefore a significant portion of the annual precipitation occurs as snow. Figure 2. Location of study area in Western North America Introduction 3 Mojave The southern half of the CFO, including the outlier portion of BRNM at the Shooting Gallery, is characterized by similar basin and range landforms but with northern Mojave vegetation and habitats. Elevation ranges from ca. 600 to 2260 m (ca. 2000 to 7414 ft).1 Broad washes and gentle alluvial slopes occur at the lowest elevations, with Creosotebush–White Bursage desert scrub (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville and Ambrosia dumosa (A. Gray) Payne) grading upward into more dense Blackbrush scrubland (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr. and Yucca schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies) and Joshua Tree woodlands (Yucca brevifolia Engelm. and Y. jaegeriana (McKelvey) L.W. Lenz). Elevations above 1400 m (4600 ft) host vegetation communities typical of the Great Basin, including Sagebrush shrublands and Pinyon–Juniper woodlands, the latter occurring only in the high mountains above 1600 m (5250 ft). The majority of rock strata in the Mojave portion of the CFO are calcareous, including various types of limestone and caliche, with only scattered volcanic and granitic outcrops. The climate of this area of the Mojave averages 13–23 cm (5–9 in) of annual precipitation, with 30 cm (12 in) or more at the higher elevations. Precipitation falls in both the winter months as well as late summer through early fall (DRI 2019b,c). Ecotone The boundary between the two deserts is a broad ecotone with vegetation components from each desert forming a tight mosaic of intermixed and intergrading habitats. Additionally, the rim of the Caliente caldera complex in the eastern part of the ecotone hosts a variety of vegetation communities that are more typical of the Colorado Plateau including Oak woodlands (Quercus gambelii), Mogollon Chaparral (shrub Quercus spp., Garrya wrightii Torr., Rhus trilobata Nutt. and Arctostaphylos spp.), and extensive Ponderosa Pine woodlands (Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson) on the higher peaks and following alongside seasonal streams to lower elevations. This part of the ecotone is characterized by volcanic rocks, volcanic canyon systems and volcanic ash hoodoos. It has a more monsoonal climate—in addition to the usual Great Basin winter precipitation, it also receives a significant amount of precipitation during summer thunderstorms, particularly during July and August, its rainiest months (DRI 2019a). METHODS AND MATERIALS We conducted field surveys in the CFO from 2016 to 2018. We selected 59 target sites a priori to maximize coverage throughout the CFO (Figure 3), representing a wide range of elevation, primary geology and vegetation types (Lowry 2005). For details see Appendix VI.A. Figure 3. Collection sites. Figure 3. Collection sites 1 Owing to administrative restrictions, our collections during 2016–2018 were limited to areas below 1600 m (5000 ft). These restrictions have been lifted for the 2019 field season. 4 Methods and Materials We conducted total inventories for dominant substrates at each site, collecting a voucher specimen for each species found on each substrate (e.g. Juniper, Sagebrush, rhyolite/tuff, soil, etc.). Standard data collected at each site included GPS location, elevation and habitat notes; additional notes for each specimen included substrate and micro-habitat. In an attempt to amplify the possibility of finding intact biological soil crust lichens, we selected sites in 7 allotments that had not been grazed in 16–41 years, and conducted additional inventories of BSC lichens wherever populations were present. For details see Appendix VI.B. We identified, curated (see Lendemer and Noell 2018 for standard lab and curation methods) and databased specimens into our personal herbarium database. Finished specimens were deposited at Brigham Young University (BRY-C). Duplicate specimens were deposited at Arizona State University (ASU) and New York Botanical Garden (NY). We performed thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on select specimens. We sequenced the ITS locus of several additional specimens at Counter Culture Labs in Oakland, California, and uploaded the results to GenBank. The public can access all specimen data online via the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH) database (http://lichenportal.org). Information on the distribution of species in Western North America is based on our personal experience, reviews of literature, and analysis of distributional data in the CNALH database. There are very few documented collections of lichens in the CFO. We were only able to find four published records: Peltula richardsii (Herre) Wetmore (Wetmore 1970), Xanthomendoza montana (L. Lindblom) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. (Lindblom 1997), and the lichenicolous fungus Cercidospora macrospora (Uloth) Hafellner & Nav.-Ros. in two papers (Triebel et al. 1991, as C. ulothii, and Calatayud et al. 2013). Prior to this study, there were about 223 unpublished specimens collected in the CFO, collected by 14 people (CNALH 2019). The majority (139 specimens) were collected by lichenologist Bruce Ryan during a single trip in 1986. The rest of the collections were sporadic and scattered, typically only a few specimens per location. Of these unpublished specimens, most are common species in the CFO, while a few are species that we did not find in our surveys and require verification. RESULTS We collected a total of 6884 specimens at 61 sites2, covering a range of elevations from 570 to 2835 m (1870 to 9301 ft), 20 major vegetation alliances, 12 types of rock and 43 species of trees and shrubs. In addition to a small number of incidental collections, we conducted 290 total inventories at 59 sites. Each total inventory recorded all species found on one substrate at a given site. At many sites multiple substrates were inventoried. We report a total of 361 species and 1 variety in 87 Figure 4. Acarospora tintickiana—a recently genera of lichens, 57 species in 32 genera of lichenidescribed species endemic to the Great Basin. colous fungi, and 3 species in 3 genera of allied fungi in the CFO. Of these, 3 species of lichens and 9 species of lichenicolous fungi are new reports for North America. An additional 56 species of lichens and 46 species of lichenicolous fungi require further study and many may be new to science. Two species, Acarospora erratica K. Knudsen & Kocourk. and A. tintickiana St. Clair, Newberry & S. Leavitt (Figure 4), have been described based in part on collections made during work for this project (Knudsen 2 As of the writing of this report 46% of our specimens still require lab work. Results 5 and Kocourková 2018, Leavitt et al. 2018). Several additional new species have already been confirmed and will be described in the next few years. See the annotated checklist in Appendix II for notes on rarity, distributional patterns and taxonomy. The highest diversity of lichens in the CFO occurs on rocky, north-facing ridges and cliffs, particularly those found in the Pinyon-Juniper zone in the Great Basin (Figure 1), with the highest diversity at Highland Peak and Panaca Kilns. Epiphytic lichens are very scarce in the Mojave. We found nothing on Creosotebush, White Bursage and nearly all Joshua Trees. Unexpectedly, in the Great Basin, salt playas and their margins host a distinct community of epiphytes on small halophilic shrubs. SUBSTRATES Lichens in the CFO grow on all types of rock throughout the area, and can be broken up roughly into two distinct assemblages with very little species overlap, one on calcareous rock (e.g. limestone and caliche), and the other on siliceous rock (e.g. rhyolite and quartzite). The latter can be further resolved into additional but only subtly different assemblages, one occurring on softer volcanic ash, and another on more neutral volcanic rocks like basalt. Of the two primary rock types, calcareous and siliceous, each demonstrate shifting patterns in community assemblages associated with elevation and vegetation type. The greatest diversity of rock lichens is found on north-facing cliffs. Sunnier, south-facing cliffs support a much reduced flora. In the CFO we found that, while a few species tend to be more abundant in exposed places, none are exclusively found on southern aspects. In one case (“Fort Apache”), an eastern rock face hosted a few species not seen elsewhere at the same site, but typically all aspects share essentially the same community, with least diversity and abundance on the south face and highest diversity and abundance on the north face. Lichens that grow on trees and shrubs are primarily restricted to the Great Basin portion of the CFO and higher elevation Mojave sites that are typified by Great Basin vegetation. Very few species were found on Blackbrush, and none at all on Creosotebush and White Bursage. In only one exceptional grove did we find any lichens growing on Joshua Trees. Juniper has by far the greatest diversity of lichens (Figure 5), followed by Gambel Oak, Pinyon, Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.) and White Fir (Abies concolor). While some ubiquitous species are equally abundant on all types of trees and shrubs, most species display a varying kaleidoscope of preferences. Only a few lichens are regularly restricted to a small number of types of trees (e.g. Lecanora “ponderosicola” on Ponderosa Pine). The highest diversity of epiphytes is found in Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak woodlands, followed by mesic montane, riparian, Ponderosa Pine and Sagebrush habitats. An unexpected and undocumented community of epiphytes occurs on halophilic shrubs Figure 5. Rich, colorful epiphytic community on Juniper near Panaca Kilns. We found 32 species on this and neighboring trees. on the margins of playas. 6 Substrates Lichens in biological soil crust communities (BSCs) are relatively rare in the CFO, but where they occur they are often locally abundant, the richest sites hosting up to 20 species (Figure 6). Our BSC lichens occur in roughly two successional stages. Several common and widespread species establish early, such as Caloplaca tominii (Savicz) Ahlner, Collema coccophorum Tuck., Peltula patellata (Bagl.) Swinscow & Krog, Placidium lacinulatum (Ach.) Breuss, P. squamulosum (Ach.) Breuss, Psora decipiens (Hedwig) Hoffm. and P. cerebriformis W.A. Weber. Once these are Figure 6. Rich biological soil crust community at The Big Hogback. well-established, secondary succession These dark soil pinnacles are stabilized by cyanobacteria and lichens. species begin to appear, such as ArthoWe found 20 species at this site. nia glebosa Tuck., Diploschistes muscorum (Scop.) R. Sant., Fulgensia desertorum (Tomin) Poelt, F. subbracteata (Nyl.) Poelt and Squamarina lentigera (Weber) Poelt. Note that in the CFO early succession species are typically found sterile, probably indicating that they have recently established. In only one exceptional late stage community (The Big Hogback near Panaca) did we find any lichenicolous fungi on BSC lichens. For more information, see Appendix IV.F and G. NATIVE SPECIES All lichens documented in this study are assumed to be native to the CFO. Lichen spores and vegetative propagules have been found to spread through the stratosphere (Munoz et al. 2004), and many lichens of the CFO also occur elsewhere in North America and other continents in appropriate microhabitats. And the converse is also true: there are many mesic microhabitats within the CFO that support populations of lichens more common in other bioregions, such as the boreal and alpine. However, for reasons that are potentially species specific, some lichens are endemic, and some of our species that are new to science may be endemic to the Great Basin and others to the northeastern Mojave. RARE OR THREATENED HABITATS We identified several habitats which host rare or unusual species and are vulnerable for various reasons. High-elevation sites are threatened by rising temperatures; Highland Peak is foremost of these. Siliceous outcrops are relatively rare in the northeastern Mojave and models show this part of the Mojave is significantly threatened by climate change and various types of development projects (Seager et al. 2007, Bradley 2010, Vandergast et al. 2013). Biological soil crust communities in grazed areas throughout the CFO are threatened and appear to recover slowly in the CFO. Woodlands may be at risk from increasing frequency and intensity of fires; Ponderosa groves may be particularly vulnerable. Antelope Canyon, near Caliente, may be at risk from recreation and future development. Volcanic ash formations are fragile and uncommon in the CFO. Lastly, rich lichen habitats in the ranges surrounding Coal Valley and other fossil fuel exploration sites (BLM 2015a, 2019) may be impacted by air pollution from potential extraction activities. Most of these habitats host species found nowhere else in the CFO, some locally or globally rare, and many potentially new to science. See Appendix IV for more details. Results BIOINDICATOR SPECIES While there is a large overlap in species present in the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts, there are nevertheless many significant differences. These differences appear to correlate with elevation, with relatively few species (e.g. Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr.) being equally common in both Mesic Montane and Creosotebush habitats. The elevational limits of several species correspond well with the break between the Great Basin and Mojave. Some of these species are excellent indicators (e.g. Caloplaca epithallina Lynge and Lecidea atrobrunnea (Lam. & DC.) Schaerer; Figure 7), because they are common, conspicuous and exclusive to either the Great Basin or the Mojave. Others (e.g. Caloplaca teicholyta (Ach.) J. Steiner) are uncommon, but if present, are good indicators. Still others (e.g. Staurothele monicae (Zahlbr.) Wetmore) are found in both ecoregions, but are significantly more common in one than the other. Two indicators (Caloplaca tominii (Savicz) Ahlner and Peltula richardsii (Herre) Wetmore; Figure 8) may be particularly valuable because of the inherently ephemeral nature of their soil habitat, and therefore may respond quickly to changes in climate. More research is required to verify the value of these proposed indicators in order to understand exactly how they respond to changes in climate, and to develop monitoring methods. See Appendix III for more information. 7 Figure 7. Lecidea atrobrunnea—excellent indicator of the Great Basin in siliceous communities. Figure 8. Peltula richardsii—excellent indicator of the Mojave in biological soil crust communities. RARE SPECIES We give local conservation rankings (Crain and White 2011) to all known species of lichens found in the CFO, with an aim for eventual incorporation into NatureServe. We adapted lichen ranking methods from the IUCN (Lendemer and Noell 2018) for local assessment (L-rank, see Crain and White 2011). We chose to consider a species as Vulnerable, Threatened, Imperiled, or Critically Imperiled if we found it at two or Figure 9. Aspicilia peltastictoides—a rare species fewer sites. We have ranked 82 species with S4 (Vulendemic to the Mojave. nerable) or lower. Three of these species are ranked S1 (Critically Imperiled): Aspicilia peltastictoides (Hasse) K. Knudsen & Kocourk. (Figure 9), Caloplaca peliophylla (Tuck.) Zahlbr. and Rhizoplaca marginalis (Hasse) W.A. Weber, interestingly all found at the same site in the East Mormon Mountains. These species are rare throughout their range, and our populations occur in threatened habitats and are either outliers or are near the edge of their known range (Safriel et al. 1994, Crain and White 2011). See Appendix V for more information. 8 Species of Interest SPECIES OF INTEREST A surprising percentage (14%) of the species we collected do not fit described taxa. Some of these may be known in other parts of the world; for example one of our most common unknowns turned out to be Megaspora rimisorediata Valadbeigi & A. Nordin, recently described from Central Asia. While others may represent undocumented variation in known species. Six species have been confirmed as new to science, and two of these have already been described: Acarospora tintickiana (Leavitt et al. 2018) and Acaropora erratica (Knudsen and Kocourková 2018). Further research is required to evaluate the remaining species. A number of these potentially new taxa are remarkably common despite being unnamed. Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina” (Figure 10) is a common species, characteristic of Juniper throughout the Great Basin (84 records from 19 of our 19 Juniper sites). Another potentially new species, Caloplaca “halophila” (Figure 11)3, is common on salt shrubs in and around playas throughout the Great Basin (31 specimens at 7 sites). It is the dominant member of a previously unknown community of lichens that thrive on small playa shrubs. Figure 10. Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina”—one of the most common species on Juniper in Nevada—is apparently new to science. COMPARISONS WITH REGIONAL INVENTORIES Figure 11. Caloplaca “halophila” is abundant in the halophilic community near playas. This community The present inventory shares many similarities with has been overlooked in the past. other inventories in the region. Great Basin National Park has many of our species, but also hosts additional alpine, boreal and Rocky Mountain species that aren’t found in the CFO (Carter et al. 2019). On the southeastern border of the CFO, the Beaver Dam Slope hosts a subset of our flora with very few species not found in the CFO (Shrestha et al. 2012). Further southwest, Joshua Tree National Park has many Mojave and Southern California species not found in the CFO (Knudsen et al. 2013). The Spring Mountains, 50 miles south of the CFO, was expected to have a high overlap because of its proximity and the similarity in range of elevation, geology and habitat, however the CFO lacks about 20% of their species, mostly high-elevation and California species (Proulx and St. Clair 2013). Our inventory is the only one for the region that systematically includes parasites. Richness of lichen parasites seems to be a good indicator of undisturbed habitats (Kerry Knudsen, pers. comm., and our own personal observations). Typically the ratio of parasitic species to lichen species is between 1:8 to 1:10 (e.g. Knudsen and Kocourková 2012, Esslinger 2018). In the CFO, if we include undescribed species, the ratio is closer to 1:4. This underscores the ancient continuity of the habitats in the CFO, especially of the saxicolous communities where the majority of our parasites occur. Further research into the age of individual lichens in the Great Basin utilizing lichenometry methods (Armstrong 2004, Armstrong and Bradwell 2010, Armstrong 2016) adapted for the Great Basin’s particular climate and habitats may provide some valuable insights into the age of these habitats. 3 Recent work has revealed that C. “halophila” = C. ferrugineoides H. Magn., previously known only from Central Asia. Results 9 INTERESTING LOCATIONS TO SEE LICHENS There are several excellent places to see lichens in the CFO situated conveniently close to the towns of Caliente and Panaca. Along Rainbow Canyon the bright yellow Acarospora socialis H. Magn. and many other colorful species adorn the famous volcanic cliffs. Oak Springs summit and the volcanic ash formations near Panaca Kilns both host a breath-taking diversity of lichens growing on rock outcrops and Junipers. The Big Hogback has a thriving community of biological soil crust lichens at the foot of a magical landscape of lacustrine hoodoos. At Highland Peak, unusual species abound on impressive north-facing limestone cliffs and in the rich White Fir–Bristlecone Pine forest. DISCUSSION MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS We were surprised by the diversity of lichens growing within the CFO. We believe that this is largely due to the extraordinary diversity of lichen habitats. The area spans habitats from low-elevation Mojave to subalpine Great Basin peaks, with a wide range of geology and vegetation communities. We discuss a number of habitats that we consider to be rare or vulnerable in some detail in Appendix IV. We also single out a couple of sites we consider to be of particular importance for protecting the lichen diversity in the CFO. We found that it is often difficult to predict where rich, diverse communities will be present. Collating our five years of field experience in the Great Basin, we have identified a few key factors which we think are especially important for predicting lichen biodiversity: age of the habitat, extent of substrate, and specifics of topography. For example, we surveyed three high-elevation limestone peaks, Highland Peak, Mount Irish and Mount Worthington. Highland Peak is by far the most diverse. Its limestone cliffs are ideal lichen habitat; they are huge, have excellent northern exposure, and have never been disturbed. In contrast, Mount Irish has only small, crumbling outcrops, marginal lichen habitat at best. But Mount Worthington also has impressive, undisturbed, north-facing cliffs, so we expected it to be equivalent to Highland Peak, but it has only half as many species. The key here, seems to be the specific shape of the cliffs (Figure 12). The best cliffs are shaded throughout the day, especially concave north- Figure 12. Case study in locating rich lichen habitat: Worthington Peak (left) and Highland Peak (right) both have similar high-elevation limestone cliffs, but Highland Peak was twice as diverse. Black arrows on both maps point to concave northfacing alcoves with good lichen habitat. The white arrow on Worthington Peak points to a large convex north-facing cliff with disappointing diversity. Note that the pair of low cliff alcoves west of Worthington Peak are potentially good lichen habitats, but owing to difficult access we were unable to survey them. Figure 12. Rich lichen habitat on Worthington Peak and Highland Peak 10 Management Recommendations ern exposures, sheltered from both morning sun in the east and afternoon sun in the west. Extensive patches of snow lingered well into June of 2016 in such places on Highland Peak. Similar factors apparently support a unique, actively recruiting Bristlecone Pine–White Fir forest on Highland Peak, hosting a correspondingly unique, diverse epiphytic lichen flora more typical of the boreal than the high desert. Site restoration is not as effective of a management option for lichens as it is with plants. Desert lichens typically grow between 0.3 and 0.5 mm per year (Beschel 1961). For instance, although the Caliente Allotment has not been actively grazed in over 40 years, it has a poorly developed biological soil crust community. While there is a fair diversity in species of BSC lichens present, they are very hard to find, occurring only on a few scattered ridges. As another example, we surveyed a site in Kane Springs Valley that had burned 37 years earlier, and a similar site in Tule Springs Hills that had burned 12 years earlier. Both sites have roughly half as many species as comparable unburned sites. And although the Kane Springs Valley site has had an additional 25 years to recover, its flora is no more diverse than the other more recently burned site. Types of disturbance for lichens include many anthropogenic activities, ranging from those that can be managed, like OHV routes in intact BSC communities, to those that cannot be managed within the CFO, such as air pollution and changing climate regimes. • • • High-elevation development: The proliferation of different types of cellular data towers and high-elevation campgrounds is a primary concern. The existing forests and cliffs on Highland Peak are among the most rich in lichens in the CFO, with over 150 species, 36 of which were found nowhere else in the CFO and 24 are potentially new species. This lichen community is also likely at risk from climate change, as species migrate uphill and habitat becomes constricted (Aptroot and van Herk 2002, Ellis 2015, Allen and Lendemer 2016). OHV recreation: With ever-growing interest in off-road vehicle use, the potential for damage to slowly re-establishing biological soil crust communities is high (Figure 13). Management intervention and guidance is paramount in areas where new OHV routes are being developed. The Big Hogback, near the town of Panaca, has an exceptional BSC community, with five species we found nowhere else in the CFO, all secondary succession species. This area has active OHV trails and a magical landscape of hoodoos that is interesting to explore. Outreach education and signs could be particularly effective tools for encouraging users to stay on trails. Fossil fuel exploration and extraction: The potential extension or resumption of conventional and unconventional fossil fuel extraction into the CFO (BLM 2015a, 2019) is another concern. For example, Coal Valley has been leased for oil exploration (BLM 2015a). While the basin may not host unusual species of lichens, the surrounding mountains do host unusually diverse communities. These Figure 13. OHV track through recovering biological soil crust commucommunities may be threatened nity along Toquop Wash in the Mojave. Discussion 11 by the VOCs, heavy metals and other air pollutants associated with fossil fuel extraction (Conti and Cecchetti 2001). Additional management concerns that threaten lichen populations in the CFO include climate change, deposition of anthropogenic pollutants and changing fire regimes. We recommend creating monitoring systems for select locations and select populations. Monitoring data can be utilized to create status reports and management plans for mitigating impacts on lichen populations. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE INVENTORY AND MONITORING The Caliente Field Office, with its location on the Mojave–Great Basin ecotone, is an ideal place to monitor the biotic impacts of a shifting climate on Great Basin and Mojave ecosystems (Rehfeldt et al. 2006, Bradley 2010, Cole et al. 2011), and to develop tools that can be used by land managers across Nevada for climate change mitigation efforts (Bradley 2010, Still and Richardson 2015). We recommend further research to field test methods for monitoring candidate bioindicator species and for assessing the viability of these species as early warning indicators in the CFO as well as the Great Basin as a whole. We also recommend developing methodologies for monitoring particularly vulnerable habitats and species in the CFO, and exploring the distribution and vulnerability of these habitats and species elsewhere in the Great Basin. We propose that such field testing of methodologies will result in a suite of actionable monitoring tools that can be employed throughout Nevada to identify localities that are most vulnerable to climate change and in need of conservation. CONCLUSION One of the most striking experiences of studying the lichens in the Great Basin is the size of the lichens —many are well over one or two feet in diameter, indicating that some individuals may be thousands of years old and their communities even older. In a landscape that extends back in time to the rising of the Sierra Nevada, stretched and reformed by rift processes, whose vegetation communities are shaped by the rise and fall of terminal lakes, it is not surprising to find such a remarkable diversity of lichens. Our current study undoubtedly uncovers only a fraction of the total biodiversity occurring in the CFO and Great Basin. 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SITE SUMMARY Site summary table includes: - number of species ranked S1 or S2 - number of species ranked S3 or S4 - number of unknown taxa with provisional names (the ones we are most confident of) - number of nonlichenized parasite species - number of species found nowhere else in the CFO - percentage of specimens studied in lab - number of specimens collected - number of reasonably confident records (including hitch-hikers) - number of reasonably confident taxa (including nonlichenized allies and parasites) Table 1. Site summary Site code and name Gw2 Gw3 Gw4 Gw5 Gw6 Gw7 Gw8 Gn1 Gn3 Gn4 Gn5 Gn6 Gn7 Gn8 Gc1 Gc2 Gc4 Ge1 Ge2 Ge3 Ge5 Ge6 Ge7 Ge8 Ge9 Sand Spring Playa Groom Range (north end) Mount Irish Golden Gate Range (high point) Worthington Peak Worthington Range (north end) Quinn Canyon Range Golden Gate Range (basalt hill) Golden Gate Range (Cottontail Pass) Coal Valley Playa Seaman Wash hills Seaman Range4 Golden Gate Range (basalt in north) Golden Gate Range (rhyolite in north) Dry Lake (south) Dry Lake (north) Highland Peak Clover Creek Canyon Caliente Allotment Antelope Canyon Miller Bench The Big Hogback Condor Canyon Panaca Kilns Lodge Peak S1/2 S3/4 new para- only sites here 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 2 0 9 7 12 12 0 0 8 4 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 1 3 5 1 0 3 3 5 3 0 0 6 8 2 1 2 6 10 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 8 16 1 1 2 1 1 3 0 1 8 14 4 0 0 8 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 15 7 13 36 0 0 8 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 18 9 0 0 6 4 1 1 3 7 7 6 0 1 4 6 0 0 11 9 25 17 0 4 4 9 5 pct. speci- records taxa done mens 11% 9 3 2 34% 217 186 99 77% 271 401 156 35% 175 196 92 17% 206 128 59 29% 120 134 61 28% 169 138 86 88% 60 114 49 82% 217 422 120 100% 12 15 11 77% 107 223 75 38% 16 22 15 86% 115 278 96 94% 67 206 77 n/a 0 0 0 100% 24 51 10 95% 374 827 156 37% 205 265 101 38% 34 15 13 79% 266 442 151 73% 51 92 40 100% 78 184 74 37% 116 123 58 86% 286 683 176 90% 108 245 94 4 We did not collect any specimens at Seaman High Point; BLM administration allowed us only to take photographic documentation of the species at this location. Soil crusts and pebbles were collected at the foot of the mountain, outside of the Wilderness Area. Data for rock and epiphytes was generated using photographs taken on site. 18 Ge10 Ge11 Ge12 Ew1 Ew2 Ew3 Ec1 Ec1a Ec3 Ec4 Es1 Es2 Es3 Es5 En1 En1a En3 En4 En5 En6 En7 En8 Mw1 Mw2 Mw3 Mw4 Mc1 Mc3 Mc5 Mc6 Me1 Me2 Me3 Me4 Me5 Me6 Me7 Total: I.A. Site Summary Chief Range Oak Springs Pass Dow Mountain “Fort Apache” Tikaboo Peak Shooting Gallery Hiko Canyon Crystal Wash Delamar Dry Lake Delamar Range (Big Lime Mountain) Delamar Range (Narrow Canyon) Delamar Range (“Elgin Canyon”) Rainbow Canyon (Willow Creek) limestone gorge near Garden Mountain Sandhills Allotment Rainbow Canyon (Acklin Canyon) Clover Mountains (Ella Mountain) Clover Mountains (Sawmill Mountain) Clover Mountains (Docs Pass) Clover Mountains (Rock Canyon) Clover Mountains (Sheep Canyon) Tepee Rocks Kane Springs Valley Meadow Valley Mtns (south end) Meadow Valley Mtns (Bunker Hills) Meadow Valley Wash Tule Desert hills Mormon Mountains (west) Mormon Mountains (north) hills north of Mormon Mountains East Mormon Mountains (west side) East Mormon Mountains (east side) Toquop Wash (salt seeps) Toquop Wash (mesa) Toquop Wash (wash) Terry Benches Tule Springs Hills 62 sites 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 7* 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 2 1 5 1 1 3 1 0 2 0 1 1 80* 4 9 0 9 6 3 1 3 3 6 11 0 3 1 3 0 2 1 4 0 1 1 2 1 5 4 1 6 4 1 0 7 0 1 0 3 0 46* 10 14 2 11 2 0 0 7 1 5 10 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 10 8 1 15 3 2 3 15 0 2 0 6 0 104* 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 5 1 1 4 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 5 0 0 8 2 0 3 6 0 2 0 6 1 172 100% 27 6% 174 100% 10 86% 145 6% 167 25% 175 0% 41 85% 72 17% 128 6% 280 33% 295 25% 4 13% 88 97% 96 8% 131 10% 10 24% 166 40% 5 26% 149 19% 32 52% 65 67% 6 24% 29 77% 60 100% 96 100% 59 16% 51 99% 115 40% 273 16% 77 46% 160 100% 139 10% 40 100% 62 100% 18 98% 82 39% 64 55% 6894 103 448 18 363 105 98 14 163 78 177 439 2 80 181 96 6 131 3 107 12 132 12 30 80 289 164 31 213 238 57 134 301 8 116 12 246 52 10132 61 120 14 102 78 68 13 76 57 91 139 2 52 68 39 6 78 2 68 10 32 9 24 49 77 57 25 108 99 34 66 107 8 40 9 65 27 554 * These are not the sum of the numbers in the columns above; they are the number of species in each category. Thus, 104 is the number of parasite species in the CFO, not the total number of occurrences. Appendix I. Site Data 19 I.B. BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUST LICHEN INVENTORIES Table 2. Biological soil crust lichen inventories Ge3 Ge2 Ge5 En1 Me7 Ge6 Mw3 Mw4 Me6 Ew1 Gw3 En6 Ec3 Gn6 Gn3 Gw7 Ec4 Es1 Me2 Me1 Me4 Me3 Me5 Es5 Gw4 Ew3 Mc3 Gn4 Gn1 Gw8 Gw2 Ec1a Mc1 Site code and name Antelope Canyon Caliente Allotment Miller Bench Sandhills Allotment Tule Springs Hills The Big Hogback Meadow Valley Mts (Bunker Hills) Meadow Valley Wash Terry Benches “Fort Apache” Groom Range Clover Mtns (Rock Canyon) Delamar Dry Lake Seaman Range Golden Gate (Cottontail Pass) Worthington Range (north end) Delamar Mts (Big Lime Mountain) Delamar Mts (Narrow Canyon) East Mormon Mts (east side) East Mormon Mts (west side) Toquop Wash (mesa) Toquop Wash (salt seeps) Toquop Wash (wash) gorge near Garden Mountain Mount Irish Shooting Gallery Mormon Mts (west) Coal Valley Golden Gate (basalt hill) Quinn Canyon Range Sand Spring Playa Crystal Wash Tule Desert hills Allotment Caliente Caliente Little Mountain Sand Hills Beacon Panaca Cattle Rox Tule Rox Tule Sand Hollow Bald Mountain Bald Mountain Barclay Buckhorn Coal Valley Lake Cottonwood Cottonwood Delamar Delamar Gourd Spring Gourd Spring Gourd Spring Gourd Spring Gourd Spring Henrie Complex Irish Mountain Lower Lake West Mormon Peak Murphy Gap Pine Creek Sand Springs Sand Springs South Hiko–Six Mile White Rock Years since last grazed # species ca. 41 10 ca. 41 14 27+ 15 27+ 7 16 8 16 20 16 7 16 8 16 4 0 9 0 10 0 6 0 6 0 4 0 6 0 9 0 9 0 4 0 6 0 4 0 8 0 14 0 10 0 7 0 11 0 9 0 10 0 9 0 4 0 11 0 2 0 8 0 8 20 I.C. Sites Targeting Vegetation Alliances I.C. SITES TARGETING VEGETATION ALLIANCES Table 3. Sites targeting vegetation alliances Vegetation Alliance Great Basin Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland % CFO # sites sites 0.3% 4 Gc4, Ge1, Ge7, Es1 Great Basin Pinyon-Juniper Woodland 16.4% 22 Gw3, Gw4, Gw5, Gw6, Gw7, Gw8, Gn3, Gn6, Gn7, Gc4, Ge1, Ge11, Ge2, Ge5, Ge8, Ew2, Es1, En1, En1a, En3, En5, En6 Great Basin Xeric-Mixed Sagebrush Shrubland 10.0% 10 Gn1, Gn3, Gn5, Gn8, Ge3, Ge6, Ge7, Ge10, Es3, En8 Intermountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland 16.2% 7 Gn3, Gn7, Ge6, Ge7, Ge8, Es1, En1 0.5% 1 Gw2 14.1% 3 Gn1, Gc1, Gc2 0.6% 1 Es2 < 0.1% 1 Gc4 Intermountain Basins Playa 0.5% 2 Gn4, Ec3 Intermountain Basins Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe 7.9% 1 Gn5 Mogollon Chaparral 2.3% 1 Es1 14.4% 12 Ew1, Ec1, Ec1a, Ec3, Es5, Ew3, Mc1, Mc3, Mc5, Mc6, Me1, Me2 n/a 3 Ec4, Ew3, Mc5 0.2% 1 Me3 Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Shrubland < 0.1% 1 Gc4 Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland < 0.1% 3 Gw4, Gw6, Gn6 (photos only) Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland < 0.1% 1 Gc4 0.6% 5 Gc4, Ge9, Es1, En1, En5 12.3% 9 Mw1, Mw2, Mw3, Mw4, Mc6, Me4, Me5, Me6, Me7 < 0.1% 4 En1, En3, En4, En7 Intermountain Basins Greasewood Flat Intermountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Intermountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe Intermountain Basins Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub / Great Basin Pinyon-Juniper Woodland North American Warm Desert Wash Rocky Mountain Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland Sonora-Mojave Creosote-White Bursage Desert Scrub Southern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland Appendix I. Site Data 21 I.D. SITES TARGETING GEOLOGY AND ELEVATION Table 4. Sites targeting geology and elevation Great Basin siliceous: quartzite shale/mudstone rhyolite/tuff andesite neutral: basalt volcanic ash calcareous: limestone caliche soil/pebbles: soil pebbles Ecotone siliceous: quartzite shale/mudstone rhyolite/tuff andesite neutral: basalt volcanic ash calcareous: limestone soil/pebbles: soil pebbles Mojave siliceous: granite/schist rhyolite/tuff andesite calcareous: limestone caliche soil/pebbles: soil pebbles 1400–1800 m 1800–2400 m 2400–2800 m Ge3 Ge3 Gn8, Ge7, Ge10 Gn5 Gw3 Gw4 Gw5, Gw8, Ge8, Ge9, Ge11 Gn6 (photos only) Gn1, Ge1 Gn7 Ge8 Gn3, Ge3 Ge6 Gw3, Gw7 Gw4, Gw6, Gc4 Gw2, Gn3, Gn4, Ge2, Ge3, Ge5, Ge6 Gn3, Ge2 1000–1400 m Gw3, Gw4, Gw7, Gw8, Gn6 Gn6 1400–2000 m Gw4, Gc4 Ec4 Ec4 Ew3, Ec3, Es1 En5 Ew2 Ec1a 2000–2400 m En3 Es3 Ew1 Es5, Ec1 Ew3, Ec4 Ew2 Ec1a, Ec3, Es5 Ew1, Ew3, Ec4, Es1, Es2, En1, En6 Ew1, Ew3, Ec4, Es1, Es2, En1, En5, En6 1000–1600 m Ec1 Ec1a, Es5 600–1000 m Mw3, Mw4 Mc3, Me2 Mc5 Mc6 Mw1, Mw2, Mc1 Me4, Me6 Mc5, Me1, Me7 Mw3, Mw4, Me3, Me4, Me5, Me6, Mc1 Me5, Me6, Mc1 Mc3, Me1, Me2, Me7 Me1, Me7 1600–2000 m 22 I.E. Sites Targeting Tree and Shrub Species I.E. SITES TARGETING TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES Table 5. Sites targeting tree and shrub species species of tree/shrub White Fir (Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr.) Boxelder (Acer negundo L.) White Bursage (Ambrosia dubosa (A. Gray) Payne) Serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis Koehne) Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Adans. sp.) Sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula Nutt.) Sagebrush (Artemisia nova A. Nelson) Sagebrush (A. tridentata Nutt. ssp. tridentata) Sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle) Sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) Saltbrush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.) Saltbrush (Atriplex confertifolia (Torr. & Frém.) S. Watson) Barberry (Berberis fremontii (Torr.) Fedde) Mountain Lilac (Ceanothus sp.) Hackberry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (Torr.) L.D. Benson) Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus intricatus S. Watson) Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.) Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus Raf.) Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet) Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.) Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramossisima Torr.) Mormon Tea (Ephedra nevadensis S. Watson) # sites 4 1 2 5 2 2 6 8 4 5 5 3 2 1 2 4 2 1 2 1 4 16 Mormon Tea (Ephedra viridis Coville) Punctate Rabbitbrush (Ericameria paniculata (A. Gray) Rydb.) Dwarf Ash (Fraxinus anomala Torr. ex S. Watson) Silktassel (Garrya wrightii Torr.) Spiny Hopsage (Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq.) Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby) Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little) 5 1 3 1 3 1 19 Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.) Winterfat (Kraschinennikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & Smit) Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Colville) Wolfberry (Lycium andersonii A. Gray) Mortonia (Mortonia utahensis (Coville ex A. Gray) A. Nelson) Mat Rockspirea (Petrophytum caespitosum (Nutt.) Rydb.) Bud Sagebrush (Picrothamnus desertorum Nutt.) Bristlecone (Pinus longaeva D.K. Bailey) Pinyon (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.) 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 17 site codes Gw4, Gw6, Gn6, Gc4 Es1 Me6, Me5 Gc4, Ge11, Es1, En3, En5 En3, En5 Gw5, Ew3 Gw3, Gw4, Gw6, Gw7, Gc4, Ew2 Gn3, Gn7, Gn8, Ge6, Ge7, Ge8, Ec1a, Es1 Gw4, Gw8, Gc4, Ge9 Ge5, Ec4, Es2, En1, Mc5 Gn1, Gn4, Gn5, Gc1, Ge7 Gc2, Gn4, Ec3 Gn5, Mw2 En3 Es1, Mw2 Gw4, Ge3, Ec4, Me1 Gc4, Ge9 Es1 Es5, Me5 Ge7 Ew3, Ec4, Mc3, Mc5 Gw3, Gn1, Gn5, Ge3, Ec1, Ec1a, Ec4, Es1, Es5, Mw2, Mc3, Mc5, Me1, Me2, Me3, Me5 Gw4, Gw5, Gw7, Gc4, Ge1 Mc3 Es1, Mw2, Mc5 Es1 Gc2, Gn5, Ec3 Gc2 Gw3, Gw5, Gw6, Gw7, Gw8, Gn3, Gn6, Gn7, Gc4, Ge3, Ge5, Ge6, Ge8, Ew2, Ec4, Es1, En1, En5, Mc5 Gw4, Gc4 Gc2, Ec3 Mc1, Me5 Mc6, Me6 Mw2 Ec4 Gc2, Ec3 Gw6, Gc4 Gw3, Gw4, Gw5, Gw6, Gw7, Gw8, Gn3, Gn6, Gc4, Ge8, Ge9, Ew2, Ec4, Es1, En1, En3, En5 Appendix I. Site Data Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson) Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii S. Watson) Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata (Torr.) A. Gray) Bitterbrush (Purshia stansburiana (Torr.) Henrickson) Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC.) Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) Scrub Oak (Quercus spp.) Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata Nutt.) Willow (Salix sp.) Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.) Spineless Horsebrush (Tetradymia canescens DC.) Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia Engelm., Y. jaegeriana Roezl ex Ortgies) 5 1 1 1 2 7 9 2 2 5 5 1 3 Gn6, En1, En3, En4, En7 Es1 Gc4 Me1 Ec4, En1 Gw3, Ge11, Ec1, En1, Es2, Mc5, Me1 Gc4, Ge1, Ge8, Ge9, Es1, En1, En3, En5, En7 Es1, Es5 Ge8, Es5 Gc4, Ge1, Ge7, Es1, Mw4 Gw2, Gn1, Gn5, Ec1, Ec3 Ge6 Ec4, Es5, Me5 23 24 Appendix II. Checklists APPENDIX II. CHECKLISTS II.A. BASELINE INVENTORY OF THE CALIENTE FIELD OFFICE The following checklist includes all the species we found in the entire study area, including both the CFO and BRNM. A second list is provided that is limited to collections made in BRNM. Only one lichen (Protoparmelia cupreobadia) and six parasites (Arthonia clemens, A. epiphyscia, A. “pleopsidiae”, A. “zwackhianae”, Carbonea sp. JH11118 and parasite JH11158) were found in BRNM but not the CFO. Three species of lichens (Caloplaca teicholyta, Megaspora rimisorediata and Psorotichia numidella var. flageyna) and nine species of non-lichenized lichenicolous fungi (Arthonia hertelii, Ascochyta candelariellicola, Cercidospora melanophthalmae, Endococcus karlstadtensis, Lawalreea lecanorae, Lichenochora epinashii, Lichenostigma gracilis, L. triseptatum and Polycoccum evae) are new reports for North America. These are marked with an asterisk (*). Because so much of the Great Basin lichen biota is poorly understood, we have chosen to include unknown, undescribed and otherwise taxonomically problematic taxa. We have included notes wherever there is uncertainty to make it clear how we applied the names. For taxa which do not fit currently established species concepts, we have noted the characters which differ from typical populations. For taxa for which we were unable to find a name, we have given brief diagnoses. We have marked uncertain names with a question mark (?). For each species we give: recent synonyms, the number of records and sites we found it at, distribution, habitat and substrate preferences, including host species for parasites, and conservation status. II.A.1. Lichens Acarospora “alborosulata”—6 records at 3 sites—on limestone and caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat —Similar to A. tintickiana but smooth, flatter and only weakly pruinose (Figure 14). Leavitt et al. (2018) showed that this was a distinct species, but refrained from describing it until more material can be found. Ours are the only known specimens. Acarospora americana H. Magn.—122 records at 27 sites—a characteristic member of siliceous communities in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush, Creosote–Bursage, Mogollon Chaparral and Riparian habitats, but also present on volcanic ash, calcareous rocks and even pebbles. Acarospora bolleana (H. Magn.) J.N. Adams, K. Knudsen, Kocourk. & Y. Wang, in prep.—10 records at 6 sites—a characteristic species of calcareous pebbles in Mojave—This is a member of the A. glaucocarpa–Sarcogyne arenosa group. Kerry Knudsen sequenced one of our specimens (JH16643) and discovered that it is related to S. bolleana, a species presently synonymized with Figure 14. Acarospora “alborosulata”—7×. Figure 15. Acarospora bolleana—5×. Appendix II. Checklists 25 S. arenosa. The new combination into Acarospora and the new circumscription of S. arenosa and S. bolleana will be published in 2020. (Figure 15.) Acarospora boulderensis H. Magn.—2 records at 2 sites—ours found on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon– Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—A specimen collected by Bruce Ryan in 1986 at the south end of the Pahranagat Range (Ryan 15890, ASU), determined as A. badiofusca, may refer to this species; A. boulderensis was not yet described at the time he made his determination. Figure 16. Acarospora erratica (paratype)—7×. ? Acarospora calcarea K. Knudsen—1 record at 1 site —ours found on schist in Blackbrush habitat—Just a few squamules, but the presence of norstictic acid is distinctive. Acarospora chrysops (Tuck.) H. Magn.—Collected by Bruce Ryan in 1986 at south end of Pahranagat Range (Ryan 15778, ASU); determined by Kerry Knudsen in 2007 for the Sonoran Flora. We have not seen this specimen, but accept Knudsen’s identification. A. chrysops is apparently rare in the CFO, but the habitat is presumed not to be threatened, therefore it receives S4 status. Figure 17. Acarospora erratica (more typical)—7×. Acarospora elevata H. Magn.—14 records at 5 sites— on siliceous rock and basalt, both shaded and sunny, in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats, most common in the last. Acarospora erratica K. Knudsen & Kocourk.—28 records at 16 sites—most common on calcareous rock, including volcanic ash, mostly in sunny locations or on pebbles; most common in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but found at all elevations—Kerry Knudsen designated one of our specimens (JH16939) a paratype of this species when he described it in 2018 (Knudsen and Kocourková 2018). (Figures 16 and 17.) Acarospora fuscata (Schrader) Arnold—6 records at 5 sites—mostly on sunny rhyolitic tuff and volcanic ash in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush and Riparian habitats in Great Basin. Acarospora fuscescens H. Magn.—3 records at 2 sites —a characteristic species of sandstone on the Colorado Plateau; rare in the CFO, ours found only on volcanic ash formations—This receives S3/4 status because volcanic ash formations are uncommon in the CFO and structurally fragile. Acarospora “fuscorosulata”—15 records at 13 sites— mostly on rhyolite/tuff rocks on the ground in Xeric Figure 18. Acarospora “fuscorosulata”—1.5×. 26 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Sagebrush habitat in the Great Basin, but also found on andesite, volcanic ash and limestone, and in Dry– Mesic Montane, Pinyon–Juniper and Blackbrush habitats in the CFO—Similar to A. rosulata but darker and lacking gyrophoric acid (Figure 18). Acarospora heufleriana Körber—36 records at 12 sites—a characteristic species of siliceous rock in the Mojave and low-elevation Great Basin, but especially Blackbrush habitat. ? Acarospora janae K. Knudsen—1 record at 1 site— ours found on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat—Our specimen matches the description, but we have not seen authentic reference material. Figure 19. Acarospora “macroamericana”—7×. Acarospora “macroamericana”—25 records at 15 sites—widespread on various rocks in the Great Basin and northern Mojave, but most characteristic of siliceous rocks in Blackbrush habitat—Reminiscent of an over-exuberant A. americana, with large, imbricate, stipitate-squamulose areoles (Figure 19). The cortex, hymenium and spores are all larger than in A. americana. This species has a distinctive context of vertical hyphae in the algal layer, often extending partially into the cortex. Acarospora nevadensis H. Magn.—8 records at 3 sites—an uncommon species scattered throughout the southern Intermountain region; ours were all found on siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage habitat, especially on rocks on the ground. Acarospora nicolai B. de Lesd.—2 records at 2 sites—our two specimens were found on sunny rhyolite/tuff in Creosote–Bursage habitat—Similar to A. strigata but is uncracked, contains gyrophoric acid, has coarser pruina, thinner epicortex and narrowly ellipsoid spores. This is a widespread species but apparently uncommon (only 2 reports on CNALH). It was first reported for North America by Knudsen and Morse (2009). Siliceous habitat in the Mojave section of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore it receives S3 status. Acarospora obnubila H. Magn.—3 records at 3 sites—ours on basalt and rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon– Juniper habitat—We have applied this name to specimens forming scattered, epruinose, brown areoles with interrupted algal layer and no gyrophoric acid. Apparently true A. obnubila is synonymous with A. elevata (K. Knudsen, pers. comm.) Until the taxonomy is cleared up, we will continue to follow the Sonoran Flora. Acarospora obpallens (Nyl. ex Hasse) Zahlbr.—3 records at 1 site—more common in southern California and Arizona, usually on soil and crumbling siliceous rocks; ours were found on rhyolite in Mogollon Chaparral habitat in Narrow Canyon in the Delmar Mountains—Although found only at a single site in the CFO, the habitat is not threatened, therefore this receives S4 status. Acarospora oligospora (Nyl.) Arnold—1 record at 1 site—uncommon but widespread; ours was found on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—The proximity of Antelope Canyon to Caliente makes it potentially threatened by development and recreation, therefore it receives S3/4 status. Appendix II. Checklists 27 Acarospora cf. oreophila K. Knudsen—2 records at 2 sites—ours found on rhyolitic tuff in Blackbrush habitat—Our material is a good match except that the cortex is mostly paraplectenchymatous. We need to see a reference specimen to verify. Acarospora peliscypha Th. Fr.—14 records at 7 sites— widespread on siliceous rocks but not very common; ours mostly in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Kerry Knudsen has verified one of our specimens. Acarospora rosulata (Th. Fr.) H. Magn.—78 records at Figure 20. Acarospora “squamosa”—7×. 29 sites—a characteristic species on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats throughout the Great Basin, but also occurring occasionally on basalt and even limestone at higher and lower elevations; it seems to prefer more exposed situations. Acarospora socialis H. Magn.—78 records at 32 sites—a characteristic species on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats throughout the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts; rarely found at high elevations; occasionally occurs on neutral rock, volcanic ash or pebbles; it will even occur on chert and igneous intrusions in limestone. Acarospora “squamosa”—14 records at 10 sites—on siliceous rock, primarily in Creosote–Bursage habitat, but also occasionally at higher elevations in Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Similar to A. succedens but areolate (as opposed to verrucose) and spores broadly ellipsoid. Kerry Knudsen has seen a specimen and confirms that it is an undescribed species. (Figure 20.) Acarospora stapfiana (Müll. Arg.) Hue—37 records at 26 sites—parasitic species almost exclusively on Caloplaca trachyphylla; a characteristic species on both siliceous and calcareous rock in Pinyon– Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats; although it was not collected on limestone in the Mojave, it is unlikely that is a significant habitat preference. Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta—206 records at 41 sites—very common, variable and widespread species; a characteristic member of most habitats in both the Great Basin and Mojave, growing on both siliceous and calcareous rock; probably prefers calcareous rock, but the widespread calcareous influence in the CFO made it equally common on both rock types; prefers exposed situations, and is especially common on pebbles. Acarospora succedens H. Magn.—4 records at 2 sites —ours found on volcanic rocks in Blackbrush habitat—Two specimens from two additional sites are very similar but lack jagged algal layer. Kerry Knudsen determined three of our specimens, including one of the non-jagged ones. We give this DD status pending taxonomic clarification. (Figure 21.) Acarospora thamnina (Tuck.) Herre—33 records at 12 sites—widespread in Western North America; ours were found on volcanic outcrops and cliffs in various Great Basin habitats. Figure 21. Acarospora succedens—7×. 28 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Acarospora tintickiana St. Clair, Newberry & S. Leavitt—11 records at 9 sites—a Great Basin endemic, characterstic of hard limestone in Pinyon–Juniper habitat (and Xeric Sagebrush habitat outside the CFO)—This species was described by Leavitt et al. (2018) based in part on our material. Anaptychia elbursiana (Szatala) Poelt—50 records at 28 sites—a characteristic species of siliceous habitats throughout the Great Basin and northern Mojave, especially lower elevations; occasionally on calcareous rock. Anaptychia ulotrichoides (Vainio) Vainio—8 records at 5 sites—rare in the Great Basin where it occurs on siliceous and calcareous rock, mostly at higher elevations. ? Anema progidulum (Nyl.) Henssen—1 record at 1 site—ours found on basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—We need to have this specimen verified. Arthonia apatetica (A. Massal.) Th. Fr.—2 records at 2 sites—ours found on Mountain Mahogany and Rocky Mountain Juniper at high elevation. Arthonia glebosa Tuck.—2 records at 1 site—uncommon but widespread, occurring on soil throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon–Juniper habitat; ours in Quinn Canyon Range; more common farther north in the Intermountain Region—Biological soil crust communities are threatened throughout Nevada, and this Quinn Canyon Range site is no exception (heavily-used cattle trails laced the area), therefore this receives S3 status. Arthonia patellulata Nyl.—2 records at 2 sites—ours found on Juniper wood in the Great Basin. Arthonia sp. JH12528—2 records at 1 site—found on Juniper wood and Bristlecone bark on Highland Peak—Thallus well-developed, variable; apothecia round, convex, black, epruinose; epihymenium K-; hymenium 40–50 µm, I+r; subhymenium redbrown; paraphyses capitate, ca. 5 µm at tips; asci broadly clavate, ca. 40 × 15 µm; spores 8 per ascus, hyaline, 3-septate, constricted at septae, cells equal, 15–20 × 3–4 µm. (Figure 22.) Aspicilia americana B. de Lesd.—7 positive records at Figure 22. Arthonia sp. JH12528—15×. 5 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Thallus mottled olive and gray, and distinctly rimose near margin; conidia medium-sized. Aspicilia arida (Owe-Larsson, A. Nordin & Tibell) McCune = Circinaria arida Owe-Larsson, A. Nordin & Tibell—5 positive records at 5 sites—probably most common in the Mojave on siliceous rocks—Similar to A. elmorei but thallus thinner, apothecia smaller, algal layer ±continuous, paraphyses more moniliform. Delimitation of these two species is not yet understood. Aspicilia arizonica Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—24 records at 9 sites—most common on siliceous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Thallus pale gray with abrupt margin and thick apothecial rims; conidia medium-sized; contains norstictic acid. Aspicilia boykinii Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—16 specimens at 9 sites—a characteristic species on calcareous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats in the Great Basin, but also present in the northern Mojave. Appendix II. Checklists 29 Aspicilia cf. calcarea (L.) Mudd = Circinaria cf. calcarea (L.) A. Nordin, Savić & Tibell—3 records at 3 sites—on limestone in Xeric Sagebrush habitat— Similar to A. contorta, but thallus is white, indeterminate, and thinning toward the margin (Figure 23). Aspicilia cf. candida (Anzi) Hue—5 records at 2 sites —on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper and Montane habitats in the Great Basin—Intermediate between A. boykinii and A. candida. Epihymenium brown, paraphyses ±submoniliform, spores 15–18 × 10-12 µm, and containing substictic acid. (Figure 24.) Figure 23. Aspicilia cf. calcarea—15×. Aspicilia contorta (Hoffm.) Kremp. = Circinaria contorta (Hoffm.) A. Nordin, Savić & Tibell—49 records at 24 sites—a characteristic member of the calcareous rock community in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats in the Great Basin, but found throughout our region; occasionally on siliceous rocks with calcareous influence, especially when on the ground. ? Aspicilia aff. contorta (Hoffm.) Kremp.—1 record at 1 site—one sterile specimen on sunny rhyolite in the Bunker Hills in Creosote–Bursage habitat—This is unlike any specimens of A. contorta, A. arida or Figure 24. Aspicilia cf. candida—2×. A. elmorei we’ve seen, yet it comes out right in the middle of one of two well-supported clades of C. contorta in Genbank. See JH16155. Aspicilia determinata (H. Magn.) N.S. Golubk.—32 records at 16 sites—a characteristic member of calcareous rock communities in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats; also found on volcanic ash. Aspicilia “digitata”—3 records at 2 sites—one robust population at base of quartzite cliff on Mount Irish in Dry–Mesic Montane forest—Very similar to A. “dimelaenoides”. Central areoles growing strongly erect and finger-like; epihymenium ±brown; hymenium ca. 80 µm; spores 8 per ascus, 14– Figure 25. Aspicilia “digitata”—10×. Figure 26. Aspicilia “dimelaenoides”—10×. 30 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office 16 × 10–12 µm; conidia (15)18–23(25) µm; contains substictic acid. We’ve only seen this a couple of times, always at higher elevations, including on Mount Whitney and White Mountain. (Figure 25.) Aspicilia “dimelaenoides”—14 records at 9 sites—on sheltered siliceous rock faces throughout the Great Basin—Thallus pale gray, rimose, with Dimelaenalike radiating margin and coarsely granular “isidia”; never fertile; conidia (10)14–18(24) µm; contains substictic acid. (Figure 26.) Aspicilia elmorei (E.D. Rudolph) McCune = Circinaria elmorei (E. D. Rudolph) Owe-Larsson, A. Nordin & M. Sohrabi—30 positive records at 16 sites—on siliceous rock in Great Basin and northern Mojave; a characteristic species on pebbles in soil communities in Pinyon–Juniper Woodland— Similar to A. arida but thallus thicker, apothecia larger, algal layer strongly jagged, paraphyses less moniliform. Determination of intermediate specimens is impossible at this time. (Figure 27.) Figure 27. Aspicilia elmorei—7×. Aspicilia filiformis Rosentreter—2 records from 1 site —ours found on dried mud near the edge of Delamar Dry Lake; more common farther north in the Figure 28. Aspicilia filiformis—2×. Intermountain region—Like A. hispida but branches lax and trailing (Figure 28). Delamar Dry Lake is a popular off-road vehicle area, and this population was found near a petroglyph site receiving lots of traffic, therefore it receives S3 status. Aspicilia fumosa Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—2 positive records at 2 sites—ours found on siliceous rock in Great Basin—Like A. nashii but areoles thinner, flatter, contiguous, not mottled, entirely gray; apothecia less lecanora-like, typically with contrasting darker rims; hymenium taller. Aspicilia hispida Mereschk. = Circinaria hispida (Mereschk.) A. Nordin, Savić & Tibell—4 records at 4 sites—on ground in Pinyon–Juniper habitat throughout the Great Basin, but easy to overlook. ? Aspicilia “immersa” = Circinaria sp.—2 records at 2 sites—found on limestone, one high on Highland Peak, the other on the northern edge of the Mojave in Creosote–Bursage habitat in the limestone gorge near Garden Mountain—Looks like Rinodina immersa, with small pruinose apothecia immersed in pits in rock, but anatomically like Aspicilia contorta (Figure 29). Aspicilia knudsenii Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin— 3 records at 3 sites—ours found on siliceous rock in the Great Basin—Very similar to A. phaea but ours contain norstictic acid. Figure 29. Aspicilia “immersa”—10×. Appendix II. Checklists 31 Aspicilia “lobothalloides”—18 records at 12 sites—on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin and into at least the northern part of the Mojave—Similar to A. elmorei but with conspicuously elongate, radiating marginal lobes (Figure 30). Aspicilia cf. mastrucata (Wahlenb.) Th. Fr. = Sagedia cf. mastrucata (Wahlenb.) A. Nordin, Savić & Tibell —on moss: 22 records at 11 sites; on rock: 26 record at 17 sites—a characteristic species in siliceous communities in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats throughout the Great Basin— Figure 30. Aspicilia “lobothalloides”—1.5×. This is a highly variable species complex, varying from pale brown or gray to dark olive, from granular-isidiate to schizidiate to phyllidiate. Occasionally found fertile on rock. All of our material contains abundant norstictic acid. (Figures 31-34.) Aspicilia nashii Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—83 records at 20 sites—an abundant, characteristic species on siliceous and neutral rock in all habitats and elevations throughout the Great Basin; found only once in the Mojave, on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat; and found once on limestone under a Juniper on Mount Irish—Thallus of dispersed, verrucose areoles over conspicuous black, fibrous prothallus; strikingly mottled white around apothecia and pycnidia, contrasting with dark olive to Figure 31. Aspicilia cf.. mastrucata (on moss)—2×. Figure 33. Aspicilia cf. mastrucata (on rock)—5×. Figure 32. Aspicilia cf. mastrucata (granular)—7×. Figure 34. Aspicilia cf. mastrucata (fertile)—10×. 32 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office brown areoles, although some forms turn entirely gray toward the interior and olive-white mottling is only seen near margin; conidia medium-long; contains no lichen acids. Compare with A. fumosa, A. knudsenii, A. phaea and A. cf. tenuis. Aspicilia olivaceobrunnea Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—6 records at 5 sites—uncommon, scattered throughout the Great Basin, probably more common in the Sonoran Desert; on noncalcareous rock —Thallus olive to brown, ours usually verrucose; conidia medium-sized; contains norstictic acid. Aspicilia peltastictoides (Hasse) K. Knudsen & Kocourk.—6 records at 2 sites—a rare species, apparently endemic to the Mojave; ours found on rhyolite, schist and granite in East Mormon Mountains and Bunker Hills—Knudsen et al. (2013) consider this species naturally rare throughout its range. Siliceous habitat in the Mojave section of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore this rare species at the edge of its range receives S1 status. See Appendix V.B.1 for more information. Aspicilia phaea Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—11 records at 5 sites—on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin, but less common than A. nashii—Similar to A. nashii but with thin areolate to rimose-areolate margin and short conidia. Figure 35. Aspicilia cf. reptans—5×. Aspicilia cf. reptans (Looman) Wetmore—10 records at 5 sites—on soil in Great Basin—This is a very nondescript, ecorticate, whitish, irregular thing (Figure 35). We have never seen it fertile or otherwise clearly identifiable. It is not vagrant, but sometimes becomes partly fruticose and seems to fall into that group. A. reptans is the most likely name, although there may be multiple species present. ? Aspicilia “rupicola”—1 record at 1 site—found on volcanic ash formation near Panaca Kilns—Superficially, looks just like Lecanora rupicola (Figure 36). May be an extreme, pruinose form of A. nashii, but we couldn’t find conidia. See JH11650. Figure 36. Aspicilia “rupicola”—10×. ? Aspicilia cf. substictica Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin— 6 records at 5 sites—uncommon on siliceous rock in Great Basin—Similar to A. americana but with substictic acid. (Figure 37.) Aspicilia cf. tenuis (H. Magn.) Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin—1 record at 1 site—on rhyolite talus on Lodge Peak near Panaca Kilns—Rimose-areolate form of A. nashii, with conspicuous white inner rims, submoniliform paraphyses and long conidia. (Figure 38.) Figure 37. Aspicilia cf. substictica—0.8×. Appendix II. Checklists 33 Bacidia vermifera (Nyl.) Th. Fr. = Bibbya vermifera (Nyl.) Kistenich, Timdal, Bendiksby & S. Ekman— 13 records at 4 sites—locally common but easily overlooked; mostly on Gambel Oak but also on wood of various shrubs, in various habitats in the Great Basin from middle to high elevation. Bellemerea alpina (Sommerf.) Clauzade & Cl. Roux— 1 record at 1 site—ours on rhyolite talus on Lodge Peak near Panaca Kilns; a common species on siliceous rock in the alpine throughout Western North America—Lodge Peak is not considered threatened, therefore this receives S4 status. Biatoridium / Strangospora sp.—13 records at 6 sites —very inconspicuous, scattered among other species on various shrubs and trees in the Great Basin at all elevations—Forms tiny reddish marginless apothecia with many tiny, globose spores (Figure 39). Close to Biatoridium or Strangospora. This may be what L. St. Clair has been calling Strangospora microhaema. That species has the same Korange pigments and finely-branched paraphyses, but it has much larger and less numerous spores, and it occurs in boggy habitats. Figure 38. Aspicilia cf. tenuis—7×. Figure 39. Strangospora cf. microhaema—15×. Buellia abstracta (Nyl.) H. Olivier—23 records at 6 sites—locally common on siliceous rock especially near the ground, in various habitats throughout the CFO but especially in Blackbrush habitat. Buellia alboatra (Hoffm.) Th. Fr. = Diplotomma alboatrum (Hoffm.) Flotow—8 records at 5 sites— ours found mostly on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Buellia badia (Fr.) A. Massal.—22 records at 12 sites—ours mostly found on wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, but also found on various shrubs and trees in Oak, Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats —This species is more typically a parasite on saxicolous crusts elsewhere in Western North America. Ours on wood may therefore be a new species. Buellia chloroleuca Körber = Tetramelas chloroleucus (Körber) A. Nordin—35 specimens (18 KC+o) at 9 sites—mostly on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper Woodland, but also locally common on White Fir on Highland Peak, and in a few other scattered Great Basin habitats—Most specimens are KC- and often with ±dark thallus; these may be B. erubescens; see notes under B. erubescens. Some otherwise strict specimens from high-elevation habitats have unusually long spores. 34 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Buellia “cinerea”—5 records at 2 sites—several tiny thalli on deeply shaded clayey quartzite in Antelope Canyon and rhyolite in Narrow Canyon in the Delamar Mountains—Thallus minutely rimose, effuse, pale brownish; apothecia immersed, without exciple, hypothecium hyaline; spores thin-walled throughout or with slight thickening of outer parts of septum when immature, soon constricted, 15–18 × 9–12 µm. This may actually belong in Rinodina or even Dimelaena. (Figure 40.) Buellia dispersa A. Massal.—18 records at 8 sites—on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—Less common than B. nashii in the CFO (see notes for that species). Figure 40. Buellia “cinerea”—10×. Buellia erubescens Arnold—at least 1 record at 1 site —on Juniper in Great Basin—We probably have more of this, but based on our experience with specimens at ASU, norstictic acid is extremely difficult to detect with spot tests in desert material. Buellia “laboriosa”—2 records at 1 site—locally common on crumbling granite in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—Superficially looks just like B. abstracta, but it has larger spores (13–17 Figure 41. Buellia “laboriosa”—10×. × 5–6 µm) and a pale hypothecium. Contains norstictic acid. Frank Bungartz says this is may be a Rinodina instead of a Buellia (pers. comm. 2018). (Figure 41.) Buellia nashii Bungartz—73 records at 19 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rocks in Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats; occasionally also found on calcareous rock —Often seems to be parasitic, e.g., on Acarospora, Aspicilia and Rhizocarpon. Similar to B. dispersa but with aeruginose pigment in the epihymenium and exciple, and containing stictic acid instead of 2-O’-methylperlatolic acid. We distinguished the two in the lab primarily with P test. Buellia navajoensis Bungartz—4 records at 4 sites— ours on dusty, sheltered siliceous and neutral rock in Oak, Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats. Buellia “neoimshaugii”—9 records at 7 sites—juvenile parasite on Dimelaena oreina, on siliceous rocks throughout the Great Basin—Like B. uberior but medulla contains cf. perlatolic acid, medulla amyloid, hymenium weakly inspersed, and spores often bent. F. Bungartz has seen our material and confirmed that it is a new species. (Figure 42.) Buellia “neouberior”—3 records at 3 sites—parasitic on Rhizocarpon disporum and Aspicilia cf. mastru- Figure 42. Buellia “neoimshaugii”—15×. Appendix II. Checklists 35 cata on basalt and rhyolite in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Great Basin—Like B. uberior but chemistry is different (2´-O-methylperlatolic instead of gyrophoric acid), medulla is weakly amyloid, hymenium is weakly inspersed and spores are larger (13– 15 × 7–8 µm instead of 9–11 × 5–6 µm). F. Bungartz has seen one of our specimens and tentatively confirmed that it is a new species. (Figure 43.) Buellia punctata (Hoffm.) A. Massal. = Amandinea punctata (Hoffm.) Coppins & Scheid.—59 records at 11 sites—on various shrubs and trees throughout the region, once on Greasewood even. Figure 43. Buellia “neouberior”—10×. Buellia cf. sheardii Bungartz—1 record at 1 site—on sheltered rhyolite/tuff near the ground in Blackbrush habitat in Crystal Wash—Ours lacks divaricatic acid. Apothecia small, sessile; exciple dispersa-type, bluish pigment at edge, hyaline on inner edge; hymenium short, clear; spores 8–10 × 4–5 µm; chemistry atranorin + stictic acid, medulla amyloid. (Figure 44.) Buellia spuria (Schaerer) Anzi—9 records at 5 sites— on siliceous and neutral rock in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats. Figure 44. Buellia cf. sheardii—7×. Buellia triseptata A. Nordin—2 records at 2 sites—on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Groom Range, and Oak in a Ponderosa grove in Clover Mountains —We still have many unprocessed specimens of Buellia spp. in our stacks, so it is likely we will find additional occurrences, therefore this receives DD status pending completion of lab work. Buellia venusta (Körber) Lettau = Diplotomma venustum (Körber) Körber—11 records at 7 sites—mostly on calcareous rock, occasionally on volcanic ash or rhyolite with calcareous influence. Figure 45. Buellia sp. JH11368a—7×. Buellia sp. JH11368a—1 record at 1 site—on basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat on peak x6962 in Golden Gate Range—Closest to B. dispersa, but rimose at margin, medulla amyloid, conidia 3–4 µm, contains atranorin and maybe a xanthone. (Figure 45.) Caloplaca adnexa Vězda—19 records at 10 sites—parasitic on various siliceous rock crusts, especially Aspicilia and Rhizocarpon; mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats, but also found at higher elevations—Apparently absent from the Mojave, perhaps because its favorite hosts are largely absent from the Mojave Caloplaca albovariegata (B. de Lesd.) Wetmore, and Caloplaca atroalba (Tuck.) Zahlbr.—These are highly polymorphic, intergrading species complexes. Below, we discuss a few distinct forms of each 36 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Figure 46. Caloplaca albovariegata 1—10×. Figure 48. Caloplaca “lobothalloides”—7×. Figure 47. Caloplaca albovariegata 2—7×. Figure 49. Caloplaca albovariegata 4—10×. group, some of which we have also found elsewhere in the Great Basin. But note that each of these forms is highly variable and hard to circumscribe. Much more work is required. Caloplaca albovariegata 1—2 records at 1 site—on limestone on Highland Peak—Thallus evenly pale, dispersed bullate-areolate, epinecral layer absent, cortex thin and indistinct, parathecium subparaplectenchymatous, paraphyses slender and weakly expanded, spores 12–15 × 7–9 µm with poorlydeveloped septum. (Figure 46.) Caloplaca albovariegata 2—2 records at 1 site—on limestone on Highland Peak—Similar to form 1, but areoles less bullate, parathecium prosoplectenchymatous and spores larger (16–18 × 9–10 µm). Compare with C. atroalba form 2, a more rimose-areolate form with narrower spores. (Figure 47.) Caloplaca albovariegata 3 = C. “lobothalloides”—19 records at 11 sites—scattered on various types of rock throughout the CFO; most records from siliceous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Thallus strongly mottled, often with subradiate marginal squamules; epinecral layer present; algal layer interrupted; spores longer and narrower than C. albovariegata s. str. (Figure 48.) Caloplaca albovariegata 4 = C. albovariegata s. str.?—2 records at 1 site—on rhyolite in Narrow Canyon in Delamar Range—Thallus mottled, subsquamulose, epinecral layer present, parathecium with huge subparaplectenchymatous cells, paraphyses submoniliform, spores not seen. (Figure 49.) Caloplaca atroalba 1 = C. atroalba s. str.?—12 records at 4 sites—on calcareous rock at all elevations in both the Mojave and Great Basin—Thallus typically poorly developed, parathecium usually well- Appendix II. Checklists Figure 50. Caloplaca atroalba 1—10×. Figure 52. Caloplaca atroalba 3—12×. Figure 51. Caloplaca atroalba 2—7×. Figure 53. Caloplaca atroalba 4—10×. 37 developed, subparaplectenchymatous with large thick-walled cells near margin, spores 13–16 × 7–8 µm, septum poorly developed. (Figure 50.) Caloplaca atroalba 2—11 records at 4 sites—on calcareous rock and pebbles at low elevations in Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—Thallus typically thinly rimose-areolate, parathecium usually very thin, prosoplectenchymatous with thin radiating hyphae near margin, spores 15–18 × 5–7 µm, septum 1.0–1.5 µm. (Figure 51.) Caloplaca atroalba 3—1 record at 1 site—on clayey quartzite in Antelope Canyon in Xeric Sagebrush habitat—One poor specimen with distinctive lecideoid apothecia that completely lack algae in the margin, spores 17 x 7 µm, septum 4–5 µm. (Figure 52.) Caloplaca atroalba 4—17 records at 3 sites—on various types of rock in the Mojave—Thallus subsquamulose, thallline and proper margins usually both thick and prominent, parathecium prosoplectenchymatous with thin, radiating, capitate hyphae in the margin, spores 12–13 × 6–8 µm, septum 1 µm. (Figure 53.) Caloplaca “altaterrae”—13 records at 2 sites—on various trees and shrubs on Highland Peak and Lodge Peak—In the C. cerina group, but spores and septum narrower, and proper margin usually well-developed. Similar to Wetmore’s sp. 3 in the Sonoran Flora, but the spores of our material are significantly narrower (4–5 versus 6–7 µm). (Figure 58.) Caloplaca arenaria (Pers.) Müll. Arg. = Rufoplaca arenaria (Pers.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén—25 records at 15 sites—characteristic of siliceous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper Woodland, but also occa- 38 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office sionally found in Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats, rarely at high elevations. Caloplaca “atroarenaria”—2 records at 1 site—on volcanic ash at “Fort Apache” in Blackbrush habitat —Similar to C. arenaria, except the apothecia are orange-black instead of red-orange, paraphyses narrower and scarcely expanded at tips, hyphae below hymenium have thinner walls, and there is no paraplectenchymatous tissue in the amphithecium. (Figure 54.) Caloplaca biatorina (A. Massal.) J. Steiner = CaloFigure 54. Caloplaca “atroarenaria”—15×. gaya biatorina (A. Massal.) Arup, Frödén & Søchting—at least 30 records at 10 sites—mostly on calcareous rocks but also on siliceous rock in the CFO, at all elevations—See notes for C. saxicola. Caloplaca cf. cerina (Ehrh. ex Hedwig) Th. Fr.—We have many unprocessed specimens which look superficially like C. cerina, but so far all specimens examined have narrower spores and much thinner septum. True C. cerina may be absent from the CFO. See C. “altaterrae”. (Figure 59.) ? Caloplaca chlorina (Flotow) H. Olivier—1 record at 1 site—in water-streak at base of the quartzite cliffs on Mount Irish—This is a subisidiate saxicolous species in the C. cerina group. Our specimen is sterile. See notes for C. “nodulosa”. Caloplaca cladodes (Tuck.) Zahlbr. = Pachypeltis cladodes (Tuck.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup—20 records at 10 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, but found at all elevations throughout the Great Basin, rarely found in the northern Mojave—Many of our specimens are a reduced, subcrustose form which resembles C. adnexa, but can be distinguished by their distinctively constricted spores with narrow septum. Caloplaca crenulatella (Nyl.) H. Olivier = Xanthocarpia crenulatella (Nyl.) Frödén, Arup & Søchting —54 records at 22 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock and pebbles at all elevations in the CFO; occasionally found on siliceous rock with calcareous influence, e.g., under shrubs—Falls well within the range of variation given in Navarro-Rosinés and Hladun 1996 from the Mediterranean, although our material has very scant thallus. Caloplaca decipiens (Arnold) Blomb. & Forssell = Calogaya decipiens (Arnold) Arup, Frödén & Søchting—43 records at 20 sites—mostly on moss, soil and pebbles at the base of siliceous cliffs in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats; also found in neutral and calcareous communities. Caloplaca aff. dolomiticola (Hue) Zahlbr.—5 records at 5 sites—on rhyolite, tuff and limestone in Mogollon Chaparral, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—ITS sequence of JH16313 puts it near C. dolomiticola, however our material has scant thallus, just developed around apothecia. We have Figure 55. Calopalca aff. dolomiticola—15×. Appendix II. Checklists 39 seen no reference material of true C. dolomiticola (a European species), so we can’t confirm the sequence. (Figure 55.) Caloplaca durietzii H. Magn—59 records at 18 sites—characteristic species on Juniper and Gambel Oak at middle elevations in the Great Basin; also found on Bristlecone, Pinyon and a few shrubs— Some of our material has a subisidiate thallus, but otherwise appears to match well. Compare with C. arizonica and C. “isidiomicrophyllina”. This material needs further study. Caloplaca epithallina Lynge—52 records at 18 sites—characteristic species in siliceous communities throughout the Great Basin, especially Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—This is a parasitic species that grows on various siliceous rock crusts, especially Aspicilia, Dimelaena oreina and Lecanora muralis group (including Rhizoplaca melanophthalma). Caloplaca furfuracea H. Magn. = Blastenia furfuracea (H. Magn.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén— 6 records at 1 or 2 sites—mostly on Juniper and Fir wood at high elevations on Highland Peak and probably Seaman Range H.P.—This species has an entirely granular thallus (where present) and its apothecial margin is dominated by the dark red-orange proper margin. Compare with C. “nodulosa”. Wetmore (2004) considers this a boreal species widespread in the Rocky Mountains and its outliers. It seems to be restricted to high elevations in the CFO, a habitat threatened by rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3 status. (Figure 61.) Caloplaca “halophila”—31 records at 7 sites—characteristic species on salt scrub around playas— Seems to be anatomically related to and could even be an extreme form of C. saxicola. (Figure 56.) Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina”—84 records at 19 sites—characteristic species on Juniper in Pinyon– Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats; occasionally also found on various other trees and shrubs, including Joshua Tree and Bristlecone—Our material is unrelated to true C. microphyllina, which is distinctly sorediate; ours is irregularly isidiate. We’ve seen specimens of our species at ASU filed under C. durietzii, but that species should have a yellower thallus contrasting with the orange apothecia; in ours the thallus and apothecia are more or less the same bright orange to yellow-orange. Steve Leavitt sequenced some of Larry St. Clair’s specimens at BRY, but the results need more study. (Figure 57.) Figure 56. Caloplaca “halophila”—15×. Caloplaca nashii Nav.-Ros., Gaya & Hladun = Polycauliona nashii (Nav.-Ros., Gaya & Hladún) Arup, Frödén & Søchting—2 records at 2 sites—ours on limestone pebbles and open vertical granite in Blackbrush habitat. ? Caloplaca “nodulosa”—13 records at 6 sites— mostly on Juniper and Gambel Oak at low to middle elevations in the Great Basin—In the C. cerina group but with narrower spores with narrower septum, and with a thick gray thallus becoming sub- Figure 57. Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina”—7×. 40 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Figure 58. Caloplaca “altaterrae”—15×. Figure 60. Caloplaca “nodulosa”—12×. Figure 59. Caloplaca cf. cerina—7×. Figure 61. Caloplaca furfuracea—15×. isidiate. Differs from C. furfuracea in its oranger apothecia with thin proper margin and narrower spores. May be an epiphytic form of C. chlorina. (Figure 60.) Caloplaca peliophylla (Tuck.) Zahlbr.—1 record at 1 site—on sheltered schist in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—Our specimen is sterile. ITS sequence places it within C. peliophylla, and anatomy of thallus agrees with specimens at ASU. Wetmore (1994) considers this rare. It is known only from California and Baja California (Sonoran Flora). Siliceous habitat in the Mojave portion of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore this rare species at the edge of its range receives S1 status. See Appendix V.B.2 for more information. (Figure 62.) Caloplaca pellodella (Nyl.) Hasse—22 records at 8 sites—frequently scattered among other lichens on siliceous and calcareous rocks in Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage communities in the Mojave. Caloplaca pyracea (Ach.) Th. Fr. = Athallia pyracea (Ach.) Arup, Frödén & Søchting—18 records at 5 sites—mostly on Gambel Oak and Aspen at middle elevations in Great Basin. (Figure 63.) Caloplaca saxicola (Hoffm.) Nordin—at least 11 records at 6 sites—on both siliceous and calcareous rocks at all elevations in the Great Basin—Very sim- Figure 62. Caloplaca peliophylla—7×. Appendix II. Checklists ilar to C. biatorina, whose only reliable difference is broader spores. But at least a few specimens of true C. saxicola have been verified. Caloplaca “scopulorae”—10 records at 1 site—on various trees and shrubs, especially one Rocky Mountain Juniper, on Highland Peak—Similar to C. pyracea but apothecia and spores are smaller, and thalline margin is dominant (proper margin thin and indistinct). (Figure 64.) Caloplaca squamosa (B. de Lesd.) Zahlbr. = Squamulea squamosa (B. de Lesd.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén—34 records at 14 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rock in the Mojave; also found on calcareous rock; occasionally found in Pinyon– Juniper habitat. Figure 63. Caloplaca pyracea—7×. Caloplaca stillicidiorum (Vahl) Lynge—8 records at 6 sites—uncommon on moss over siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitats—The spore septum is a little thinner in our material than it should be (3–4 µm versus 4–6 µm). Caloplaca subsoluta (Nyl.) Zahlbr. = Squamulea squamosa (B. de Lesd.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén— 25 records at 13 sites—found on both siliceous and calcareous rocks throughout our region, but more common in the Mojave. Figure 64. Caloplaca “scopulorae”—7×. Caloplaca “tangerina”—14 records at 2 sites—one large population on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat at “Fort Apache”, and one specimen on rhyolite at Narrow Canyon in the Delamar Mountains—Similar to the coastal species C. luteominia, except the margin is often conspicuously cracked, the septum is be a bit thinner, and the hyphae of the parathecium, while radiating in both, are quite different: C. luteominia has rather interwoven, relatively short hyphae in the margin; this species has long, straight hyphae. Also, C. luteominia has a distinct cortex on the lower side of the margin, while this species has a very indistinct thalline cortex resulting in a less “waxy” texture. (Figure 65.) * Caloplaca teicholyta (Ach.) J. Steiner—23 records at 7 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock in Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats; may be restricted to northeastern Mojave; also found in the Great Plains and Europe—Sequenced three specimens, each with identical ITS sequence. No fertile material seen. (Figure 66.) Caloplaca tiroliensis Zahlbr. = Parvoplaca tiroliensis (Zahlbr.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén—8 records at Figure 65. Caloplaca “tangerina”—7×. 41 42 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office 6 sites—uncommon on moss over siliceous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Many of our specimens look superficially like C. jungermanniae, with bright orange apothecia, but spore size confirms that all of our material is C. tiroliensis. Caloplaca tominii (Savicz) Ahlner = Xanthocarpia tominii (Savicz) Frödén, Arup & Søchting— 23 records at 16 sites—characteristic biological soil crust lichen found throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon–Juniper, Big Sagebrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Playa habitats. (Some place N. Amer. material into the segregate species C. / X. erichansenii.) Figure 66. Caloplaca teicholyta—5×. Caloplaca trachyphylla (Tuck.) Zahlbr. = Xanthomendoza trachyphylla (Tuck.) Frödén, Arup & Søchting—88 records at 33 sites—characteristic species on both siliceous and calcareous rock throughout the Great Basin and into the upper Mojave. ? Caloplaca sp. 5 sensu Wetmore 2007 (in Nash et al. 2007)—7 possible records at 3 sites—on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat and Oak in Gambel Oak habitat—This is a granular-isidiate form of C. durietzii. Need to compare the anatomy carefully with C. “isidiomicrophyllina” and C. durietzii. Candelaria pacifica M. Westb. & Arup—46 records at 14 sites—infrequent on various trees and shrubs in Great Basin; most common on Gambel Oak. Candelariella aggregata M. Westb.—9 records at 6 sites—typically on plant debris, found throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Candelariella antennaria Räsänen—248 records at 34 sites—common on most trees and shrubs; in all habitats throughout the Great Basin and into the Mojave, even in playas; perhaps most common on Juniper, Sagebrush and Mormon Tea. Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr.—51 records at 15 sites—mostly on calcareous rock; throughout the region, at all elevations—Like C. rosulans, but with round or poorly-developed areoles. Candelariella citrina B. de Lesd.—10 records at 8 sites—on siliceous rock, mostly in Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—Like C. rosulans, but spores pointed at one or both ends. Candelariella deppeanae M. Westb.—1 positive record at 1 site—ours found on Mountain Mahogany bark in Gambel Oak habitat on Lodge Peak—Most of our specimens are sterile and look exactly like C. xanthostigma, which is distinguished only by spore number. It is likely that low-elevation specimens are C. deppeanae, and high-elevation specimens are C. xanthostigma, however we give both DD status since most specimens are uncertain. Candelariella rosulans (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr.—301 records at 46 sites—common throughout the region in most habitats; most abundant on siliceous rock, but frequently found on calcareous rock, volcanic ash, pebbles and even wood—Like C. aurella, but with well-developed, crenate areoles. Candelariella vitellina (Hoffm.) Müll. Arg.—30 records at 5 sites—occasional on siliceous rock at middle elevations in the Great Basin—Often found growing on various siliceous rock crusts, but probably not parasitic. Appendix II. Checklists 43 Candelariella xanthostigma (Ach.) Lettau—2 positive records at 1 site—on Fir and Juniper wood on Highland Peak—See comments for C. deppeanae. Carbonea assimilis (Körber) Hafellner & Hertel— 1 record at 1 site—on vertical rhyolite in Narrow Canyon in Delamar Mountains—This species is widespread in North America, Europe and Asia but apparently rare throughout its range. However, since this population is probably not at risk, given the remote location at the top of an extensive rhyolite cliff, it receives only S4 status. (Figure 67.) Figure 67. Carbonea assimilis—3×. Catapyrenium cinereum (Pers.) Körber—1 record at 1 site—ours found on soil sheltered by limestone rock in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak —Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Catapyrenium psoromoides (Borrer) R. Sant.—1 record at 1 site—on ground in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—Our specimen was growing on plant debris instead of bark, but is otherwise correct. All high-elevation habitat in the CFO is relatively scarce and potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Cladonia acuminata (Ach.) Norrlin—4 records at 3 sites—on ground at middle to high elevation in the Great Basin—Our material is apodetiate. Contains atranorin and norstictic acid. Cladonia cariosa group—3 records at 2 sites—on ground throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon– Juniper habitat—Our material is apodetiate. Contains atranorin and homosekikaic acid. Teuvo Ahti has recently been calling this C. scotteri (pers. comm. 21 July 2018). Cladonia chlorophaea (Flörke ex Sommerf.) Sprengel—1 record at 1 site—on rhyolite/tuff ledge near Panaca Kilns—This site doesn’t appear to be threatened, so this species receives S4 status. Collema bachmanianum (Fink) Degel. = Enchylium bachmanianum (Fink) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—1 record at 1 site—on moss sheltered by limestone rock in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and climate change, this receives S3 status. Collema coccophorum Tuck. = Enchylium coccophorum (Tuck.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—28 positive records at 17 sites—characteristic biological soil crust species in the Mojave; also found in limestone cracks; occasional in the Great Basin at all elevations, but often sterile in the Great Basin. Collema crispum (Hudson) F.H. Wigg. = Blennothallia crispa (Hudson) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin —13 records at 7 sites—on soil and in limestone cracks, mostly in Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats. Collema cristatum (L.) F.H. Wigg. = Lathagrium cristatum (L.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin— 2 records at 2 sites—ours found on rhyolite in Pinyon–Juniper and Blackbrush habitats—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Collema furfuraceum (Arnold) Du Rietz—5 records at 2 sites—ours on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon– Juniper and Mogollon Chaparral habitats—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. 44 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Collema fuscovirens (With.) J.R. Laundon = Lathagrium fuscovirens (With.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—20 records at 11 sites—uncommon on both siliceous and calcareous rocks throughout the region. Collema polycarpon Hoffm. = Enchylium polycarpon (Hoffm.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—18 records at 10 sites—mostly on calcareous rock scattered throughout the region. Collema subparvum Degel.—1 record at 1 site—ours on sheltered rhyolite in Pinyon–Juniper habitat at Figure 68. Collema subparvum—10×. Oak Springs Pass in the Delmar Mountains—Considered rare by Schultz in the key in the Sonoran Flora (Nash et al. 2004). Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 68.) Collema tenax (Sw.) Ach. = Enchylium tenax (Sw.) Gray—12 positive records at 8 sites—most of ours on soil and moss in limestone cracks; at all elevations. Collema undulatum Laurer ex Flotow = Lathagrium undulatum (Flotow) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin —2 records at 1 site—ours on limestone on Highland Peak—We have two additional poor specimens which could not be reliably determined, so this receives DD status. Cyphelium tigillare (Ach.) Ach. = Calicium tigillare (Ach.) Pers.—2 records at 1 site—on Pinyon and Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Pinyon–Juniper woodland is potentially at risk from increased frequency and intensity of fires, so this receives S3/4 status. Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann—38 records at 21 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Creosotebush–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—The differences between D. americanum and D. miniatum still need to be clarified. It presently depends on the reaction of the medulla to Melzer’s reagent, however much of our material has an ambiguous reaction. Preliminary molecular data suggests that our material belongs in neither, and instead may be a new species (McCune, pers. comm.). Two high-elevation specimens have subglobose spores and could be called D. leptophyllum (Ach.) Lång. Dermatocarpon moulinsii (Mont.) Zahlbr.—8 records at 4 sites—ours found on calcareous rock in Pinyon–Juniper, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats. Dermatocarpon reticulatum H. Magn.—1 record at 1 site—ours on limestone on Highland Peak— Underside black and sandpapery; spores tend to be larger than other species in the CFO. The genus Dermatocarpon is undergoing revision presently, so we hesitate to rank any species at present. Dimelaena lichenicola K. Knudsen, Sheard, Kocourk. & H. Mayrhofer—12 records at 10 sites—parasitic on Dimelaena oreina; on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats. Dimelaena oreina (Ach.) Norman—69 records at 19 sites—characteristic species of siliceous rocks at all elevations in the Great Basin from Xeric Sagebrush to Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Dimelaena thysanota (Tuck.) Hale & W.L. Culb.—3 records at 2 sites—on andesite in Blackbrush habitat north of Mormon Mountains, and on rhyolite in Mogollon Chaparral habitat at Narrow Canyon in Delamar Mountains—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Appendix II. Checklists 45 Diploschistes scruposus (Schreber) Norman—7 records at 7 sites—ours on siliceous rocks in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat —Our material has the right ecology, anatomy and spore size, but is almost exclusively tetrasporous. Diploschistes muscorum (Scop.) R. Sant.—1 record at 1 site—clearly parasitizing Psora tuckermanii in secondary successional BSC community at edge of broad wash in Big Sagebrush habitat at foot of calcareous lacustrine hoodoos at The Big Hogback near Panaca—This site is threatened by disturbance from cattle or horses and off-road recreation, therefore this species receives S3 status. (Figure 69.) Figure 69. Diploschistes muscorum growing over Psora decipiens—1.8×. Endocarpon loscosii Müll. Arg.—7 records at 6 sites—on soil in various habitats, including playa, Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper—Similar to E. pusillum but with pale underside and rhizines. Endocarpon pallidulum (Nyl.) Nyl.—3 records at 3 sites—on limestone in Creosote–Bursage and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats, and on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat. ? Endocarpon petrolepideum (Nyl.) Hasse—Collected by Bruce Ryan in 1986 at south end of Pahranagat Range (Ryan 15876, ASU). We have not verified this specimen. Endocarpon pulvinatum Th. Fr.—8 records at 8 sites—on both siliceous and calcareous rock, from Blackbrush habitat in upper Mojave to highest elevations in Great Basin; typically in water-streaks or ledges in drainage channels. Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig—11 records at 8 sites—mostly on calcareous soil; in all habitats. Ephebe lanata (L.) Vainio—1 record at 1 site—in water-streak of volcanic ash formation near Panaca Kilns—Probably an overlooked species. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Fulgensia desertorum (Tomin) Poelt = Gyalolechia desertorum (Tomin) Søchting, Frödén & Arup—1 record at 1 site—in secondary successional BSC community at edge of broad wash in Big Sagebrush habitat at foot of calcareous lacustrine hoodoos at The Big Hogback near Panaca—This site is threatened by disturbance from cattle or horses and off-road recreation, therefore this receives S3 status. Fulgensia subbracteata (Nyl.) Poelt = Gyalolechia subbracteata (Nyl.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup— 9 records at 4 sites—on soil in Creosote–Bursage, Xeric Sagebrush and Big Sagebrush habitats. Glypholecia scabra (Pers.) Müll. Arg.—9 records at 8 sites—ours on all types of rock from the Xeric Sagebrush habitat in the Ecotone to the highest elevations in the Great Basin—Ranked G3 on NatureServe, but clearly not locally threatened. Heppia adglutinata (Kremp.) A. Massal.—4 records at 2 sites—on soil in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats—Upper cortex absent, lower cortex present. This receives S3 status because all biological soil crust communities in the CFO are threatened by disturbance from ranching and offroad recreation. 46 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Heppia conchiloba Zahlbr.—4 records at 4 sites—on soil in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Upper cortex present; squamules grayish pruinose with tattered margins; usually sterile. Heppia despreauxii (Mont.) Tuck.—4 records at 3 sites—on soil in Xeric Sagebrush and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats in the Great Basin—Upper cortex present; squamules yellow-olive-brown, with pale dents; usually fertile. Heppia lutosa (Ach.) Nyl.—3 records at 3 sites—on soil in Creosote–Bursage and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Neither cortex present, section breaking very easily, just wide vertical hyphae with photobionts all the way up to and into the epinecral layer. Heteroplacidium congestum (Breuss & McCune) Breuss—2 records at 2 sites—on soil in Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—This species is apparently rare throughout its range in the Intermountain region (McCune and Rosentreter 2007). The CFO is probably close to the southern edge of its range. It is a biological soil crust species whose habitat is at risk of disturbance from ranching, off-road recreation and prairie fires throughout the Great Basin. It appears to be rare or at least uncommon throughout its range, but until its distribution is better understood, we give it a DD rank. Figure 70. Lecania “halophila”—15×. Lecania “halophila”—20 records at 5 sites—on various shrubs, mostly near playas in the Great Basin— Similar to the coastal species L. fuscella, but differs in having strongly pigmented, capitate paraphyses, large cells in amphithecial cortex, and constricted spores. (Figure 70.) Lecania polycycla (Anzi) Lettau—14 records at 6 sites —on limestone throughout the Great Basin, mostly at lower and middle elevations in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitat—There are very few specimens of this species reported on CNALH, however we find it is relatively common in Nevada. Figure 71. Lecania sp. JH17131—15×. Lecania sp. JH17131—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Creosote–Bursage habitat in Meadow Valley Mountains—Inconspicuous, grayish species with brown disks and thin excipular ring, brown epihymenium, and ellipsoid spores with poorly-developed septum, 12–13 × 3.5–4.0 µm. (Figure 71.) Lecanora “aeruginea”—3 records at 1 site—on Bristlecone bark in Mesic Montane habitat and on Serviceberry in Gamble Oak habitat, both on High- Figure 72. Lecanora “aeruginea”—12×. Appendix II. Checklists 47 land Peak—Apothecia black with thin dark gray rim; epihymenium bright blue, K+ green; spores 10–12 × 3–4 µm. (Figure 72.) Lecanora cf. agardhiana Ach. = Myriolecis cf. agardhiana (Ach.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch— 4 records at 1 site—on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Apothecia aren’t immersed, but otherwise correct: smooth margin, discontinuous algae in amphithecium, bluish tints in parathecium and epihymenium. (Figure 73.) Lecanora albellula Nyl.—20 records at 6 sites—on both bark and wood of various trees and shrubs, including Fir, Pinyon, Juniper, Gambel Oak and Mormon Tea; most common at higher elevations, but also found once in Blackbrush habitat in the Mojave. ? Lecanora “altaterrae” = a Myriolecis sp.— 13 records at 1 site—on Fir, Bristlecone, Pinyon and Juniper in Mesic Montane, Pinyon–Juniper and Riparian habitats on Highland Peak—Probably closest to L. persimilis but also superficially similar to some forms of L. zosterae in the CFO. The main difference is that the spores are short and broadly-ellipsoid. Margin uniformly ca. 25 µm thick and heavily gelatinized; spores 9–10 × 6–7 µm. (Figure 74.) Figure 73. Lecanora cf. agardhiana—5×. Figure 74. Lecanora “altaterrae”—10×. Lecanora argopholis (Ach.) Ach.—54 records at 28 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. ? Lecanora bicincta Ramond—1 record at 1 site—on rhyolite in Pinyon–Juniper habitat on Ella Mountain—Note that some specimens in this population varied between L. bicincta and L. rupicola within the same thallus. Almost certainly not a good species. Lecanora cadubriae (A. Massal.) Hedl.—5 records at 4 sites—on Fir, Ponderosa and Pinyon in Pinyon–Juniper, Gambel Oak, Ponderosa Pine and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats—Most material is typical, but one specimen (JH12587) had a reddish-purplish, K+r pigment in the cortex. Lecanora cenisia Ach.—6 records at 6 sites—on siliceous rock and wood at higher elevations throughout the Great Basin—Many of our specimens have almost entirely black apothecia and may be tempting to place in L. argentea or L. gangaleoides, but TLC suggest that they are still probably L. cenisia. Such black forms of L. cenisia are not uncommon elsewhere in the Great Basin and eastern Sierra Nevada. Lecanora coniferarum Printzen—4 records at 4 sites—ours mostly on wood of Juniper and other conifers at higher elevations in the Great Basin. Lecanora crenulata Hooker = Myriolecis crenulata (Hooker) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch— 26 records at 7 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sage- 48 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office brush habitats in Great Basin—We have been separating this from L. flowersiana mostly based on spore size and shape, with relatively shorter, broadly-ellipsoid spores belonging to L. crenulata. The degree of cracking of the apothecial rims and amount of pruina seem to vary a great deal in our material of both species. Lecanora dispersa (Pers.) Sommerf. = Myriolecis dispersa (Pers.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch— 1 positive record at 1 site—on rhyolite/tuff on ground in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns —We emphasize the presence of dispersa-type granules inspersed throughout the hymenium to verify this species. Several additional specimens still require verification in the lab. Lecanora flowersiana H. Magn. = Myriolecis flowersiana (H. Magn.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch— 28 records at 12 sites—ours found on both siliceous and calcareous rocks, mostly in Blackbrush habitat in Mojave—See comments for L. crenulata. Lecanora garovaglii (Körber) Zahlbr. = Protoparmeliopsis garovaglii (Körber) Arup, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—119 records at 36 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but found at all elevations throughout both deserts, even occasionally on calcareous rock. Lecanora hagenii (Ach.) Ach. = Myriolecis hagenii (Ach.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—41 records at 8 sites—mostly on Willow, Gambel Oak, Aspen and Mormon Tea, especially in Riparian, Gambel Oak, Aspen and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats, but also found in Blackbrush habitat in upper Mojave —We reserved this name to specimens with broadly-attached apothecia with indistinct, thin margins. See also L. “altaterrae”, L. wetmorei and L. zosterae. Lecanora cf. hypoptoides (Nyl.) Nyl.—9 records at 4 sites—mostly Pinyon in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, also locally common on White Fir in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Thallus dusky grayish to olive-gray, verruculose; apothecia black, soon lecideine; cortex weakly brown-granular and POL+, clearing in K; epihymenium dark, POL-, K+ greener, N+ redder; hymenium ca. 40 µm; ascus lecanora-type; spores 8–10 × 2.5 µm. One specimen apparently has a traces of norstictic acid. Another specimen has spores 4 µm wide and may even be L. hypoptoides s. str. (Figure 75.) Figure 75. Lecanora cf. hypoptoides—20×. Lecanora juniperina Śliwa = Myriolecis juniperina (Śliwa) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—4 records at 3 sites—ours on Juniper, Pinyon and Oak in Pinyon–Juniper, Riparian and Gambel Oak habitats. Lecanora laxa (Śliwa & Wetmore) Printzen—36 records at 11 sites—on many types of trees and shrubs throughout the Great Basin, particularly in Gambel Oak habitat—Our material has distinctly cupulate apothecia and spores consistently 9.3–11.7 × 4.3–5.2 µm. Spore size would place it firmly into L. varia according to Śliwa and Wetmore (2000), except ours lack psoromic acid. Lecanora mughicola Nyl.—3 records at 2 sites—ours on Fir, Mountain Mahogany and Pinyon in Mesic Montane, Mountain Mahogany and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—This is primarily a high-elevation species in Western North America. Since high-elevation habitat is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, this receives S3/4 status. Appendix II. Checklists 49 Lecanora muralis (Schreber) Rabenh. = Protoparmeliopsis muralis (Schreber) M. Choisy—172 records at 41 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rocks in all habitats throughout the Great Basin and Mojave; also found on calcareous rocks, pebbles and even occasionally on wood. Lecanora novomexicana H. Magn. = Rhizoplaca novomexicana (H. Magn.) Leavitt, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—29 records at 16 sites—common on siliceous and neutral rocks in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Figure 76. Lecanora “ponderosicola”—15×. Lecanora phaedrophthalma Poelt = Rhizoplaca phaedrophthalma (Poelt) Leavitt, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—10 records at 7 sites—mostly on siliceous rocks in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—Most of our material is var. christoi (W.A. Weber) B.D. Ryan, but according to CNALH at least some var. phaedrophthalma is present. Lecanora “ponderosicola” = probably a Myriolecis sp.—13 records at 7 sites—characteristic species on Ponderosa and occasionally on Pinyon—Similar to L. sambuci, another polysporous species, but thallus evident, apothecia smaller and clustered, rims gray, amphithecial cortex apparently thinner and often indistinct, hymenium slightly deeper, paraphyses somewhat branched, spores smaller and occurs exclusively on conifers. (Figure 76.) Lecanora pseudomellea B.D. Ryan—7 records at 6 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats—More common in the western Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. Lecanora rupicola (L.) Zahlbr.—18 records at 10 sites—occasional on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Lecanora saligna (Schrader) Zahlbr.—43 records at 16 sites—common species on wood of many trees and shrubs throughout the region, but especially characteristic of Pinyon, Juniper and Bitterbrush in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Lecanora semipallida H. Magn. = Myriolecis semipallida (H. Magn.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch— 55 records at 18 sites—common throughout the region on all kinds of rock, generally in shaded situations, especially under shrubs or near the base of cliffs—Some of our specimens may belong in L. invadens, which differs in having strongly constricted apothecia and blue pigments in the margin. Lecanora sierrae B.D. Ryan & T.H. Nash—4 records at 4 sites—ours on siliceous rock at middle to high elevations in the Great Basin; more common in the western Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. Lecanora subintricata (Nyl.) Th. Fr.—33 records at 10 sites—on various trees and shrubs throughout the region, especially on Pinyon, Juniper and Mormon Tea in Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitats. Lecanora thallophila H. Magn.—4 records at 4 sites—parasitic on Dermatocarpon spp., mostly in siliceous Pinyon–Juniper habitat; all of ours were in the Great Basin. Lecanora valesiaca (Müll. Arg.) Stizenb.—13 records at 7 sites—on limestone at all elevations in both Mojave and Great Basin—Some of our material may be L. neodegelii. More research is required. 50 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Lecanora wetmorei Śliwa = Myriolecis wetmorei (Śliwa) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—11 records at 2 sites—on various trees at high elevation on Highland Peak and Mount Irish, especially Willow and Gambel Oak—We have applied this name to strongly pruinose specimens with well-developed, smooth margin and thick lower cortex. We still have many unprocessed specimens of this group in our stacks, so it is likely we will find additional occurrences. (Figure 77.) Lecanora zosterae (Ach.) Nyl. = Myriolecis zosterae (Ach.) Śliwa, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—8 probable records at 6 sites—on various trees and shrubs in Xeric Sagebrush, Salt Desert Scrub, Pinyon– Juniper, Gambel Oak and Ponderosa Pine habitats— We have applied this name to a bewildering variety of specimens with strongly constricted, red-brown to lead-brown apothecia, with distinct gelatinized cortex with blue pigment at the top of the margin, and narrowly ellipsoid spores. We called forms with broadly ellipsoid spores L. “altaterrae”, but there may be intermediates. See also L. hagenii. Lecanora sp. JH12677 = a Myriolecis sp.—1 record at 1 site—on Bristlecone wood in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—In the L. dispersa group, with well-developed, ±waxy, olive-brown thallus, epruinose, red-brown disks and thick, white-pruinose rims; spores 12–15 × 5 µm; no chemistry detected. Needs more work. (Figure 78.) Figure 77. Lecanora wetmorei—15×. Figure 78. Lecanora sp. JH12677—7×. Lecanora sp. JH12702—1 record at 1 site—on limestone cliff in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—This looks superficially like an epruinose L. cenisia, but it lacks atranorin and occurs on limestone. Needs more work. (Figure 79.) Lecidea atrobrunnea (Lam. & DC.) Schaerer—39 pos- Figure 79. Lecanora sp. JH12702—5×. itive records at 13 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rock at middle to high elevations throughout the Great Basin, especially in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, occasionally on basalt—We found chemotypes 0, J and L (see table on pg. 362 in McCune 2017b) in addition to the normal ssp. atrobrunnea. Lecidea auriculata Th. Fr.—4 records at 1 site—on quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—Superficially similar to L. laboriosa and L. plana but contains confluentic acid syndrome. Since this site is potentially at risk from development and recreational use, it receives S3/4 status. Lecidea deplanaica (Hertel & Leuckert) McCune—1 record at 1 site—on top of volcanic ash formation near Panaca Kilns in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Appendix II. Checklists 51 Lecidea diducens Nyl.—1 record at 1 site—on granite in Blackbrush Habitat in East Mormon Mountains—Siliceous habitat in the Mojave section of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore this receives S3 status. Lecidea laboriosa Müll. Arg.—6 probable records at 3 sites, 1 positive—ours mostly on granite in Blackbrush habitat—L. laboriosa and L. plana are both endolithic species with 4-Odemethylplanaic acid, differing apparently only in width of spores. Some of our material falls clearly into either end of the range of variation, with a weak tendency for Mojave material to have narrower spores. However many specimens are intermediate and therefore very difficult to place with confidence. See also L. auriculata. Lecidea perlatolica Hertel & Leuckert—6 records at 3 sites—on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Lecidea plana (J. Lahm) Nyl.—6 probable records at 4 sites, 1 positive—ours mostly on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper, but also in Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—See comments for L. laboriosa. Lecidea protabacina Nyl.—10 records at 6 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Both stictic and hypostictic chemotypes present. Lecidea syncarpa Zahlbr.—10 records at 3 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock at high elevation in the Great Basin. Lecidea tessellata Flörke—74 records at 33 sites—ours mostly on siliceous and neutral rocks in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats; occasionally on limestone or pebbles. Lecidea truckeei Herre—1 record at 1 site—on rhyolite/tuff near Panaca Kilns—Chemotype N. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Lecidella carpathica Körber—21 records at 9 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rocks throughout the Great Basin in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats. Lecidella euphorea (Flörke) Hertel—50 records at 3 sites—mostly on Fir, Juniper and Gambel Oak at high elevations in Great Basin—Most of our material is white and C-/KC-, but there is also a form that is yellowish and C+/KC+o. Lecidella “granulosa”—24 records at 7 sites—mostly on Juniper, occasionally on Pinyon, Oak and various shrubs; only found in lower elevations of the Great Basin, mostly in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitat—This is a distinctive species with entirely granular thallus on wood, consistently with two xanthones (possibly thuringione and arthothelin). Well-developed populations are often fertile: epihymenium blue-black; hymenium 60–75 µm, inspersed or not; hypothecium hyaline to orangebrown; spores 13–14 × 7–8 µm. (Figure 80.) Figure 80. Lecidella “granulosa”—15×. Lecidella patavina (A. Massal.) Knoph & Leuckert— 58 records at 18 sites—on all kinds of rock throughout the Great Basin and into the upper Mojave; once found on Juniper wood—This is a highly variable species in the Great Basin, with some speci- 52 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office mens entirely endolithic, others with well-developed, white, areolate thallus, and many intermediates. Typical material has bright blue epihymenium and strongly inspersed hymenium, but forms with dark purple-brown epihymenium occur, as do specimens with only weakly inspersed hymenium. These specimens appear to be intermediate between L. stigmatea and L. patavina. We have erred on the side of keeping L. stigmatea more consistent, always with purple-brown epihymenium and verruculose thallus, even if it means applying the name to some weakly inspersed specimens. Lecidella stigmatea (Ach.) Hertel & Leuckert—67 records at 18 sites—on all kinds of rock throughout the Great Basin, but probably more common on siliceous rock; not unusual to find on wood; found once each on Aspen bark and Gambel Oak bark—See comments for L. patavina. Lempholemma cladodes (Tuck.) Zahlbr.—2 records at 2 sites—one on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak (with hormocystangia), another on overhanging rhyolite-tuff in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Chief Range—While high-elevation habitat on Highland Peak is at risk from development and rising temperatures, the low-elevation habitat in Chief Range is not threatened, therefore this receives S4 status. Lempholemma polyanthes (Bernh.) Malme—4 records at 4 sites—ours on moss on shaded rhyolite and limestone, in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Most of our material is sterile. Lepraria eburnea J.R. Laundon—1 record at 1 site—on deeply sheltered soil at base of rhyolite/tuff cliff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Lepraria elobata Tønsberg—1 record at 1 site—in crack at base of quartzite cliff in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Lepraria finkii (B. de Lesd.) R.C. Harris—1 record at 1 site—in crack in limestone cliff in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—High-elevation habitat on Highland Peak is at risk from development and rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3 status. Ranked G5 in NatureServe. Lepraria neglecta (Nyl.) Erichsen—21 records at 11 sites—mostly in siliceous Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Alectorialic acid (s. str.), fatty acid, fumarprotocetraric acid (most common), psoromic acid and stictic acid chemotypes present. Lepraria vouauxii (Hue) R.C. Harris—12 records at 7 sites—in cracks of cliffs, both calcareous and siliceous, throughout the Great Basin and into the upper Mojave. Leptochidium albociliatum (Desm.) M. Choisy— 4 records at 3 sites—on siliceous rock in Pinyon– Juniper and Mogollon Chaparral habitats, and on Oak in Gambel Oak habitat. Leptogium gelatinosum (With.) J.R. Laundon = Scytinium gelatinosum (With.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—8 records at 6 sites—ours mostly on moss over siliceous rock in Blackbrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitats. Leptogium lichenoides (L.) Zahlbr. = Scytinium lichenoides (L.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin— Figure 81. Leptogium plicatile—12× Appendix II. Checklists 53 7 records at 3 sites—ours mostly on moss over both siliceous and calcareous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Leptogium plicatile (Ach.) Leighton = Scytinium plicatile (Ach.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—35 records at 17 sites—ours found on both soil and various types of rocks (especially pebbles) in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. (Figure 81.) Leptogium subtile (Schrader) Torss. = Scytinium subtile (Schrader) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin—1 record at 1 site—on limestone pebble in Creosote–Bursage habitat at edge of mesa in Terry Benches —Probably sensu lato. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Letharia columbiana (Nutt.) J.W. Thomson—5 records at 5 sites—rare and poorly developed in the CFO; on Pinyon in Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitats—Much more common in the western Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. Lichinella americana Henssen—15 positive specimens at 7 sites—ours on both calcareous and siliceous rock and pebbles in Mojave—Our understanding of Lichinella has changed over the coarse of our lab work, so we have been inconsistent applying most of these names. L. americana should be reserved for fruticose specimens with granular isidia. It is a more robust species than L. stipatula. Lichinella cribellifera (Nyl.) P.P. Moreno & Egea—1 record at 1 site—on sheltered granite in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains—We have reserved this name for material with broad, rounded lobes and lacking isidia. However, ASU has isidiate specimens, so we may need to revise some of our siliceous L. nigritella. Lichinella granulosa M. Schultz—7 positive records at 5 sites—ours on calcareous rock and pebbles, mostly in Mojave—We may have applied this name to a few non-Lichinella specimens, such as Psorotichia hassei. Lichinella intermedia Henssen—2 positive records at 2 sites—ours on calcareous rock and pebbles in the Mojave. Lichinella iodopulchra (Croz.) P.P. Moreno & Egea—3 positive records at 3 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock in both the Mojave and Great Basin, in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitats. Lichinella minnesotensis (Fink) Essl.—1 positive record at 1 site—on limestone in Blackbrush habitat in Tule Desert Hills—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Lichinella nigritella (Lettau) P.P. Moreno & Egea—54 records at 21 sites—common on both siliceous and calcareous rocks at all elevations throughout the Great Basin and Mojave—Our material should be revised and compared carefully with L. cribellifera and Thyrea confusa. Lichinella stipatula Nyl.—22 records at 17 sites—on all kinds of rock throughout the Great Basin and Mojave except at the highest elevations—Some of our early material is probably L. americana. This name should be reserved for particularly delicate fruticose specimens without granules. Lignoscripta atroalba B.D. Ryan & T.H. Nash—25 records at 12 sites—ours mostly on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat; occasionally on Pinyon and Bristlecone. Lobothallia alphoplaca (Wahlenb.) Hafellner—41 positive records at 21 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but also found in the Mojave and on basalt—Our application of L. alphoplaca and L. praeradiosa has been inconsistent, in part because 54 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office it is not clear that there really is a clear distinction between the two species. The material at ASU and BYU is also inconsistently named. We tried to reserve L. alphoplaca for specimens with terete lobes and strongly mottled coloration, and L. praeradiosa for specimens with distinctly flattened lobes and smooth, even coloration. But some specimens are mixtures of both forms and cannot be named with confidence. In general, we erred on the side of placing things in L. praeradiosa in cases where we could find any flattened, smooth lobes at all. But early specimens were placed indiscriminately into L. alphoplaca and have not yet all been revised. Note that Ryan’s (2004) treatment in the Sonoran Flora seems to be inapplicable in the Great Basin, since we find no apparent correlation between his characters in our material. Lobothallia praeradiosa (Nyl.) Hafellner—41 positive records at 25 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but also found on basalt and limestone and pebbles—See comments under L. alphoplaca. Lobothallia radiosa (Hoffm.) Hafellner—1 record at 1 site—ours on andesite in Gambel Oak habitat at Docs Pass in the Clover Mountains—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. * Megaspora rimisorediata Valadbeigi & A. Nordin— 94 records at 22 sites—the vast majority of ours are on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, but also occurring on a wide range of trees and shrubs, and on moss over limestone; found in all habitats throughout the Great Basin, but apparently not in the Mojave—Tim Wheeler and Toby Spribille sequenced this species and discovered that it was described recently from Iran. (Figure 82.) Megaspora verrucosa (Ach.) Hafellner & V. Wirth— 2 records at 2 sites—one specimen on conifer log in Figure 82. Megaspora rimisorediata—15×. Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak, the other on Oak bark in Gambel Oak habitat in the Sandhills Allotment—The Sandhills Allotment habitat is not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Melanelixia subargentifera agg. (Nyl.) O. Blanco et al.—3 records at 2 sites—one specimen on rhyolite in Mogollon Chaparral habitat in Narrow Canyon in Delamar Mountains, the others on rhyolite/ tuff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—M. ahtii is indistinguishable and possibly sympatric according to Leavitt et al. (2016). Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Melanohalea elegantula (Zahlbr.) O. Blanco et al.—94 records at 18 sites—on a wide range of trees and shrubs in all habitats throughout the Great Basin, including sheltered siliceous rocks; most common on Pinyon and Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat; found once on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat in the Ecotone—All material we’ve seen in Nevada, both epiphytic and saxicolous, has pseudocyphellae at the tips of the isidia, therefore we reject reports of M. infumata and M. exasperatula. Melanohalea subolivacea agg. (Nyl.) O. Blanco et al.—81 records at 18 sites—on a wide range of trees and shrubs in all habitats throughout the Great Basin; most common on Gambel Oak, Pinyon, Fir and Mountain Mahogany—M. clari is indistinguishable and possibly sympatric according to Leavitt et al. (2016). Montanelia saximontana (R. Anderson & W. Weber) S. Leavitt, Essl., Divakar, A. Crespo & Lumbsch —48 records at 23 sites—ours on siliceous and neutral rock, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sage- Appendix II. Checklists 55 brush and Blackbrush habitats; occasionally at higher elevations—Western North American material called M. tominii is really M. saximontana according to Leavitt et al. (2016). Neofuscelia loxodes (Nyl.) Essl. = Xanthoparmelia loxodes (Nyl.) Crespo, O. Blanco, A. Crespo, Elix, D. Hawksw. & Lumbsch—12 records at 9 sites— ours mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Blackbrush habitats. Parmeliopsis ambigua (Wulfen) Nyl.—1 record at 1 site—on a single Fir or Bristlecone log in Mesic Figure 83. Juvenile Paulia caespitosa?—15×. Montane habitat on Highland Peak—High-elevation habitat on Highland Peak is at risk from development and rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3 status. ? Paulia caespitosa Tretiach & Henssen—1 record at 1 site—on weakly calcareous sandstone pebble in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches—Appears to be a juvenile form. Requires expert verification, because it would be the first North American report north of Mexico. (Figure 83.) Peccania arizonica Tuck. ex Herre—2 records at 2 sites—on moss over granite in Blackbrush habitat, and caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat—Matthias Schultz is verifying this for us. Peccania coralloides (A. Massal.) A. Massal.—2 records at 2 sites—ours on moss and soil in limestone cracks in Xeric Sagebrush habitat, one above Antelope Canyon, the other at Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range—This is probably an overlooked species; its distribution is unknown. Peccania subnigra (B. de Lesd.) Wetmore—46 records at 26 sites—ours most common on soil in the Mojave, but also occurs directly on calcareous rock and in the Great Basin (Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitats)—Our material seems to span the entire range between P. subnigra and P. tiruncula, so we’ve retained everything in P. subnigra until we can figure out how to separate the two confidently. It is likely we have at least some true P. tiruncula. Peccania tiruncula (Nyl.) Henssen—See comments for Peccania subnigra. Peltigera ponojensis Gyelnik—5 records at 2 sites—ours on ground in Mesic and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats on Highland Peak and Worthington Peak. Peltigera rufescens (Weiss) Humb.—2 records at 2 sites—ours on moss and soil in siliceous talus in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish and Gambel Oak habitat on Lodge Peak—This species is more common elsewhere in the Great Basin. Peltula bolanderi (Tuck.) Wetmore—8 records at 7 sites—ours mostly on sheltered siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Peltula euploca (Ach.) Poelt—33 records at 15 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Peltula obscurans var. deserticola (Zahlbr.) Wetmore—25 records at 8 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock, especially pebbles, in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats. 56 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Peltula obscurans (Nyl.) Gyelnik var. obscurans—13 records at 7 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock, especially pebbles, in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats. Peltula patellata (Bagl.) Swinscow & Krog—30 records at 20 sites—ours on soil in both siliceous and calcareous areas, mostly in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Peltula richardsii (Herre) Wetmore—6 records at 4 sites—ours on soil in calcareous Creosote–Bursage habitat. Also collected by Isabelle Tavares in 1962 east of Meadow River between Carp and Rox (Tavares 1261; UC; Wetmore 1970). ? Phaeophyscia constipata (Norrlin & Nyl.) Moberg—one small population on sheltered rhyolite on top of Seaman Range H.P.—Photograph only. Phaeophyscia decolor (Kashiw.) Essl.—5 records at 5 sites—on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats in Great Basin; one specimen on Oak in Mogollon Chaparral. Phaeophyscia hirsuta (Mereschk.) Essl.—111 records at 29 sites—on a wide range of trees and shrubs throughout the region; occasionally directly on siliceous or calcareous rock—Roughly half of our material lacks the diagnostic cortical hairs. Early material may have been misnamed P. nigricans. Phaeophyscia kairamoi (Vainio) Moberg—12 records at 6 sites—ours on various rocks and Gambel Oak and Mormon Tea; mostly in Blackbrush habitat—Early material may have been misidentified as P. hirsuta. Pale specimens on rock, especially, should be revised. Phaeophyscia nigricans (Flörke) Moberg—183 records at 36 sites—common on virtually all types of trees and shrubs throughout the Great Basin and into the Mojave, from Playas to the highest mountains; most abundant on Sagebrush, Mormon Tea and Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper and Big Sagebrush habitats—Much of our material has poorly developed lower cortex, apparently intergrading with Physciella chloantha. Although at least some reliable specimens of P. chloantha are present, the intermediates were all placed in P. nigricans. See also P. hirsuta. Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Necker) Moberg—10 records at 7 sites—ours on Gambel Oak, Willow, Mormon Tea and Hackberry, from Blackbrush to Dry–Mesic Montane habitat. Phaeophyscia sciastra (Ach.) Moberg—44 records at 20 sites—characteristic siliceous Great Basin species, most common in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats, but found at all elevations; occasionally found on basalt; found once on limestone under a Juniper on Mount Worthington. Phaeorrhiza sareptana (Tomin) H. Mayrhofer & Poelt—2 records at 2 sites—on soil in Pinyon– Juniper habitat in northern Golden Gate Range, and in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish— Biological soil crust communities are threatened throughout Nevada, therefore this receives S3 status. ? Phloeopeccania pulvinulina J. Steiner—3 possible records at 3 sites—on granite, rhyolite and caliche in Mojave—Matthias Schultz is verifying this. (Figure 84.) Physcia adscendens (Fr.) H. Olivier—18 records at 6 sites—uncommon on various trees and shrubs Figure 84. Phloeopeccania pulvinulina?—25×. Appendix II. Checklists 57 throughout the Great Basin; ours on Fir, Bristlecone, Juniper, Gambel Oak, Willow, Mountain Mahogany and Skunkbush Sumac. Physcia biziana (A. Massal.) Zahlbr.—52 records at 22 sites—ours mostly on sheltered siliceous rock and Gambel Oak, but also found on various other trees and shrubs; found throughout the Great Basin and into the upper Mojave from Blackbrush to Dry–Mesic Montane habitat—Our material varies greatly in texture, from pruinose and smooth to epruinose with a strongly cracked/patchy epinecral layer. We do not understand the difference between P. albinea (Ach.) Nyl. and P. biziana, so for now we’re keeping it all in P. biziana. P. albinea is ranked G34 on NatureServe. Physcia caesia (Hoffm.) Fürnr.—64 records at 22 sites—characteristic siliceous Great Basin species, mostly in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but found at all elevations; only found once in Blackbrush habitat in the Ecotone. Physcia dimidiata (Arnold) Nyl.—185 records at 36 sites—very common throughout the Great Basin on various trees and shrubs, especially Juniper, Sagebrush, Mormon Tea, Pinyon and Gambel Oak; also found on siliceous and occasionally neutral or calcareous rock, especially in Xeric Sagebrush and Blackbrush habitats. Physcia dubia (Hoffm.) Lettau—119 records at 30 sites—characteristic siliceous species throughout the Great Basin and into the upper Mojave; occasionally found on limestone, basalt and various trees and shrubs (both bark and wood). Physcia occidentalis Essl. in prep.—7 records at 6 sites —ours on both siliceous rock and Gambel Oak in various habitats from Blackbrush to Ponderosa— Ted Esslinger is describing this species. It is similar to P. dimidiata and P. dubia, but has coarse isidioid blastidia at the lobe tips. (Figure 85.) Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC.—15 records at 7 sites— ours mostly on siliceous rocks and Gambel Oak; also present on basalt, Willow and Sagebrush; all in the Great Basin, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitats. Figure 85. Physcia occidentalis—15×. Physciella chloantha (Ach.) Essl.—at least 1 positive record at 1 site—on Willow in Riparian habitat on Highland Peak—Superficially appears to be a pale, large form of Phaeophyscia nigricans. While that species often has a poorly developed lower cortex that can appear to be at least partly prosoplectenchymatous, its lower cortex should never be simultaneously both well-developed and entirely prosoplectenchymatous. Almost certainly some of our early P. nigricans are this species. Physconia elegantula Essl.—4 records at 3 sites—ours on siliceous rock and Oak, in Pinyon–Juniper, Mogollon Chaparral and Gambel Oak habitats. Physconia enteroxantha (Nyl.) Poelt—33 records at 10 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock and Gambel Oak; also found on basalt and various other trees and shrub; mostly in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Physconia isidiomuscigena Essl.—18 records at 13 sites—common on moss on siliceous cliffs throughout the Great Basin, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper habitat; rarely on basalt or limestone; one record on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat in Ecotone—Ranked G24 on NatureServe. 58 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Physconia muscigena (Ach.) Poelt—8 records at 7 sites—ours mostly on moss on siliceous cliffs in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in the Great Basin. Physconia perisidiosa (Erichsen) Moberg—24 records at 15 sites—common on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper and various other habitats throughout the Great Basin; ours also present on Oak in Gambel Oak habitat, and Sagebrush in Xeric Sagebrush habitat. ? Placidiopsis cf. cervinula (Nyl.) Vain.—1 record at 1 site—in crack in rhyolite outcrop in Creosote– Bursage habitat in Bunker Hills—Large imbricate squamules with downturned margins place it in P. cervinula, however that species is supposed to have prosoplectenchymatous medulla (and is only known from the type locality in Russia). Unfortunately, we could only collect a small fragment. Placidiopsis cinerascens (Nyl.) Breuss—1 record at 1 site—on moss over quartzite talus in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Placidium acarosporoides (Zahlbr.) Breuss—57 records at 23 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock and pebbles in Mojave, especially Creosote–Bursage habitat; also found in Xeric Sagebrush and rarely Pinyon–Juniper habitats in Great Basin; occasionally found on siliceous rocks at least in the CFO; one specimen found on Juniper wood—Anatomically identical to Verrucaria compacta, but superficially looks more like Placidium (obviously squamulose, rich shiny red-brown) while V. compacta is typically more cushion-forming or crustose-appearing, duller and blacker. Placidium lachneum (Ach.) Breuss—2 positive records at 1 site—on soil below limestone cliff in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—Another set of three specimens on limestone on Highland Peak was unusual. They had the characteristic angular, stacked cells in the lower cortex, thick rhizohyphae, marginal pycnidia and 5–7 µm bacilliform conidia, but they consistently had mostly or entirely globose cells in the medulla, overlarge spores and one specimen even appears to have some rhizines. Compare with P. rufescens. High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Placidium lacinulatum (Ach.) Breuss = Clavascidium lacinulatum (Ach.) M. Prieto—34 records at 18 sites—together with P. squamulosum, characteristic primary succession biological soil crust species in both the Mojave and Great Basin, in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush, Big Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats; also frequently found in cracks of limestone cliffs— Some specimens may be referable to var. atrans Breuss. Placidium pilosellum (Breuss) Breuss—1 record at 1 site—on soil on limestone ledge in Pinyon– Juniper habitat at Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range adjacent to Coal Valley—All the mountains and hills surrounding Coal Valley are potentially at risk from air pollutants if Coal Valley is opened to oil extraction, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Placidium rufescens (Ach.) Breuss—5 records at 3 sites—on soil and moss in limestone cracks in Xeric Sagebrush habitat; one record in a quartzite crack below limestone in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—Very similar to P. lachneum, but spores larger, conidia shorter, and lower cortex with more rounded cells. Placidium squamulosum (Ach.) Breuss—30 records at 18 sites—together with P. lacinulatum, characteristic primary succession BSC species in both the Mojave and Great Basin, in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush, Big Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Most specimens have Appendix II. Checklists 59 rhizohyphal bundles resembling rhizines, but they are more irregular in thickness along their length; true rhizines are ±smooth and cylindrical. Placocarpus cf. americanus K. Knudsen, Breuss, & Kocourk.—11 records at 9 sites—ours mostly parasitic on Lecanora garovaglii, rarely Lecanora novomexicana and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, in Blackbrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—The spores in our material are significantly longer than the figures given in the description: (20)25–27(30) versus 18–22 µm. Figure 86. Placynthium stenophyllum var. isidiatum—15×. ? Placynthiella uliginosa (Schrader) Coppins & P. James—2 probable records at 1 site—on conifer logs in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak —Sterile specimens only. Placynthium nigrum (Hudson) Gray—8 records at 6 sites—ours on limestone and calcareous modified shale and quartzite, scattered throughout in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Placynthium stenophyllum var. isidiatum Henssen—3 records at 2 sites—ours on limestone and granite in Blackbrush habitat—This is supposed to be a calciphilous species; yet another example of the widespread calcareous modification of our siliceous substrates. Ranked G34 on NatureServe. Its habitat in the CFO is not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 86.) Pleopsidium flavum (Bellardi) Körber—44 records at 18 sites—characteristic species on shaded, vertical, siliceous rock at middle to high elevations throughout the Great Basin, in Pinyon–Juniper and Montane habitats, occasional on basalt or in Xeric Sagebrush habitat. Polysporina gyrocarpa (H. Magn.) N.S. Golubk.—18 records at 7 sites—ours on calcareous rocks, especially volcanic ash in Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Some specimens found on siliceous pebbles with relatively small apothecia appear to be this species and not P. simplex because they have wide spores and paraphyses. Polysporina simplex (Davies) Vězda—7 records at 6 sites—ours on both limestone and siliceous rocks, typically in sunny situations or on ground, in various habitats from Blackbrush to Montane. Polysporina urceolata (Anzi) Brodo—35 records at 6 sites—characteristic species on limestone throughout the Great Basin, often locally abundant but minute and probably overlooked; ours mostly in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but also occurring in Blackbrush and Montane habitats. Porocyphus coccodes (Flot.) Körb.—3 probable records at 3 sites—ours on calcareous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Matthias Schultz is verifying this for us. (Figure 87.) Figure 87. Poroscyphus coccodes—20×. 60 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Protoblastenia incrustans (DC.) J. Steiner—3 records at 1 site—on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Apparently an uncommon arcticalpine species. Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Protoblastenia rupestris (Scop.) J. Steiner—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Blacbrush/Pinyon–Juniper habitat in the Ecotone in northern Mormon Mountains—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Figure 88. Protoparmelia cupreobadia—5×. Protoparmelia cupreobadia (Nyl.) Poelt—2 records at 1 site—on shaded basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in northern Golden Gate Range, outside of Caliente Field Office in National Monument—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 88.) Psora cerebriformis W.A. Weber—9 records at 8 sites—ours on soil, typically calcareous, in Blackbrush, Big Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Psora crenata (Taylor) Reinke—1 record at 1 site—on calcareous soil in Creosote–Bursage habitat in Tule Springs Hills—Biological soil crust communities are threatened throughout Nevada, therefore this receives S3 status. Psora decipiens (Hedwig) Hoffm.—44 records at 29 sites—characteristic primary succession biological soil crust species throughout the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts; ours most common on ±calcareous soil in Mojave, but also present in Pinyon–Juniper, Playa and Sagebrush habitats. Psora himalayana (Church. Bab.) Timdal—2 records at 1 site—on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Psora nipponica (Zahlbr.) Gotth. Schneider—2 records at 1 site—on sheltered rhyolite/tuff outcrop in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Psora tuckermanii R.A. Anderson ex Timdal—71 records at 38 sites—characteristic species on both siliceous and calcareous rock at all elevations throughout the Great Basin and Mojave; most common in Pinyon–Juniper, Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats; also a primary succession biological soil crust species in Great Basin. Psorotichia hassei Fink ex J. Hedrick—4 probable records at 1 site—on calcareous rock and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage habitat in southern Meadow Valley Mountains—An additional specimen on Highland Peak should be verified. Because of the cryptic nature of this and many similar species in the Lichinales, we give it DD status. Psorotichia murorum A. Massal.—7 records at 4 sites—ours on calcareous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Similar to P. schaereri, but areoles tending to be glabrous and apothecia usually one per areole, becoming widely open. Appendix II. Checklists 61 * Psorotichia numidella var. flageyna J. Steiner— 5 records at 5 sites—ours on calcareous rock in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats in Mojave— This has not yet been reported north of Mexico in North America. It differs from P. taurica in having only 8 spores per ascus. (Figure 89.) Psorotichia schaereri (A. Massal.) Arnold—11 records at 5 sites—ours on calcareous rock mostly in the Mojave in Creosote–Bursage habitat; also in Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Similar to P. murorum, but areoles tend to be granular and have multiple apothecia per areole. Figure 89. Psorotichia numidella var. flageyna—30×. Psorotichia taurica (Nyl.) Vainio—2 records at 2 sites—on caliche in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats—The spores are too large in our material: from 8 × 7 to as large as 12 × 10 µm. Because of the cryptic nature of this and many similar species in the Lichinales, we give it DD status. Psorotichia sp. JH16632—1 record at 1 site—on caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches—Thallus and apothecial anatomy places this in Psorotichia, but the areoles are tiny and distinctly brownish. (Figure 90.) ? Pycnora praestabilis (Nyl.) Hafellner—1 record at 1 site—on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—This is an extensive sterile population containing only pycnidia, but chemistry is distinctive. Rhizocarpon atrovirellum (Nyl.) Zahlbr.—3 records at 3 sites—ours on quartzite, rhyolite/tuff and basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Juvenile parasite on Aspcilia desertorum agg., although a few of our specimens have no trace of the host left. (Figure 91.) Rhizocarpon bolanderi (Tuck.) Herre—18 records at 5 sites—on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin; ours mostly in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Figure 90. Psorotichia sp. JH16632—15×. Rhizocarpon dimelaenae Timdal—13 records at 6 sites —parasitic on Dimelaena oreina on shaded siliceous rocks in Great Basin, mostly in Pinyon– Juniper and Dry–Mesic habitats; found once in Xeric Sagebrush habitat—Our specimens are typically mostly or entirely gray, however chemistry rules out D. renneri, which is either rare or absent from the Great Basin. Rhizocarpon disporum (Nägeli ex Hepp) Müll. Arg.— 146 records at 26 sites—characteristic siliceous species at all elevations throughout the Great Basin Figure 91. Rhizocarpon atrovirellum—3×. 62 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office in shaded situations; occasionally found on basalt or volcanic ash; locally common on granite and schist in Blackbrush habitat at one site in the Mojave. Rhizocarpon effiguratum (Anzi) Th. Fr.—5 records at 3 sites—ours all parasitic on Pleopsidium flavum, on quartzite, rhyolite/tuff and basalt in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats in Great Basin; possibly also occurring on Sporastatia testudinea on Seaman Range H.P. Rhizocarpon geminatum Körber—12 records at 3 sites—ours on shaded siliceous in Blackbrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats—Superficially identical to R. disporum, but much less common in the desert. However, where it occurs it is typically locally common, and at the two Great Basin sites, it was just as common as R. disporum. Rhizocarpon grande (Flörke ex Flotow) Arnold—2 records at 2 sites—ours on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon– Juniper and Gambel Oak habitat—This is also superficially similar to R. disporum, but rare in the Great Basin. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Rhizocarpon intermediellum Räsänen—1 record at 1 site—at top of quartzite cliff in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—Similar to R. viridiatrum but less obviously parasitic, contains psoromic acid, has amyloid medulla and spores are less muriform. Ranked G24 on NatureServe. High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Rhizocarpon macrosporum Räsänen—1 record at 1 site—on rhyolite talus in Gambel Oak habitat on Lodge Peak—In the R. geographicum group with psoromic acid and spores > 40 × 15 µm. Our specimen may correspond to Runemark’s R. sphaerosporum because it has some collar-like areoles mixed in. Ranked G34 on NatureServe. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Rhizocarpon riparium Räsänen—7 records at 2 sites—characteristic species on high-elevation siliceous rock in Great Basin; ours in Gambel Oak and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats—In the R. geographicum group with no secondary chemistry and spores > 40 × 15 µm. Possibly just a chemotype of R. macrosporum. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Rhizocarpon superficiale (Schaerer) Vainio—2 records at 2 sites—ours on siliceous rock in Pinyon– Juniper habitat; typically a high-elevation species in the Great Basin—We have additional specimens which require verification; this is probably not rare in the CFO. Rhizocarpon viridiatrum (Wulfen) Körber—1 record at 1 site—ours obviously parasitic on Buellia “cinerata” on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—Since this site is potentially at risk from development and recreational use, it receives S3/4 status. (Figure 92.) Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca (Sm.) Zopf—32 records at 18 sites—characteristic species on sunny siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin; occasionally found on basalt; apparently rare in the Mojave portion of the CFO, although reported from the Mojave in other literature—Some populations have a bright green form (which we called f. “viridis”), often growing intermixed with the normal white form. Steve Leavitt says this is a new species (pers. Figure 92. Rhizocarpon viridiatrum—15×. Appendix II. Checklists 63 comm. 2018). We always collected both forms wherever we found them. Rhizoplaca marginalis (Hasse) W.A. Weber— 2 records at 1 site—one robust, extensive population on shaded schist on peak x3740 in East Mormon Mountains—This is a significant range extension; the nearest known populations of this rare species are over 150 miles away in Death Valley and near Baker, California. Ranked G23 on NatureServe. Siliceous habitat in the Mojave section of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore this rare species at the extreme edge of its range receives S1 status. See Appendix V.B.4 for more information. (Figure 93.) Figure 93. Rhizoplaca marginalis—0.75×. Rhizoplaca melanophthalma (DC.) Leuckert & Poelt—203 records at 34 sites—abundant on siliceous rock throughout the Great Basin and Mojave; occasionally occurs on basalt and calcareous rock. Rhizoplaca peltata (Ramond) Leuckert & Poelt = Protoparmeliopsis peltata (Ramond) Arup, Zhao Xin & Lumbsch—88 records at 32 sites—common on all kinds of rock throughout the Great Basin and Ecotone; more common on siliceous rock at lower elevations; not found in Creosote–Bursage habitat—Ranked G34 on NatureServe, but we find it to be very common throughout the Great Basin, possibly the center of its distribution. Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans (Nyl.) R. Sant.—14 records at 11 sites—ours on siliceous and neutral rock, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats; found once in Blackbrush habitat in the Ecotone. ? Rinodina albertana Sheard—1 record at 1 site—on Pinyon log in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in limestone canyon in Golden Gate Range—Need to verify this specimen. Rinodina bischoffii (Hepp) A. Massal.—47 records at 18 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats; found once on quartzite under a shrub, and once on rhyolite. See also R. immersa. Rinodina castanomela (Nyl.) Arnold—30 records at 14 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock and pebbles, especially in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats. Rinodina castanomelodes H. Mayrhofer & Poelt—5 positive records at 3 sites—ours mostly on calcareous rock and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage habitat; but scattered records in other habitats—One specimen on Highland Peak (JH12686) appears to be blastidiate/sorediate and is probably another species. Rinodina grandilocularis Sheard—35 records at 9 sites—ours most characteristic of Juniper in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but scattered records on a wide range of trees and shrubs in all habitats throughout the Great Basin. Rinodina guzzinii Jatta—5 records at 3 sites—ours mostly on calcareous rock, in Creosote–Bursage and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats; one population on rhyolite in Mogollon Chaparral habitat, but several other calciphiles including R. bischoffii also found at this site—Similar to R. castanomela 64 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office and R. castanomelodes, but the spores are bicincta-type without a pigmented band, and are over 20 µm long (even somewhat immature ones). ? Rinodina immersa (Körb.) Zahlbr.—9 records at 3 sites—ours on limestone in Blackbrush, Pinyon– Juniper, Mountain Mahogany and Mesic Montane habitats—Same as R. bischoffii but apothecia are immersed entirely in pits in rock. Sheard (2010) considers them synonyms, but we have collected a specimen in central British Columbia with both forms growing side-by-side. We’re keeping them separate just in case they prove to be distinct taxa. Rinodina juniperina Sheard—20 records at 7 sites—ours most characteristic of Juniper in Xeric Sagebrush, Big Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, but scattered records on a wide range of trees and shrubs in many habitats throughout the Great Basin. Rinodina lobulata H. Mayrhofer & Sheard—3 records at 2 sites—ours on Juniper, Mormon Tea and Tetradymia in Blackbrush, Xeric and Big Sagebrush habitats—We still have many unprocessed specimens of Rinodina spp. in our stacks, so it is likely we will find additional occurrences. Rinodina luridata (Körber) H. Mayrhofer, Scheid. & Sheard—7 records at 4 sites—ours on calcareous rocks and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats —Variable species with small bicincta-type spores (13–14 µm). Rinodina oleae Bagl.—2 records at 2 sites—ours on Juniper and Mormon Tea in Big Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats, in Worthington Range and near Panaca Kilns—We still have many unprocessed specimens of Rinodina spp. in our stacks, so we may find additional occurrences. ? Rinodina orculata Poelt & M. Steiner—2 records at 1 site—on Fir and Bristlecone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Our specimens should be verified. ? Rinodina pycnocarpa H. Magn.—2 records at 2 sites—on limestone in Mountain Mahogany and Pinyon–Juniper habitats on Highland and Worthington Peaks, respectively—Our specimens should be verified. Rinodina pyrina (Ach.) Arnold—10 records at 2 sites—ours on Gambel Oak, Juniper and Fir in Riparian and Gambel Oak habitats on Highland and Lodge Peaks, respectively—We’ve been applying this name to everything with thin-walled spores under 15 µm long. We still have many unprocessed specimens of Rinodina spp. in our stacks, so it is likely we will find additional occurrences. Rinodina riparia Sheard—6 records at 5 sites—ours mostly on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat, but also found on Bristlecone, Pinyon and Mormon Tea in Xeric Sagebrush and Montane habitats— Dirinaria-type, large, pale-tipped spores. NN3530 has usually large spores (27–30 × 11–13 µm) but otherwise matches. ? Rinodina straussii J. Steiner—6 possible records at 5 sites—on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—We’ve applied this name to a variety of specimens based on large bicincta-type spores (over 20 µm). It’s not clear to us which, if any, are true R. straussii. Rinodina terrestris Tomin—5 records at 3 sites—on soil and moss on ground, mostly at calcareous sites in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats; one specimen growing on Toninia sedifolia. Rinodina zwackhiana (Kremp.) Körber—104 records at 33 sites—characteristic species on all kinds of rock throughout the Great Basin and at least the northeastern Mojave; ours most common in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Appendix II. Checklists 65 Rinodina sp. JH12644—1 record at 1 site—on Oak trunk in Gambel Oak habitat on Highland Peak— Thallus pale gray to brownish, coarsely granularblastidiate, turning finely sorediate; all spot tests negative; spores thin-walled, 20–23 × 9–10 µm. Sarcogyne arenosa (Herre) Knudsen & Standley— 1 record at 1 site—on calcareous pebble in Creosote–Bursage habitat in Toquop Wash—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 94.) Sarcogyne hypophaea (Nyl.) Arnold—7 records at 4 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock and pebbles in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Figure 94. Sarcogyne arenosa—15×. Sarcogyne cf. novomexicana H. Magn.—2 records at 1 site—on limestone pebbles in Creosote–Bursage habitat in a limestone gorge near Garden Mountain—Our specimens should be verified. The apothecial disk of ours is red instead of orange, and the exciple dark brown throughout instead of hyaline inside. (Figure 95.) Sarcogyne plicata H. Magn.—5 records at 2 sites—ours on granite and rhyolite pebbles in Blackbrush habitat—Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Sarcogyne regularis Körber—19 records at 10 sites—characteristic species on calcareous rock and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats; also present in Pinyon– Juniper habitat. Sarcogyne similis H. Magn.—3 records at 3 sites—ours on siliceous rock in Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats. Seirophora contortuplicata (Ach.) Fröden—14 records at 8 sites—uncommon but characteristic species in sheltered nooks high on open north-facing cliffs throughout the Great Basin; ours found in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper, Dry–Mesic and Mesic Montane habitats; more common on calcareous than siliceous rocks. Sporastatia testudinea (Ach.) A. Massal.—locally common on shaded rhyolite on top of Seaman Range H.P.—Photographs only. High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Squamarina lentigera (Weber) Poelt—1 record at 1 site—in secondary successional biological soil crust community at edge of broad wash in Big Sagebrush habitat at foot of calcareous lacustrine hoodoos at The Big Hogback near Panaca—This site is threatened by disturbance from cattle or horses and off-road recreation, therefore this potentially rare species receives S3 status. Staurothele areolata (Ach.) Lettau—27 positive records at 12 sites—on both siliceous and calcare- Figure 95. Sarcogyne cf. novomexicana—10×. 66 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office ous rock throughout the Great Basin and Mojave— See comments under S. drummondii. Staurothele clopimoides (Arnold) J. Stein—1 record at 1 site—on limestone water-streak in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Staurothele drummondii (Tuck.) Tuck.—163 positive records at 27 sites—characteristic species on all kinds of rock at all elevations throughout the Great Basin and Mojave—Specimens intermediate between S. areolata and S. drummondii are common. At least 100 records were impossible to place with confidence. There are almost certainly undescribed species in this complex. Figure 96. Staurothele polygonia—7×. Staurothele elenkinii Oxner—8 records at 5 sites— ours on on granite, schist, basalt, limestone and volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat. Staurothele fissa (Taylor) Zwackh—1 record at 1 site —on sheltered limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Figure 97. Stromatella bermudana?—20×. Staurothele monicae (Zahlbr.) Wetmore—123 records at 25 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock, mostly in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats; less common in Pinyon– Juniper and Mogollon Chaparral habitats; one population growing directly on soil in a playa. Staurothele polygonia B. de Lesd.—8 records at 3 sites—ours mostly on limestone in Mesic and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. (Figure 96.) Strangospora moriformis (Ach.) Stein—6 records at Figure 98. Synalissa matogrossensis?—15×. 2 sites—ours on Fir and Ponderosa in Mesic Montane and Ponderosa habitats—Our material doesn’t support separating S. pinicola, as the epihymenium color varies in same specimen from red-brown to blue-brown, and paraphyses from 1 to 2.5 µm. Ranked G2/3 on NatureServe, but almost certainly just overlooked. ? Stromatella bermudana (Riddle) Henssen—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Creosote–Bursage habitat above the limestone gorge near Garden Mountain—Need to have this verified. (Figure 97.) ? Synalissa matogrossensis (Malme) Henssen—2 records at 1 site—on rhyolite in Blackbrush habitat in Crystal Wash—Need to have this verified. (Figure 98.) Appendix II. Checklists 67 Teuvoa junipericola Sohrabi & S. Leavitt—5 records at 3 sites—ours on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitat. Thyrea confusa Henssen—3 confident records at 3 sites—on calcareous rock in the Mojave and lowelevation Great Basin—We’re distinguishing this from pruinose forms of Lichinella nigritella by its exclusively finely to coarsely granular isidia and thicker lobes (over 200 µm thick). Toninia alutacea (Anzi) Jatta = Thalloidima alutaceum Anzi—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Figure 99. Toninia philippea—7×. Toninia candida (Weber) Th. Fr. = Thalloidima candidum (Weber) A. Massal.—3 records at 2 sites— ours on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Toninia philippea (Mont.) Timdal = Kiliasia philippea (Mont.) Hafellner—4 records at 2 sites—ours on limestone in Xeric Sagebrush and Mesic Montane habitats—We have a photo of one additional popula- Figure 100. Toninia weberi—7×. tion from Mormon Mountains which we neglected to collect. This is probably not rare in the CFO. (Figure 99.) Toninia ruginosa (Tuck.) Herre = Bibbya ruginosa (Tuck.) Kistenich, Timdal, Bendiksby & S. Ekman —15 records at 12 sites—characteristic of shaded siliceous and neutral rock throughout the Great Basin; ours mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Ours is ssp. ruginosa with long, 7-septate spores. Toninia sedifolia (Scop.) Timdal = Thalloidima sedifolium (Scop.) Kistenich, Timdal, Bendiksby & S. Ekman—55 records at 25 sites—characteristic biological soil crust species throughout the Great Basin and Mojave; ours most common in calcareous areas in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats; found once on the base of Gambel Oak. Toninia tristis (Th. Fr.) Th. Fr.—5 records at 5 sites—ours mostly on moss and soil in limestone cliffs in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Most of ours is ssp. arizonica Timdal, with an orange anthraquinone pigment in apothecium. Toninia weberi Timdal = Kiliasia granulosa (Szatala) Timdal—2 records at 2 sites—ours on limestone in Creosote–Bursage habitat in the limestone gorge near Garden Mountain, and Pinyon Juniper habitat in Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range—Possibly rare throughout its range. Ranked G2/4 on NatureServe. The Garden Mountain site is not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 100.) Trapeliopsis flexuosa (Fr.) Coppins & P. James—2 records at 2 sites—ours on Ponderosa wood in Ponderosa habitat, and on a Pinyon branch in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Pinyon–Juniper and especially 68 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Ponderosa habitats are potentially at risk from increased frequency and intensity of fires, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Umbilicaria phaea Tuck.—1 positive record at 1 site—on basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Clover Creek Canyon—Most of our specimens are smooth below with only a hint of coarse sandpapery texture. Unfortunately, all of our material of both U. phaea and U. torrefacta is P-, so chemistry is no help in distinguishing poorly-developed specimens. Umbilicaria polaris (Savicz) Zahlbr.—14 records at 8 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon– Juniper habitat; a few records on basalt and in Gambel Oak or Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Umbilicaria torrefacta (Lightf.) Schrader—5 positive records at 4 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat—While we have a few specimens with well-developed trabeculae, most have only the barest hint of them. Poorly-developed specimens are impossible to distinguish confidently from U. phaea (see comments there, too). Umbilicaria virginis Schaerer—5 records at 5 sites—ours mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat; also present in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat—Low-elevation populations are probably an undescribed species (Steve Leavitt, pers. comm. 2018) Usnea hirta (L.) F.H. Wigg.—1 poor specimen at 1 site—on Ponderosa twig in Ponderosa grove in Clover Mountains—One additional tiny specimen of Usnea was found on an unidentifiable dead shrub in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Sandhills Allotment, but it was too poorly-developed to identify, so we did not collect it. Pinyon–Juniper and especially Ponderosa habitats are potentially at risk from increased frequency and intensity of fires, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Verrucaria bernaicensis Malbr.—10 records at 4 sites —ours mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Mogollon Chaparral habitats— Anatomically almost identical to V. bernardinensis, but the surface has a different texture and the spores are slightly less broadly ellipsoid. (Figure 101.) Verrucaria bernardinensis Breuss—45 records at 17 sites—parasitic on Staurothele spp. (mostly S. drummondii and S. monicae) on both siliceous and calcareous rocks throughout the Great Basin and Mojave at all elevations—See comment under V. inficiens. Figure 101. Verrucaria bernaicensis—7×. Verrucaria calciseda DC. = Bagliettoa calciseda (DC.) Gueidan & Cl. Roux—2 records at 1 site—ours on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Immersed in limestone, lacking lid-like involucrellum. Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Verrucaria compacta (A. Massal.) Jatta = Heteroplacidium compactum (A. Massal.) Gueidan & Cl. Figure 102. Verrucaria endocarpoides—12×. Appendix II. Checklists 69 Roux—24 records at 12 sites—ours mostly on calcareous rocks and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats; occasionally found on rhyolite/tuff rock and pebbles in the CFO—See comments under Placidium acarosporoides. Verrucaria endocarpoides Servít—2 records at 2 sites —ours on limestone and granite in Blackbrush habitat—Thick brown thallus, perithecia immersed, involucrellum extending more than halfway to base, spores 20–26 × 8–11 µm. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 102.) Figure 103. Verrucaria furfuracea—20×. Verrucaria furfuracea (B. de Lesd.) Breuss—6 positive records at 4 sites—ours mostly on calcareous rock and pebbles in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats—Some of our material is darker, thinner and smaller than typical V. furfuracea, and may not belong in Verrucaria. (Figures 103-104.) Verrucaria fusca Pers.—1 record at 1 site—ours on limestone in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Thin fleck-like areoles, involucrellum reaching base, spores 17–22 × 8–11 µm. Ours is a poor specimen with unusually pale thallus, but otherwise matches perfectly. Since high-elevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Figure 104. Verrucaria cf. furfuracea—15×. Verrucaria glaucovirens Grummann—4 records at 2 sites—ours on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper and Mesic Montane habitats—This is a distinctive species with contorted/mounded, areolate thallus, immersed perithecia, no involucrellum and spores 17–20 × 8–10 µm. We have several additional specimens that are too poor to positively determine. This is probably not locally rare. Figure 105. Verrucaria incrassata—15×. Verrucaria incrassata Breuss—1 record at 1 site—on granite near ground in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—Thick brownish thallus, involucrellum entire but thicker above, spores 25–30 × 14–17 µm. This species is known only from its type locality in Arizona (Sonoran Flora). The taxonomy of Verrucaria is very challenging, so this specimen requires verification. If it is indeed V. incrassata, it warrants S1 rank, because its siliceous habitat in the northeastern Mojave is rare and threatened by climate change (Appendix IV.D). (Figure 105.) Verrucaria inficiens Breuss—3 records at 3 sites—one parasitic on Staurothele monicae on caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches, two others anatomically correct but apparently growing free of host, these two on limestone in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Compare 70 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office with V. bernardinensis. Conidia measurements seem to be unreliable, so we are sticking to spores alone. Most specimens’ spores are clearly at least in part broadly ellipsoid to subglobose and therefore belong in V. bernardinensis. One specimen (JH11692, parasitic on S. areolata) seems to have an involucrellum at the top but is otherwise correct. Verrucaria cf. inornata Servít—1 record at 1 site—on calcareous soil under Juniper in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—Thin, fleck-like, green-brown thallus and spores 25–30 × 9–12 µm. Our specimen is on soil and has an entire involucrellum, but is otherwise correct. Perhaps this form is a response to growing on soil. (Figure 106.) Verrucaria cf. macrostoma Dufour ex DC.—3 records at 1 site—on limestone in Creosote–Bursage habitat in the limestone gorge near Garden Mountain—Supposed to have thick brown thallus, involucrellum only to halfway, and spores 20–28 × 10–13 µm. This is distinctive among similar species in the Sonoran Flora by having a distinct, well-developed cortex and epinecral layer. Our material has betterdeveloped involucrellum reaching sometimes all the way to the base, and significantly shorter spores. It would come out to V. nigrofusca based on involucrellum and spores, but that species doesn’t have a distinct cortex. (Figure 107.) Figure 106. Verrucaria cf. inornata—12×. Figure 107. Verrucaria cf. macrostoma—12×. Verrucaria memnonia (Flotow) Arnold—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Xeric Sagebrush habitat above Antelope Canyon—Thin fleck-like areoles, involucrellum reaching base, spores 13–16 × 5–7 µm. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. (Figure 108.) Verrucaria muralis Ach.—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish Figure 108. Verrucaria memnonia—7×. —Thin pale gray thallus, large apothecia with involucrellum reaching halfway, spores 17–25 × 8–12 µm. One additional specimen on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat at “Fort Apache” has thicker thallus and spores are shorter and wider (16.5– 19.5 × 11.5–13 µm); it may be a different species. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Verrucaria nigrescens Pers.—2 records at 1 site—on rhyolite and volcanic ash in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Thallus dark brown, areolate, medulla black, spores 17–27 × 8–13 µm. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Verrucaria rupicola (B. de Lesd.) Breuss = Verrucaria othmarii K. Knudsen & L. Arcadia—1 record at 1 site—on limestone in Creosote–Bursage habitat in southern end of Meadow Valley Mountains— Appendix II. Checklists 71 Thallus brown, subsquamulose, involucrellum absent, spores 12–15 × 5–7 µm. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Verrucaria sphaerospora Anzi—11 records at 5 sites —ours mostly on calcareous rock, often on ground, in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Small grayish-brownish areoles, superficial perithecia, spores 9–12 × 7.5–10 µm. One specimen (JH11545, on rhyolite talus on Lodge Peak) appears to be parasitic on Rhizocarpon with semi-immersed perithecia. Figure 109. Verrucaria zamenhofiana—7×. Verrucaria viridula (Schrader) Ach.—3 records at 2 sites—on limestone and volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat—Large pyriform perithecia, involucrellum mostly in upper half, very large spores (25–33 × 14– 18 µm). Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Verrucaria zamenhofiana Clauzade & Cl. Roux = Heteroplacidium zamenhofianum (Clauzade & Cl. Roux) Cl. Roux—12 records at 5 sites—ours parasitic on Staurothele spp., especially S. drummondii and S. areolata; mostly on limestone, one on granite water-streak, another on quartzite vein in limestone Figure 110. Verrucaria sp. JH12694—15×. talus; in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Montane habitats—Thallus brown, subsquamulose, involucrellum absent, spores 10–12 × 9–10 µm. Our material seems to have rather variable spore size. One in particular (JH13150) has consistently narrowly ellipsoid spores 12–14 × 5–6 µm. (Figure 109.) Verrucaria sp. JH12694—1 record at 1 site—on limestone cliff in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Superficially like Endocarpon pulvinatum but spores simple and hyaline (15–19 × 6–8 µm), no algae in hymenium and no involucrellum. (Figure 110.) Xanthomendoza fallax (Hepp ex Arnold) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr.—84 records at 25 sites— ours on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including Mormon Tea, Sagebrush, Gambel Oak, Juniper and Pinyon; mostly in Blackbrush, Big Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper, Riparian and Gambel Oak habitats; also present on rock, mostly siliceous—Many of our specimens have soralia seemingly intermediate with X. galericulata, with the upper cortex persisting much longer than the lower cortex and forming a hood. However, there are usually at least a few clearly marginal soralia present as well, and careful examination even of the hoods shows that the soredia are originating between the cortices. Lastly these specimens are too ±adnate and rosettiform to be X. galericulata. Xanthomendoza fulva (Hoffm.) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr.—10 records at 5 sites—ours are generally poorly developed; found on Gambel Oak, Willow and Dwarf Ash in Riparian, Gambel Oak, Mogollon Chaparral and Ponderosa habitats. Xanthomendoza galericulata L. Lindblom—100 records at 29 sites—common throughout the Great Basin, especially on Sagebrush, Mormon Tea and Gambel Oak in the CFO, but also present on a 72 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office wide variety of other trees and shrubs; rarely occurs on siliceous or calcareous rock; found in all habitats but Creosote–Bursage in the CFO, but most common in Pinyon–Juniper. Xanthomendoza mendozae (Räsänen) S. Kondr. & Kärnefelt—locally common on sheltered rhyolite on top of Seaman Range H.P.—Photographs only. High-elevation habitat in the CFO is potentially at risk from rising temperatures, therefore this receives S3/4 status. Xanthomendoza montana (L. Lindblom) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr.—148 records at 29 sites— common throughout the Great Basin, especially on Pinyon, Sagebrush, Juniper and Gambel Oak in the CFO, but also present on a wide variety of other trees and shrubs; rarely occurs on siliceous or calcareous rock; found in all habitats but Creosote–Bursage in our area, but most common in Pinyon–Juniper. Also collected by Leslie Goodding in 1902 near Caliente (Goodding 939; COLO, NY, US; Lindblom 1997). Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis (Gyelnik) Hale—13 records at 8 sites—on siliceous rock, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Blackbrush habitats. Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia (Gyelnik) Hale—22 records at 9 sites—on siliceous rock, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Xanthoparmelia lavicola (Gyelnik) Hale—1 record at 1 site—on mudstone in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—Siliceous habitat in the Mojave section of the CFO is rare and potentially vulnerable to changing climate, therefore this receives S3 status. Xanthoparmelia lineola (E.C. Berry) Hale—21 records at 13 sites—on siliceous rock, mostly in Pinyon–Juniper and Blackbrush habitats. Xanthoparmelia maricopensis T.H. Nash & Elix—28 records at 13 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush, Blackbrush and Creosote–Bursage habitats—Ranked G3/4 on NatureServe. Xanthoparmelia mexicana (Gyelnik) Hale—69 records at 23 sites—characteristic species on siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Xanthoparmelia montanensis Hale—9 records at 4 sites—on siliceous and neutral rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Riparian habitats. ? Xanthoparmelia neorimalis (Elix & P.M. Armstr.) Elix & T.H. Nash—1 poor record at 1 site—on shaded vertical rhyolite in Mogollon Chaparral habitat at Narrow Canyon in Delamar Mountains— This is a small-lobed X. lineola group species; it looks similar to the specimen we saw at ASU. Xanthoparmelia novomexicana (Gyelnik) Hale—6 records at 3 sites—on siliceous and neutral rocks in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitats. Xanthoparmelia plittii (Gyelnk) Hale—1 record at 1 site—on shaded rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Delamar Mountains—Broader lobes and sparse/finer isidia than X. subplittii. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Xanthoparmelia pseudocongensis Hale—2 records at 2 sites—on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush habitat—Stictic syndrome present, isidiate, black below, with small black-rimmed lobes. Habitat not threatened, so this receives S4 status. Xanthoparmelia “stenomexicana”—7 records at 7 sites—on siliceous and neutral rocks mostly in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—This is a small-lobed, subcrustose form of X. mexicana. Since X. mexicana Appendix II. Checklists 73 is otherwise such a well-behaved, consistent species, these small-lobed forms stand out in stark contrast, especially in the field when growing next to X. mexicana (which happens in 6 of the 7 sites). Xanthoparmelia stenophylla (Ach.) Ahti & D. Hawksw.—17 records at 8 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Pinyon–Juniper and other habitats. ? Xanthoparmelia subcumberlandia Elix & T.H. Nash—1 record at 1 site—on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—Small form of X. cumberlandia. But since X. cumberlandia is already highly variable, and some specimens have hardly any broad marginal lobes, it is hard to be confident of this small-lobed specimen. Xanthoparmelia subdecipiens (Vainio) Hale— 7 records at 3 sites—mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Riparian habitats. Xanthoparmelia subplittii Hale—35 records at 15 sites —mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitats—This species on average has somewhat smaller lobes than X. plittii, and has distinctive, dense, “blobby” isidia. There is a form with even smaller lobes which may be X. neopropaguloides. ? Xanthoparmelia weberi (Hale) Hale—1 poor record at 1 site—on rhyolite in Creosote–Bursage habitat in Bunker Hills—Need to verify with TLC. Figure 111. Lichinales JH16129a—20×. Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr. = Rusavskia elegans (Link) S. Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt—229 records at 40 sites—common, characteristic species on both siliceous and calcareous rock at all elevations throughout the Great Basin and Mojave. Xanthoria sorediata (Vainio) Poelt = Rusavskia sorediata (Vainio) S. Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt—9 records at 3 sites—ours on both siliceous and calcareous rock at high elevations in Great Basin, in Gambel Oak and Montane habitats. Figure 112. sterile schizidiate crust JH16275—7×. Xylographa septentrionalis T. Sprib.—2 records at 1 site—on conifer logs in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—One specimen fertile. Since highelevation habitat at Highland Peak is at risk from development and change in climate, this receives S3 status. Lichinales JH16129a—on rhyolite in Creosote–Bursage in Bunker Hills—Densely paraplectenchymatous; apothecia with red-black disk; epihymenium indistinct; hymenium I+; parathecium present; spores 32 per ascus, globose, ca. 5 µm. (Figure 111.) Figure 113. sterile sorediate crust JH10581—15×. 74 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office sterile schizidiate crust JH16275—1 record at 1 site —in sheltered granite water-streak in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—All spot tests negative but strongly POL+. Need to TLC and sequence. (Figure 112.) sterile sorediate crust JH10581—1 record at 1 site— on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range—All spot tests negative; areoles scattered, small, bullate, brown; soralia discrete, marginal, fine, dark, ca. 30 µm. Need to TLC and sequence. (Figure 113.) Figure 114. sterile sorediate crust JH11517—15×. sterile sorediate crust JH11517—1 record at 1 site— on Pinyon branch in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Contains gyrophoric acid; thallus composed entirely of piles of catenate brown powdery soredia. Possibly a Micarea sp. Need to sequence. (Figure 114.) “white ghost”—3 records at 3 sites—on shaded vertical limestone in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitats—This forms pale orbicular patches on limestone with a chalky white margin about the only thing visible, the rest etching into the rock. It appears to be lichenized with green trebouxioid Figure 115. “white ghost”—0.7×. algae, and with lots of tiny pruinose/dusty blackish specks, but we can’t find any recognizable fungal structures. Need to try to sequence. (Figure 115.) II.A.2. Non-lichenized Lichenicolous Fungi Arthonia clemens (Tul.) Th. Fr.—1 record at 1 site—on Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca on basalt in Pinyon– Juniper habitat in northern Golden Gate Range. Arthonia epiphyscia Nyl.—4 records at 3 sites—ours on Physcia albinea and P. dubia, on basalt, rhyolite, Gambel Oak and Serviceberry, in Great Basin woodlands. * Arthonia hertelii (Calat. et al.) Hafellner & V. John—1 record at 1 site—on Aspicilia desertorum group on rhyolite/tuff on ground in calcareous badlands in Xeric Sagebrush habitat near Panaca. Arthonia intexta Almq.—3 records at 2 sites—ours all in the apothecia of Lecidella patavina on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Arthonia lecanorina (Almq.) Grube—4 records at 3 sites—ours on apothecia of Lecanora dispersa group, including L. crenulata, L. semipallida, L. zosterae and an unknown species; on rhyolite/tuff, limestone, Juniper, Pinyon and Bristlecone; in Pinyon–Juniper and Mesic Montane habitats—Two specimens on other hosts, but otherwise about right: one on L. albellula, the other on Rhizoplaca peltata (related genus). Appendix II. Checklists 75 Arthonia “lecidellae”—2 records at 1 site—on Lecidella euphorea on conifer wood in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Very similar to A. molendoi, except the host is completely unrelated (should be Teloschistaceae). Arthonia “moenium”—2 records at 2 sites—on Megaspora rimisorediata, on Juniper in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Similar to A. hertelii, except spores broader (15–16 × 7–8 µm). Arthonia molendoi (Heufl. ex Frauenf.) R. Sant.— 15 records at 12 sites—on Caloplaca spp., ours on Figure 116. Arthonia “pleopsidiae”—15×. C. trachyphylla, C. saxicola, X. elegans, C. adnexa, C. arenaria, even C. albovariegata s. lato, mostly on apothecia; mostly on limestone in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat. Arthonia phaeophysciae Grube & Matzer—2 records at 2 sites—on Phaeophyscia nigricans, on Oak and schist, in Gambel Oak and Blackbrush habitats. Arthonia “pleopsidiae”—1 record at 1 site—on Pleopsidium flavum on basalt in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in northern Golden Gate Range (outside Caliente Field Office)—Most similar to A. phaeophysicae, with apothecia erumpent from host thallus, subhymenium hyaline, paraphyses tips brown, ca. 7 × 4 µm, etc., but the spores are a bit narrower (3.5–4.5 µm versus 4–6 µm), and host is unrelated. We’ve seen this species a number of times in the Great Basin outside the CFO. (Figure 116.) Arthonia “rhizocarpae”—1 record at 1 site—on Rhizocarpon disporum on andesite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Golden Gate Range—Hypothecium hyaline; spores ca. 9–12 × 4–5 µm, unequal, ±constricted, nonhalonate. Arthonia varians (Davies) Nyl.—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Lecanora rupicola on rhyolite in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns. Arthonia xanthoparmeliarum Etayo—11 records at 7 sites—on Xanthoparmelia spp., ours on X. mexicana and X. coloradoensis especially; on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Arthonia “zwackhianae”—1 record at 1 site—on Rinodina zwackhiana on Ephedra branch in Salt Desert Scrub habitat in Golden Gate Range—Epihymenium bluish-brown (brown in K), hymenium 50 µm, K/I+b, subhymenium brown, spores hyaline, slightly unequal, ca. 12 × 5 µm. * Ascochyta candelariellicola D. Hawksw. & Kalb— 1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Candelariella rosulans on volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat at “Fort Apache”—This is apparently only known from the type population on C. aurella in Baja California. Infected apothecia become translucent, so it is clearly damaging the host. (Figure 117.) Figure 117. Ascochyta candelariellicola—20×. 76 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Buellia pulverulenta (Anzi) Jatta = Tetramelas pulverulentus (Anzi) A. Nordin & Tibell—5 records at 4 sites—ours on Physcia dubia, Physconia enteroxantha and Lecanora muralis; in siliceous and neutral rock communities in Pinyon–Juniper and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Unlike our other parasitic species of Buellia, this one lacks any lichenized thallus of its own. Carbonea vitellinaria (Nyl.) Hertel—1 record at 1 site—on Candelariella vitellina in siliceous Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns. Carbonea sp. JH11118—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Candelariella antennaria on Mormon Tea in Salt Desert Scrub in Golden Gate Range (outside Caliente Field Office)—Microscopically best characterized as a reduced Carbonea vitellinaria, obviously lacking exciple and hypothecium. Superficially looks like an Arthonia, but Lecanora-type ascus and simple spores rule that genus out. Cercidospora caudata Kernst.—15 records at 8 sites—mostly on Caloplaca spp., ours on C. biatorina/ saxicola, C. crenulatella, C. trachyphylla, X. elegans, C. atroalba s. lato and C. albovariegata s. lato, mostly on apothecia; on both siliceous and calcareous rocks, mostly in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Cercidospora lobothalliae Nav.-Ros. & Calat.—3 records at 3 sites—on Lobothallia spp. and Aspicilia nashii; on siliceous and neutral rocks in Xeric Sagebrush and Riparian habitats—One specimen has 4 spores per ascus, with a tiny septum near lower end, and may be a different species. Cercidospora macrospora (Uloth) Hafellner & Nav.-Ros.—20 records at 12 sites—ours on Lecanora garovaglii, L. muralis, L. novomexicana, L. argopholis and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma; on siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. * Cercidospora melanophthalmae Nav.-Ros., Calat. & Hafellner—6 records at 2 sites—on Rhizoplaca melanophthalma; ours on siliceous and neutral rocks in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. (Figure 118.) Cercidospora “peltatae”—1 record at 1site—on Rhizoplaca peltata on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in northern Worthington Range—Similar to C. melanophthalmae, but spores larger (19–25 × 6.5–7 µm), perithecia restricted to host apothecia, and pycnidia unusually common. Dacampia sp. JH10994—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Aspicilia desertorum group on limestone in Pinyon–Juniper habitat at Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range—Spores 4 per ascus, brown, submuriform, 3–4 septate, 25–30 × 11–12 µm. Didymellopsis cf. latitans (Nyl.) Clem. & Shear— 2 records at 1 site—on Lichinella spp. on limestone pebbles in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains—Spores far too large (20–26 × 7–8 µm). Didymellopsis cf. pulposi (Zopf) Grube & Hafellner— 1 record at 1 site—on Collema tenax group on limestone pebble in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains—The spores are slightly too long (19–22 × 5–6 µm). * Endococcus karlstadtensis Kocourková & Brackel— 1 record at 1 site—on Endocarpon pallidulum on limestone pebbles in Tule Springs Hills. Figure 118. Cercidospora melanophthalmae—7×. Appendix II. Checklists 77 Endococcus oreinae Hafellner—1 record at 1 site—on Dimelaena oreina on quartzite in Pinyon– Juniper habitat in Groom Range. Endococcus “peltulae”—2 records at 1 site—on Peltula obscurans on sunny rhyolite in Creosote–Bursage habitat in Bunker Hills—Perithecia 150 µm; spores weakly fusiform, 1-septate, pale brown, 13–17 × 5–6 µm. Endococcus “rinodinae”—1 record at 1 site—on Rinodina grandilocularis on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat on Miller Bench near Panaca—Perithecia 150 µm wide; spores ±constricted, ±equal, 10–11 × 6.5–7 µm. Endococcus rugulosus Nyl.—1 record at 1 site—on Verrucaria sp. on granite in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains. Endococcus stigma (Körber) Stizenb.—5 records at 2 sites—ours on Acarospora thamnina, A. cf. elevata and A. “fuscorosulata” on andesite and rhyolite in Xeric Sagebrush and Gambel Oak habitats. Endococcus verrucosus Hafellner—5 records at 4 sites —ours on Aspicilia nashii, A. arizonica and other species; on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper, Mogollon Chaparral, Gambel Oak and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats. Figure 119. Lawalreea lecanorae—25×. Intralichen christiansenii (D. Hawksw.) D. Hawksw. & M.S. Cole—2 records at 2 sites—on Candelariella spp.; ours on andesite and volcanic ash in Blackbrush habitat—Probably under-reported as it is inconspicuous. Lawalreea “buelliae”—1 record at 1 site—on Buellia punctata on Pinyon branch in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Like L. lecanorae but conidiogenous cells narrowly ellipsoid and conidia narrower and longer (8–10 × 2.5–3 µm). * Lawalreea lecanorae Diederich—7 records at 1 site —ours on Lecanora zosterae s. lato and L. albellula in Mesic Montane and Riparian habitats on Highland Peak. (Figure 119.) Lichenochora constrictella (Mull. Arg.) Hafellner— 1 record at 1 site—on Fulgensia subbracteata in secondary successional biological soil crust community at edge of broad wash in Big Sagebrush habitat at foot of calcareous lacustrine hoodoos at The Big Hogback near Panaca—Another set of three specimens on Caloplaca furfuracea from Highland Peak, and another specimen on C. crenulatella all are very Figure 120. Lichenochora constrictella—20×. Figure 121. Lichenochora epinashii—20×. 78 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office similar but have smaller perithecia and spores. Even though it’s not on the Esslinger list, this has already been reported for North America by Etayo and Navarro-Rosinés 2008. (Figure 120.) * Lichenochora epinashii Nav.-Ros. & Etayo—1 record at 1 site—on Caloplaca nashii on limestone pebble in Creosote–Bursage habitat above the limestone gorge near Garden Mountain. (Figure 121.) Lichenochora verrucicola (Wedd.) Nik. Hoffm. & Hafellner—3 records at 2 sites—on Aspicilia spp., ours on A. arizonica, A. desertorum group and A. mastrucata group on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Lichenochora xanthoriae Triebel & Rambold—2 records at 1 site—on Caloplaca “halophila” and C. cerina s. lato on Grayia spinosa in Salt Desert Scrub habitat in Dry Lake Valley—Our specimens are a good match, but on the wrong hosts. Lichenochora sp. JH12467—1 record at 1 site—on Candelariella xanthostigma on conifer log in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Spores brownish, 1-septate, 13–14 × 5–6 µm, and ±verruculose. Lichenoconium lecanorae (Jaap) D. Hawksw.—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Lecanora garovaglii on quartzite in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish. Lichenoconium xanthoriae M.S. Christ.—2 records at 1 site—on Melanohalea subolivacea agg. on Bristlecone branches in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak. Lichenodiplis lecanorae (Vouaux) Dyko & D. Hawksw.—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Buellia punctata on Rocky Mountain Juniper in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak. Lichenostigma amplum Calat. & Hafellner—17 records at 2 sites—ours locally common on Buellia dispersa group (equally common on both B. dispersa and B. nashii) on rhyolite in Creosote–Bursage habitat. Lichenostigma “anaptychiae”—5 records at 5 sites—on Anaptychia elbursiana, mostly on siliceous rock, at all elevations throughout the Great Basin—Spidery black vegetative hyphae, but never any spores. Could be any of several genera, but most resembles Lichenostigma species such as L. cosmopolites. It is common in the Great Basin, so hopefully we’ll find fertile material eventually. ? Lichenostigma anatolicum Halici & Kocakaya—3 records at 3 sites—ours on Acarospora rosulata group and A. strigata group, on both siliceous and calcareous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitats—Vegetative hyphae absent but “rooting” hyphae present. Only subtly different from L. elongatum, L. “strigatae” and L. subradians. Lichenostigma “argopholis”—17 records at 12 sites— common on Lecanora argopholis, mostly on siliceous rocks in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Spidery black vegetative hyphae, but never any spores. Could be any of several genera, but most resembles Lichenostigma species such as L. cosmopolites. It is common in the Great Basin, so hopefully we’ll find fertile material eventually. (Figure 122.) Figure 122. Lichenostigma “argopholis”—15×. Appendix II. Checklists 79 Lichenostigma cosmopolites Hafellner & Calatayud— 81 records at 25 sites (but only two verified with microscopy)—on Xanthoparmelia spp., ours on X. coloradoensis, X. cumberlandia, X. maricopensis, X. mexicana, X. stenophylla, X. subplittii and several others; mostly on siliceous rocks throughout the Great Basin and Mojave. Lichenostigma dimelaenae Calat. & Hafellner— 9 records at 7 sites—on Dimelaena oreina on shaded siliceous rocks; ours in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats— Ascomata clustered between areoles, no vegetative hyphae, spores dark and granulose, sometimes with angular septum in upper cell. Some of our material appears to have superficial vegetative hyphae, but that may belong to another species. Lichenostigma elongatum Nav.-Ros. & Hafellner— 49 records at 20 sites—on Aspicilia spp., ours mostly on A. arizonica, A. desertorum group and A. nashii group on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats— Highly variable vegetative hyphae and spores (1to 3-septate, once submuriform). Compare with L. triseptatum, especially. Figure 123. Lichenostigma gracilis—15×. Figure 124. Lichenostigma “marginalis”—15×. * Lichenostigma gracilis Calat., Nav.-Ros. & Hafellner—5 records at 5 sites—ours on Acarospora rosulata group, mostly on siliceous rock in Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Neatly radiating vegetative hyphae and brown, 1-septate spores. Compare with Sphaerellothecium “rosulatae”, which is very similar but has hyaline spores. (Figure 123.) Lichenostigma “marginalis”—5 records at 4 sites—on Pleopsidium flavum on siliceous and neutral rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Vegetative hyphae scant or absent; apothecia small, blobby, clustering along cracks; spores 1–3-septate, brown, smooth, unequal, 11–15 × 6–8 µm. (Figure 124.) Lichenostigma radicans Calatayud & Barreno—4 records at 4 sites—ours on Aspicilia arida, A. arizonica, A. boykinii and others, mostly on siliceous rock, in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper, Mogollon Chaparral and Gambel Oak habitats—Vegetative hyphae absent, but “roots” present; spores brown, 1-septate, 10–13 × 6–7 µm. Compare with L. elongatum and L. triseptatum. Lichenostigma “strigatae”—23 records at 10 sites—on Acarospora strigata group on both calcareous and siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Vegetative hyphae thick and short, snaky-radiating, ±unbranched, with abundant “roots” plunging into host epinecral layer; spores 8 per ascus, dark brown, 1-septate, upper cell wider, ends broadly rounded, weakly constricted, some broadly halonate, very finely granular when mature, ca. 12 × 8 µm. Compare with L. anatolicum and L. subradians. 80 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Lichenostigma subradians Hafellner, Calatyud & Nav.-Ros.—30 records at 16 sites—on Acarospora socialis group, ours mostly on siliceous rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Vegetative hyphae thick and short-radiating when young, with a few short lateral branches, no “roots”; spores 8–11 × 4–7 µm. Lichenostigma “tominiae”—3 records at 3 sites—On Montanelia saximontana on siliceous and neutral rock in Xeric Sagebrush habitat—Very similar to L. cosmopolites, but vegetative hyphae wider, hymenium I-, and spores 9–11 × 4–4.5 µm. Figure 125. Marchandiobasidium aurantiacum— 10×. * Lichenostigma triseptatum Halici & D. Hawksw.— 1 record at 1 site—on Aspicilia nashii on siliceous rock in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in northern Golden Gate Range—Very similar to L. elongatum and intermediates seem to exist, possibly not a good species. We reserved this name for a specimen with scant vegetative hyphae and mostly 3-septate spores, 13–16 x 7.5–10 µm. Lichenostigma “umbilicariae”—1 record at 1 site—on Umbilicaria torrefacta on clayey quartzite in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in Antelope Canyon—Vegetative hyphae short radiating, forked a few times, 3 cells Figure 126. —10×. thick; ascomata ca. 80 µm; spores brown, 1-septate, ±unequal, ±constricted, 10–12 × 5–6 µm. Llimoniella phaeophysciae Diederich, Ertz & Etayo—8 records at 4 sites—ours on Phaeophyscia hirsuta and P. nigricans, on Juniper and Mormon Tea, in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Marchandiobasidium aurantiacum Diederich & Schultheis = Erythricium aurantiacum (Lasch) D. Hawksw. & A. Henrici—1 record at 1 site—on Physcia albinea/biziana (and overgrowing neighboring Anaptychia) on quartzite in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish. (Figure 125.) Marchandiomyces corallinus (Roberge) Diederich & D. Hawksw.—8 records at 3 sites—ours on Buellia, Cyphelium, Lecanora and Lecidella; on Juniper, Pinyon, Bristlecone and Oak; in Pinyon– Juniper, Gambel Oak and Mesic Montane habitats in Great Basin. (Figure 126.) Muellerella erratica (A. Massal.) Hafellner & V. John—14 records at 10 sites—ours on Acarospora, Aspicilia, Caloplaca, Lecidea, Lobothallia, Placidium, among others, on both siliceous and calcareous rock throughout the Great Basin and Mojave at all elevations. Muellerella lichenicola (Sommerf. ex Fr.) D. Hawksw.—6 records at 5 sites—ours on Caloplaca and Megaspora rimisorediata; on calcareous and siliceous rock and Juniper; in Xeric Sagebrush, Pinyon–Juniper, Mogollon Chaparral and Mountain Mahogany habitats. Muellerella pygmaea (Körber) D. Hawksw.—2 records at 2 sites—ours on Acarospora fuscata and Caloplaca trachyphylla on siliceous and calcareous rock in Xeric Sagebrush and Mesic Montane habitats. Appendix II. Checklists 81 Myxophora sp. JH10935—1 record at 1 site—on Lichinella granulosa on exposed limestone in Xeric Sagebrush habitat above Antelope Canyon— Perithecia immersed, spores 10–13 × 7–9 µm. Myxophora sp. JH11026—1 record at 1 site—on Lichinella? on limestone under Juniper in Xeric Sagebrush habitat above Antelope Canyon— Perithecia superficial, spores 20–25 × 5–8 µm. Neolamya sp. JH16452—1 record at 1 site—on Pyrenopsis sp. on sheltered granite in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains—Fits the genus well, but doesn’t match either described species; spores more than 16 per ascus, acicular, bent to sigmoid, ends attenuate, hyaline, 3-septate, 2 oil drops in each cell, one at either end of each cell, 30–40 × 3–4 µm. Opegrapha sp. JH11477a—1 record at 1 site—on Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina” on Juniper wood in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns— Appears to have only 6 spores per ascus, 3-septate, hyaline, not or only slightly constricted at septae, very thin (< 1 µm) perispore, ca. 13 × 4–5 µm. Similar to O. physciaria but spores too few and too small, and besides, that species only occurs on X. parietina on the coast. Figure 127. Phacopsis fusca—20×. Figure 128. Phaeosporobolus “durietzii”—15×. Phacopsis fusca (Triebel & Rambold) Diederich—22 records at 5 sites—locally common on Xanthoparmelia spp.; ours on X. mexicana and X. subplittii among others; on siliceous rock mostly in Creosote–Bursage and Blackbrush habitats; one specimen on X. subplittii on quartzite in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish. (Figure 127.) Phaeosporobolus “durietziae”—15 records at 8 sites—common on Caloplaca durietzii apothecia throughout the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau; ours mostly on Juniper in Pinyon–Juniper habitat —This infection turns the apothecia of the host black, apparently covering the hymenia with brown multi-cellular conidia. We have never seen a fertile specimen, so this could belong to any of a number of genera; we placed it in Phaeosporobolus just to be able to record its range. (Figure 128.) Phoma sp. JH16463—1 record at 1 site—on Lecanora pseudomellea on granite in Blackbrush habitat in East Mormon Mountains—Pycnidia 50–75 µm; conidiogenous cells ca. 4 × 1.5 µm; conidia 5–6 × 2.5–3 µm—Probably belongs in Didymocyrtis (Ertz et al. 2015). Figure 129. Polycoccum evae—12×. 82 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Phoma sp. JH17116—1 record at 1 site—on Collema coccophorum on soil on sheltered limestone ledge in Creosote–Bursage habitat in southern Meadow Valley Mountains—Pycnidia ca. 140 µm; conidiogenous cells 7–9 µm; conidia 9–13 × 3–3.5 µm. Probably belongs in Didymocyrtis (Ertz et al. 2015). * Polycoccum evae Calatayud & Rico—1 record at 1 site—on Dimelaena oreina on rhyolite talus in Gambel Oak habitat on Lodge Peak. (Figure 129.) Polycoccum microstictum (Leighton ex Mudd) Arnold —1 record at 1 site—on brown Acarospora on top of rhyolite/tuff boulder in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in the Chief Range. Figure 130. Polysporina cf. subfuscescens—20×. Polycoccum cf. opulentum (Th. Fr. & Almq.) Arnold—1 record at 1 site—on Placidium lachneum on ground in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on top of quartzite cliff on Mount Irish—Spores are the right size, but not halonate and have distinctive pale, nipple-like tips. Polycoccum sp. JH11696—1 record at 1 site—on apothecia of Xanthoria elegans on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns—Perithecia to 150 µm; paraphyses 1–2 µm thick; spores 8 per ascus(?), smooth, 18–22 × 7–8 µm. Polysporina cf. subfuscescens (Nyl.) K. Knudsen & Kocourk.—2 records at 2 sites—ours on Candelariella rosulans on basalt and rhyolite/tuff in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Like all the specimens we’ve collected in the Intermountain region, specimens in the CFO have subglobose spores instead of narrowly ellipsoid spores, but are otherwise correct. (Figure 130.) Sclerococcum montagnei Hafellner—1 record at 1 site —on Lecanora rupicola on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon– Juniper habitat at Oak Springs Summit in Delamar Mountains. Figure 131. Sphaerellothecium “rosulatae”—20×. Sphaerellothecium abditum Triebel—3 records at 2 sites—ours on Lecidea atrobrunnea on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper and Gambel Oak habitat. Sphaerellothecium “rhizoplacae”—21 records at 9 sites—on Lecanora muralis group including Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, on siliceous and neutral rock in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Ascomata 50– 100 µm; spores hyaline, 1–2-septate, unequal, 10– 13 × 5–6 µm. A few specimens with some or all spores dark may belong to another species. Figure 132. Stigmidium epixanthum—20×. Appendix II. Checklists 83 Sphaerellothecium “rosulatae”—9 positive records at 6 sites—On Acarospora rosulata and A. thamnina, on siliceous and neutral rock throughout the Great Basin in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Ascomata 60–80 µm; spores hyaline, 1-septate, unequal, 11–14 × 4.5–6 µm. Compare with Lichenostigma gracilis, which has smaller, brown spores, but has a similar habit. (Figure 131.) Stigmidium “dimelaenae”—2 records at 2 sites—on Dimelaena oreina on shaded rhyolite/tuff in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—Perithecia semi-immersed, 150–250 µm; spores 20–24 × 6–7 µm. Figure 133. Stigmidium cf. exasperatum—20×. Stigmidium epixanthum Hafellner—1 record at 1 site—on Acarospora socialis on rhyolite/tuff in Meadow Valley Wash. (Figure 132.) Stigmidium cf. exasperatum—3 records at 1 site—on Melanohalea subolivacea agg. on Fir in Mesic Montane habitat on Highland Peak—Spores longer and narrower than they should be (11–13 × 3–4 µm), but otherwise good. (Figure 133.) Stigmidium cf. fuscatae (Arnold) R. Sant.—8 records at 5 sites—ours on Acarospora americana, A. socialis, A. stapfiana and A. strigata, on siliceous and occasionally calcareous rock, in Creosote– Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitat—Highly variable species with many specimens which do not fit the literature, so we’ve lumped S. fuscatae and S. epixanthum together along with aberrant specimens. Stigmidium glebarum (Arnold) Hafellner—1 positive record at 1 site—on Toninia sedifolia on calcareous soil in Pinyon–Juniper habitat at Cottontail Pass in Golden Gate Range—There is very little difference between S. glebarum and S. tabacinae. The latter has larger asci and two oil drops per cell in the spores instead of only one. According to the Sonoran Flora, S. tabacinae grows on T. tristis. According to Clauzade et al. (1989), S. glebarum grows on T. caeruleonigricans = T. sedifolia. But one specimen (JH16453) growing on T. sedifolia has 2 oil drops per cell. Stigmidium gyrophorarum (Arnold) D. Hawksw.—1 record at 1 site—on Umbilicaria polaris on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Quinn Canyon Range. Stigmidium cf. lendemeri Kocourk. & K. Knudsen— 4 records at 4 sites—ours on Aspicilia americana, A. arizonica and A. nashii on siliceous and neutral rocks in Pinyon–Juniper, Riparian and Dry–Mesic Montane habitats—Our material has consistently larger perithecia than reported by Kocourková and Knudsen (2012) in the description from the Mojave (200–300 µm versus 60–100 µm), and variable spore size (varying from 12–13 × 5–6 µm in some specimens to 17–18 × 6–8 µm in others) but otherwise matches well. Figure 134. Stigmidium xanthoparmeliarum—7×. 84 II.A. Baseline Inventory of the Caliente Field Office Stigmidium psorae (Anzi) Hafellner—1 positive record at 1 site—on Psora decipiens in secondary successional biological soil crust community at edge of broad wash in Big Sagebrush habitat at foot of calcareous lacustrine hoodoos at The Big Hogback near Panaca. Stigmidium squamariae (B. de Lesd.) Cl. Roux & Triebel—7 records at 7 sites—ours on apothecia of Lecanora muralis, Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and R. peltata, mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Figure 135. Toninia cf. poeltiana—20×. Stigmidium cf. tabacinae (Arnold) Triebel—1 record at 1 site—on Toninia tristis on sheltered rhyolite in Blackbrush habitat in Crystal Wash—Spores were too small but none were found outside the ascus. See also notes for S. glebarum. Stigmidium xanthoparmeliarum Hafellner—13 records at 7 sites—ours on Xanthoparmelia mexicana, X. maricopensis, X. stenophylla and others; mostly on siliceous rock in Blackbrush and Xeric Sagebrush habitats—Our material variable in both size of perithecia (50–100 µm) and size of spores (10–12 µm to 13–14 µm long), some apparently at least partially with only 6 spores per ascus. (Figure 134.) Figure 136. Tremella sp. JH16600—10×. Stigmidium sp. JH16200—1 record at 1 site—on Buellia “laboriosa” on granite in Blackbrush habitat in western Mormon Mountains—Perithecia immersed in hymenium, 80–100 µm; spores 11–12 × 5–6 µm. Stigmidium sp. NN3411—2 records at 2 sites—on Staurothele drummondii on rhyolite in Blackbrush habitat in Crystal Wash—Perithecia immersed to semi-immersed, 150–200 µm; spores 20–23 × 8–10 µm. See also JH20249. Figure 137. Zwackhiomyces coepulonus—20×. Toninia cf. poeltiana S.Y. Kondr., L. Lökös & J.-S. Hur—3 records at 2 sites—on Aspicilia americana and A. nashii in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon– Juniper habitat—Kerry Knudsen is working on this species, and will include it in a paper later this year or next. (Figure 135.) Tremella sp. JH16600—1 record at 1 site—on brown Acarospora on caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches—Paul Diederich is sequencing it for us. (Figure 136.) Zwackhiomyces coepulonus (Norman) Grube & R. Sant.—1 record at 1 site—on Xanthoria elegans on rhyolite/tuff in Pinyon–Juniper habitat near Panaca Kilns. (Figure 137.) Appendix II. Checklists 85 parasite JH11158—1 record at 1 site—on Aspicilia “dimelaenoides” on rhyolite/tuff in Xeric Sagebrush habitat in northern Golden Gate Range—Apothecia red-black with blacker margin, immersed in host; exciple and epihymenium blue-black, K-; paraphyses thick and densely branched toward tips; spores 8–10 × 4–5 µm; failed to get ascus stain. parasite JH13132—1 record at 1 site—on Pleopsidium flavum on shaded quartzite in Dry–Mesic Montane habitat on Mount Irish—Black sporodochia that are golden-granular microscopically; conidia 1-septate, broadly ellipsoid, hyaline, smooth, nontruncate, sharply constricted, ca. 10 × 6 µm. Figure 138. Chaenothecopsis debilis—1.5×. parasite JH13576—1 record at 1 site—on Aspicilia desertorum group on rhyolite/tuff pebble at edge of Pinyon–Juniper habitat in Seaman Range—Perithecia ca. 500 µm; spores 8 per ascus, brown, 3-septate, halonate, 22–25 × 11–12 µm. parasite JH16616—1 record at 1 site—on Staurothele monicae on caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches—Perithecia scattered, immersed to semi-immersed on host areoles, 125 µm; hymenium I+r; paraphyses absent; periphyses present, 2-sepFigure 139. Lichenothelia sp.—20×. tate, 10–12 × 2 µm; spores 8 per ascus, hyaline, ellipsoid, indistinctly 1-septate, halonate, 12–13 × 5–6 µm. parasite JH16629—1 record at 1 site—on Placynthium cfr. on caliche in Creosote–Bursage habitat on Terry Benches—Perithecia immersed to almost superficial, 80–100 µm; hymenium I-; paraphyses absent; periphyses straight, ca. 7–8 × 1 µm; asci I-; spores 8 per ascus, hyaline, fusiform, simple, 1–2(3) oil drops, ca. 12 × 3.5–4 µm. II.A.3. Non-lichenized Allied Fungi Chaenothecopsis debilis (Turner & Borrer ex Sm.) Tibell—5 records at 4 sites—on sheltered wood, especially near base of old trees and snags; in high Montane habitats throughout the Great Basin. (Figure 138.) Lichenothelia convexa Henssen = Lichenostigma saxicola K. Knudsen & Kocourk.—12 records at 5 sites—on bare rock and occasionally overgrowing various lichens, ours in Creosote–Bursage, Blackbrush, Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats. Lichenothelia spp.—18 records at 8 sites—on bare rock, mostly siliceous in Xeric Sagebrush and Pinyon–Juniper habitats—These are impossible to identify reliably without culturing, which we are not equipped to do. (Figure 139.) Mycocalicium subtile (Pers.) Szatala—2 records at 2 sites—on sheltered wood, especially near base of old snags, stumps or logs; in high Montane habitats throughout the Great Basin. 86 II.B. Baseline Inventory of Basin and Range National Monument II.B. BASELINE INVENTORY OF BASIN AND RANGE NATIONAL MONUMENT In the recently created created Basin and Range National Monument, we found 217 species of lichens, 27 species of non-lichenized lichenicolous fungi (parasites) and 2 species of nonlichenized allied fungi. We were not able to find names for an additional 15 species of lichens and 20 species of parasites. Please see the previous section for notes on synonymy, habitat, distribution and taxonomy. II.B.1. Lichens Acarospora americana H. Magn. Acarospora elevata H. Magn. Acarospora erratica K. Knudsen & Kocourk. Acarospora “fuscorosulata” Acarospora heufleriana Körber Acarospora “macroamericana” Acarospora rosulata (Th. Fr.) H. Magn. Acarospora socialis H. Magn. Acarospora stapfiana (Müll. Arg.) Hue Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta Acarospora tintickiana St. Clair, Newberry & S. Leavitt Anaptychia elbursiana (Szatala) Poelt Anaptychia ulotrichoides (Vainio) Vainio Arthonia apatetica (A. Massal.) Th. Fr. Arthonia clemens (Tul.) Th. Fr. Aspicilia americana B. de Lesd. Aspicilia arida (Owe-Larsson, A. Nordin & Tibell) McCune Aspicilia arizonica Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Aspicilia boykinii Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Aspicilia cf. candida (Anzi) Hue Aspicilia contorta (Hoffm.) Kremp. Aspicilia determinata (H. Magn.) N.S. Golubk. ? Aspicilia “digitata” Aspicilia “dimelaenoides” Aspicilia elmorei (E.D. Rudolph) McCune Aspicilia fumosa Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Aspicilia hispida Mereschk. Aspicilia “lobothalloides” Aspicilia cf. mastrucata (Wahlenb.) Th. Fr. Aspicilia nashii Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Aspicilia olivaceobrunnea Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Aspicilia phaea Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin ? Aspicilia cf. substictica Owe-Larss. & A. Nordin Biatoridium / Strangospora sp. Buellia alboatra (Hoffm.) Th. Fr. Buellia badia (Fr.) A. Massal. Buellia chloroleuca Körber Buellia dispersa A. Massal. Buellia erubescens Arnold Appendix II. Checklists Buellia nashii Bungartz Buellia “neoimshaugii” Buellia pulverulenta (Anzi) Jatta Buellia punctata (Hoffm.) A. Massal. Buellia venusta (Körber) Lettau Caloplaca adnexa Vězda Caloplaca albovariegata (B. de Lesd.) Wetmore Caloplaca “altaterrae” Caloplaca arenaria (Pers.) Müll. Arg. Caloplaca atroalba (Tuck.) Zahlbr. Caloplaca biatorina (A. Massal.) J. Steiner ? Caloplaca chlorina (Flotow) H. Olivier Caloplaca cladodes (Tuck.) Zahlbr. Caloplaca crenulatella (Nyl.) H. Olivier Caloplaca decipiens (Arnold) Blomb. & Forssell Caloplaca durietzii H. Magn Caloplaca epithallina Lynge Caloplaca “halophila” Caloplaca “isidiomicrophyllina” Caloplaca pyracea (Ach.) Th. Fr. Caloplaca saxicola (Hoffm.) Nordin Caloplaca squamosa (B. de Lesd.) Zahlbr. Caloplaca stillicidiorum (Vahl) Lynge Caloplaca subsoluta (Nyl.) Zahlbr. Caloplaca tiroliensis Zahlbr. Caloplaca tominii (Savicz) Ahlner Caloplaca trachyphylla (Tuck.) Zahlbr. ? Caloplaca sp. 5 sensu Wetmore 2007 Candelaria pacifica M. Westb. & Arup Candelariella aggregata M. Westb. Candelariella antennaria Räsänen Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr. Candelariella citrina B. de Lesd. Candelariella rosulans (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr. Catapyrenium psoromoides (Borrer) R. Sant. Cladonia acuminata (Ach.) Norrlin Collema coccophorum Tuck. Collema crispum (Hudson) F.H. Wigg. Collema fuscovirens (With.) J.R. Laundon Collema polycarpon Hoffm. Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann Dermatocarpon moulinsii (Mont.) Zahlbr. Dermatocarpon reticulatum H. Magn. Dimelaena lichenicola K. Knudsen, Sheard, Kocourk. & H. Mayrhofer Dimelaena oreina (Ach.) Norman Diploschistes muscorum (Scop.) R. Sant. Endocarpon loscosii Müll. Arg. 87 88 II.B. Baseline Inventory of Basin and Range National Monument Endocarpon pallidulum (Nyl.) Nyl. Endocarpon pulvinatum Th. Fr. Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig Glypholecia scabra (Pers.) Müll. Arg. Heppia despreauxii (Mont.) Tuck. Heppia lutosa (Ach.) Nyl. Lecania “halophila” Lecania polycycla (Anzi) Lettau Lecanora albellula Nyl. Lecanora argopholis (Ach.) Ach. Lecanora cadubriae (A. Massal.) Hedl. Lecanora cenisia Ach. Lecanora coniferarum Printzen Lecanora crenulata Hooker Lecanora flowersiana H. Magn. Lecanora garovaglii (Körber) Zahlbr. Lecanora hagenii (Ach.) Ach. Lecanora muralis (Schreber) Rabenh. Lecanora novomexicana H. Magn. Lecanora phaedrophthalma Poelt Lecanora pseudomellea B.D. Ryan Lecanora rupicola (L.) Zahlbr. Lecanora saligna (Schrader) Zahlbr. Lecanora semipallida H. Magn. Lecanora sierrae B.D. Ryan & T.H. Nash Lecanora valesiaca (Müll. Arg.) Stizenb. Lecanora wetmorei Śliwa Lecanora zosterae (Ach.) Nyl. Lecidea atrobrunnea (Lam. & DC.) Schaerer Lecidea laboriosa Müll. Arg. Lecidea perlatolica Hertel & Leuckert Lecidea plana (J. Lahm) Nyl. Lecidea protabacina Nyl. Lecidea syncarpa Zahlbr. Lecidea tessellata Flörke Lecidella carpathica Körber Lecidella euphorea (Flörke) Hertel Lecidella “granulosa” Lecidella patavina (A. Massal.) Knoph & Leuckert Lecidella stigmatea (Ach.) Hertel & Leuckert Lepraria elobata Tønsberg Lepraria neglecta (Nyl.) Erichsen Lepraria vouauxii (Hue) R.C. Harris Leptogium lichenoides (L.) Zahlbr. Leptogium plicatile (Ach.) Leighton Lichinella granulosa M. Schultz Lichinella intermedia Henssen Appendix II. Checklists 89 Lichinella nigritella (Lettau) P.P. Moreno & Egea Lichinella stipatula Nyl. Lignoscripta atroalba B.D. Ryan & T.H. Nash Lobothallia alphoplaca (Wahlenb.) Hafellner Lobothallia praeradiosa (Nyl.) Hafellner Megaspora rimisorediata Valadbeigi & A. Nordin Melanohalea elegantula (Zahlbr.) O. Blanco et al. Melanohalea subolivacea agg. (Nyl.) O. Blanco et al. Montanelia saximontana (R. Anderson & W. Weber) S. Leavitt, Essl., Divakar, A. Crespo & Lumbsch Neofuscelia loxodes (Nyl.) Essl. Peccania coralloides (A. Massal.) A. Massal. Peccania subnigra (B. de Lesd.) Wetmore Peltigera rufescens (Weiss) Humb. Peltula euploca (Ach.) Poelt Peltula patellata (Bagl.) Swinscow & Krog Phaeophyscia decolor (Kashiw.) Essl. Phaeophyscia hirsuta (Mereschk.) Essl. Phaeophyscia nigricans (Flörke) Moberg Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Necker) Moberg Phaeophyscia sciastra (Ach.) Moberg Phaeorrhiza sareptana (Tomin) H. Mayrhofer & Poelt Physcia biziana (A. Massal.) Zahlbr. Physcia caesia (Hoffm.) Fürnr. Physcia dimidiata (Arnold) Nyl. Physcia dubia (Hoffm.) Lettau Physconia isidiomuscigena Essl. Physconia muscigena (Ach.) Poelt Physconia perisidiosa (Erichsen) Moberg Placidiopsis cinerascens (Nyl.) Breuss Placidium acarosporoides (Zahlbr.) Breuss Placidium lachneum (Ach.) Breuss Placidium lacinulatum (Ach.) Breuss Placidium pilosellum (Breuss) Breuss Placidium rufescens (Ach.) Breuss Placidium squamulosum (Ach.) Breuss Pleopsidium flavum (Bellardi) Körber Polysporina simplex (Davies) Vězda Polysporina urceolata (Anzi) Brodo Protoparmelia cupreobadia (Nyl.) Poelt Psora cerebriformis W.A. Weber Psora decipiens (Hedwig) Hoffm. Psora tuckermanii R.A. Anderson ex Timdal Psorotichia murorum A. Massal. Rhizocarpon bolanderi (Tuck.) Herre Rhizocarpon dimelaenae Timdal Rhizocarpon disporum (Nägeli ex Hepp) Müll. Arg. Rhizocarpon effiguratum (Anzi) Th. Fr. 90 II.B. Baseline Inventory of Basin and Range National Monument Rhizocarpon geminatum Körber Rhizocarpon intermediellum Räsänen Rhizocarpon riparium Räsänen Rhizocarpon superficiale (Schaerer) Vainio Rhizocarpon viridiatrum (Wulfen) Körber Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca (Sm.) Zopf Rhizoplaca melanophthalma (DC.) Leuckert & Poelt Rhizoplaca peltata (Ramond) Leuckert & Poelt Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans (Nyl.) R. Sant. ? Rinodina albertana Sheard Rinodina bischoffii (Hepp) A. Massal. Rinodina castanomela (Nyl.) Arnold Rinodina grandilocularis Sheard Rinodina guzzinii Jatta ? Rinodina immersa (Körb.) Zahlbr. Rinodina juniperina Sheard Rinodina luridata (Körber) H. Mayrhofer, Scheid. & Sheard Rinodina oleae Bagl. ? Rinodina pycnocarpa H. Magn. Rinodina riparia Sheard ? Rinodina straussii J. Steiner Rinodina terrestris Tomin Rinodina zwackhiana (Kremp.) Körber Sarcogyne hypophaea (Nyl.) Arnold Seirophora contortuplicata (Ach.) Fröden Sporastatia testudinea (Ach.) A. Massal. Staurothele areolata (Ach.) Lettau Staurothele drummondii (Tuck.) Tuck. Staurothele monicae (Zahlbr.) Wetmore Staurothele polygonia B. de Lesd. Teuvoa junipericola Sohrabi & S. Leavitt Thyrea confusa Henssen Toninia candida (Weber) Th. Fr. Toninia ruginosa (Tuck.) Herre Toninia sedifolia (Scop.) Timdal Toninia tristis (Th. Fr.) Th. Fr. Toninia weberi Timdal Umbilicaria polaris (Savicz) Zahlbr. Umbilicaria torrefacta (Lightf.) Schrader Umbilicaria virginis Schaerer Verrucaria bernaicensis Malbr. Verrucaria bernardinensis Breuss Verrucaria compacta (A. Massal.) Jatta Verrucaria glaucovirens Grummann Verrucaria zamenhofiana Clauzade & Cl. Roux Xanthomendoza fallax (Hepp ex Arnold) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Xanthomendoza galericulata L. Lindblom Appendix II. Checklists Xanthomendoza mendozae (Räsänen) S. Kondr. & Kärnefelt Xanthomendoza montana (L. Lindblom) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis (Gyelnik) Hale Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia (Gyelnik) Hale Xanthoparmelia lineola (E.C. Berry) Hale Xanthoparmelia maricopensis T.H. Nash & Elix Xanthoparmelia mexicana (Gyelnik) Hale Xanthoparmelia stenophylla (Ach.) Ahti & D. Hawksw. Xanthoparmelia subplittii Hale Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr. Xanthoria sorediata (Vainio) Poelt sterile sorediate crust JH10581 “white ghost” II.B.2. Non-lichenized Lichenicolous Fungi Arthonia epiphyscia Nyl. Arthonia lecanorina (Almq.) Grube Arthonia molendoi (Heufl. ex Frauenf.) R. Sant. Arthonia “pleopsidiae” Arthonia “rhizocarpae” Arthonia xanthoparmeliarum Etayo Arthonia “zwackhianae” Carbonea sp. JH11118 Cercidospora caudata Kernst. Cercidospora lobothalliae Nav.-Ros. & Calat. Cercidospora macrospora (Uloth) Hafellner & Nav.-Ros. Cercidospora melanophthalmae Nav.-Ros., Calat. & Hafellner Cercidospora “peltatae” Dacampia sp. JH10994 Endococcus stigma (Körber) Stizenb. Endococcus verrucosus Hafellner Lichenochora verrucicola (Wedd.) Nik. Hoffm. & Hafellner Lichenoconium lecanorae (Jaap) D. Hawksw. Lichenostigma “anaptychiae” ? Lichenostigma anatolicum Halici & Kocakaya Lichenostigma “argopholis” Lichenostigma cosmopolites Hafellner & Calatayud Lichenostigma dimelaenae Calat. & Hafellner Lichenostigma elongatum Nav.-Ros. & Hafellner Lichenostigma “marginalis” Lichenostigma radicans Calatayud & Barreno Lichenostigma “strigatae” Lichenostigma subradians Hafellner, Calatyud & Nav.-Ros. Lichenostigma “tominiae” Lichenostigma triseptatum Halici & D. Hawksw. Llimoniella phaeophysciae Diederich, Ertz & Etayo Marchandiobasidium aurantiacum Diederich & Schultheis 91 92 II.B. Baseline Inventory of Basin and Range National Monument Muellerella erratica (A. Massal.) Hafellner & V. John Muellerella lichenicola (Sommerf. ex Fr.) D. Hawksw. Phacopsis fusca (Triebel & Rambold) Diederich Phaeosporobolus “durietziae” Polycoccum cf. opulentum (Th. Fr. & Almq.) Arnold Polysporina cf. subfuscescens (Nyl.) K. Knudsen & Kocourk. Sphaerellothecium “rhizoplacae” Sphaerellothecium “rosulatae” Stigmidium glebarum (Arnold) Hafellner Stigmidium cf. lendemeri Kocourk. & K. Knudsen Stigmidium squamariae (B. de Lesd.) Cl. Roux & Triebel Stigmidium xanthoparmeliarum Hafellner Toninia cf. poeltiana S.Y. Kondr., L. Lökös & J.-S. Hur parasite JH11158 parasite JH13132 parasite JH13576 II.B.3. Non-lichenized Allied Fungi Chaenothecopsis debilis (Turner & Borrer ex Sm.) Tibell Mycocalicium subtile (Pers.) Szatala Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 93 APPENDIX III. CANDIDATE BIOINDICATOR SPECIES We used the following formula (Kent and Coker 1992) to determine which species are best suited for consideration as candidate climate change indicator species. IAZ = (NAZ / NZ - NAZ / NZ) × 100 where IAZ = indicator index of species A for zone Z NAZ = number of sites in zone Z which have species A NAZ = number of sites not in zone Z which have species A NZ = total number of sites in zone Z NZ = total number of sites not in zone Z The indicator index ranges from -100 to 100 for each species and group of sites (“zone”). A perfect value of 100 indicates that the species was found at all of the sites in that zone and none of the sites outside of the zone. A value of 0 means the species is found throughout. Negative values mean the species is more common outside the zone. We consider species with indicator index of 50 or higher fair indicators. We first assigned our sites to two zones based on elevation: Great Basin zone > 1400 m, Mojave zone < 1400 m. This results in one high-elevation Mojave site being included in the Great Basin zone (Mc5 in the northern part of the Mormon Mountains). This site is in pinyon-juniper woodland and hosts typical Great Basin lichen flora. Including it in the Mojave zone significantly degrades the results. In grouping sites by elevation instead of geography, it allows us to include the Ecotone sites in the analysis as well (roughly half of the Ecotone sites are included in the Great Basin zone, the rest in the Mojave zone, see Table 6). Including the Ecotone sites doesn’t radically change the results, but it does improve the overall confidence in many of the indicator species. We further split individual sites based on how many total inventories we conducted targeting various major substrate types at that site. We separate siliceous substrates, calcareous substrates and biological soil crust communities. Epiphytic surveys are not included because the Mojave essentially has no epiphytic lichens. Basalt and volcanic ash surveys are also omitted. Even though the floras on basalt and volcanic ash are more similar to the siliceous flora than calcareous, there is enough overlap with the calcareous flora to confuse the results. Incidental collections are not included in this analysis. We include all of our total inventories. Although we have not studied many of our specimens in the lab yet, all specimens have been given a field identification. Species are far more valuable as indicators if they can be identified readily in the field, making it easy to train field workers to recognize them for surveying and monitoring projects. Therefore our field identifications are sufficient for this analysis. Inclusion of poor sites in which only a few widespread species are present tends to dilute the indicator index (it increases the denominators in the formula given above without increasing either numerator). This is a significant concern for biological soil crust species, because several BSC sites are poor and host only ubiquitous, first-generation species common in both the Great Basin and Mojave. In contrast, our rock sites, even poor ones, are fairly diverse, and most include at least some indicator species. In Table 7 we list all species with indicator index of 50 or more. We also include some species with indicator index less than 50 if they are present exclusively in only one of the two zones. While these latter species are uncommon (present at less than half of the sites in the target zone), they may still be useful indicators. 94 Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species Table 6. Sites used in indicator analysis Great Basin siliceous sites: (20 sites total) site code and name Gw3 Groom Range Gw4 Mount Irish Gw5 Golden Gate Range (high point) Gw8 Quinn Canyon Range Gn5 Seaman Wash hills Gn6 Seaman Range Gn8 Golden Gate Range (rhyolite in north) Ge3 Antelope Canyon Ge7 Condor Canyon Ge8 Panaca Kilns Ge9 Lodge Peak Ge10 Chief Range Ge11 Oak Springs Pass Ew1 “Fort Apache” Ew2 Tikaboo Peak Ew3 Shooting Gallery Es1 Delamar Mountains (Narrow Canyon) En3 Clover Mountains (Ella Mountain) En5 Clover Mountains (Docs Pass) Mc5 Mormon Mountains (north) # species5 63 119 87 78 78 115 85 117 58 142 66 66 129 95 44 52 139 72 53 56 elevation range (m) 2200 2475 2225–2435 2000 1570–1580 2570–2610 1760 1450–1500 1500–1510 2045–2050 2260 1400 1900–1940 1514–1523 2307–2365 1740 1590–1725 2200–2270 1830 1450–1550 Great Basin calcareous sites: (10 sites total) site code and name Gw3 Groom Range Gw4 Mount Irish Gw6 Worthington Peak Gw7 Worthington Range (north end) Gn3 Golden Gate Range (Cottontail Pass) Gc4 Highland Peak Ge3 Antelope Canyon Ge6 The Big Hogback Ew2 Tikaboo Peak Mc5 Mormon Mountains (north) # species 37 45 49 45 108 95 54 23 32 52 elevation range (m) 2000–2150 2600 2425–2650 2024–2050 1650–1700 2750–2835 1550 1550 2320 1500–1550 Great Basin biological soil crust sites: (17 sites total) site code and name # species Gw3 Groom Range 6 Gw4 Mount Irish 13 Gw7 Worthington Range (north end) 4 Gw8 Quinn Canyon Range 9 Gn3 Golden Gate Range (Cottontail Pass) 16 Gn4 Coal Valley 8 elevation range (m) 2000 2200–2475 2050 1900 1650 1500 5 Number of species includes even identifications confident only to “field group”, thus this number will generally be higher than the number of confident species (verified in the lab) reported elsewhere in this report. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species Gn6 Ge2 Ge3 Ge5 Ge6 Ew1 Ew3 Ec4 Es1 En1 En6 Seaman Range Caliente Allotment Antelope Canyon Miller Bench The Big Hogback “Fort Apache” Shooting Gallery Delamar Mountains (Big Lime Mountain) Delamar Mountains (Narrow Canyon) Sand Hills Allotment Clover Mountains (Rock Canyon) 15 16 17 17 21 39 16 13 3 5 13 1850 1500–1520 1550 1700 1550 1511–1519 1740 1690–1725 1650–1650 1730 1745 Mojave siliceous sites: (7 sites total) site code and name Ec1a Crystal Wash Ec3 Delamar Dry Lake Mw3 Meadow Valley Mountains (Bunker Hills) Mw4 Meadow Valley Wash Mc3 Mormon Mountains (west) Mc6 hills north of Mormon Mountains Me2 East Mormon Mountains (east side) # species 72 55 87 64 103 40 114 elevation range (m) 1248–1258 1387–1394 900–905 695 1235–1300 1215–1245 960–1140 Mojave calcareous sites: (5 sites total) site code and name Es5 limestone gorge near Garden Mountain Mw2 Meadow Valley Mountains (south end) Me1 East Mormon Mountains (west side) Me4 Toquop Wash (mesa) Me6 Terry Benches # species 63 37 47 33 66 elevation range (m) 1257–1293 950–1000 1275–1375 650–725 800 Mojave biological soil crust sites: (14 sites total) site code and name Ec1a Crystal Wash Ec3 Delamar Dry Lake Es5 limestone gorge near Garden Mountain Mw3 Meadow Valley Mountains (Bunker Hills) Mw4 Meadow Valley Wash Mc1 Tule Desert hills Mc3 Mormon Mountains (west) Me1 East Mormon Mountains (west side) Me2 East Mormon Mountains (east side) Me3 Toquop Wash (salt seeps) Me4 Toquop Wash (mesa) Me5 Toquop Wash (wash) Me6 Terry Benches Me7 Tule Springs Hills # species 9 9 27 10 10 21 14 19 10 9 17 10 18 25 elevation range (m) 1240–1248 1385 1350 850 585 990–1000 1200 1100–1165 930–1075 786–800 730 570 770–810 1000–1101 95 96 Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species Table 7. Candidate bioindicator species Great Basin indicators on siliceous rock: species6 ind. value Caloplaca epithallina 80 Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca 75 Dimelaena oreina 71 Phaeophyscia sciastra 66 Aspicilia nashii 66 Acarospora thamnina 65 Caloplaca adnexa 65 Lecidea atrobrunnea group 65 Physcia caesia 61 Acarospora rosulata 56 Lecidella patavoina/stigmatea 56 Physconia perisidiosa 55 Rhizocarpon disporum 52 Aspicilia “phyllidizans” 51 Dimelaena lichenicola 50 Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia 50 Sphaerellothecium “rosulatae” 50 Rhizocarpon geographicum group 45 Melanohalea elegantula 45 Physconia isidiomuscigena 45 Lecanora rupicola 45 Toninia ruginosa 45 Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans 40 Aspicilia “dimelaenoides” 40 Lecidella carpathica 40 Neofuscelia loxodes 40 Umbilicaria polaris 40 GB sites 16 / 20 15 / 20 17 / 20 16 / 20 16 / 20 13 / 20 13 / 20 13 / 20 15 / 20 17 / 20 17 / 20 11 / 20 19 / 20 13 / 20 10 / 20 10 / 20 10 / 20 9 / 20 9 / 20 9 / 20 9 / 20 9 / 20 8 / 20 8 / 20 8 / 20 8 / 20 8 / 20 MJ sites 0/7 0/7 1/7 1/7 1/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 1/7 2/7 2/7 0/7 3/7 1/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 Great Basin indicators on calcareous rock: species ind. value Aspicilia boykinii 80 Acarospora stapfiana 70 Acarospora tintickiana 70 Lecanora crenulata 70 Megaspora rimisorediata 70 Arthonia molendoi 60 Lecidea tessellata 60 Caloplaca trachyphylla 60 Lecidella patavina/stigmatea 50 Seirophora contortuplicata 50 Physcia dubia 40 GB sites 8 / 10 7 / 10 7 / 10 7 / 10 7 / 10 6 / 10 6 / 10 8 / 10 5 / 10 5 / 10 4 / 10 MJ sites 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 1/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 6 Boldface species are discussed in detail in the following sections. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species Great Basin indicators in biological soil crust community: species ind. value GB sites MJ sites Caloplaca tominii 62 13 / 17 2 / 14 Candelariella aggregata 29 5 / 17 0 / 14 Aspicilia hispida 24 4 / 17 0 / 14 Mojave indicators on siliceous rock: species ind. value Acarospora heufleriana 84 Lichinella americana 60 Candelariella citrina 55 Rinodina castanomela 55 Buellia nashii 55 Acarospora elevata 51 Phacopsis fusca 51 Peltula euploca 50 Xanthoparmelia maricopensis 50 GB sites 3 / 20 2 / 20 3 / 20 3 / 20 6 / 20 1 / 20 1 / 20 4 / 20 4 / 20 MJ sites 7/7 5/7 5/7 5/7 6/7 4/7 4/7 5/7 5/7 Mojave indicators on calcareous rock: species ind. value Peltula obscurans 79 Lecanora muralis 69 Caloplaca pellodella 59 Staurothele monicae 59 Acarospora “alborosulata” 39 Caloplaca teicholyta 39 GB sites 0 / 10 1 / 10 0 / 10 4 / 10 0 / 10 0 / 10 MJ sites 4/5 4/5 3/5 5/5 2/5 2/5 Mojave indicators in biological soil crust community: species ind. value GB sites Peltula obscurans (pebbles) 42 0 / 17 Acarospora bolleana (pebbles) 35 0 / 17 Lichinella granulosa (pebbles) 35 0 / 17 Peltula richardsii 28 0 / 17 MJ sites 6 / 14 5 / 14 5 / 14 4 / 14 97 98 III.A. Great Basin Indicator Species on Siliceous Rock III.A. GREAT BASIN INDICATOR SPECIES ON SILICEOUS ROCK III.A.1. Lecidea atrobrunnea group The Lecidea atrobrunnea group comprises a suite of six species that differ only in chemistry: L. atrobrunnea, L. deplanaica, L. perlatolica, L. protabacina, L. syncarpa and L. truckeei. Regional Distribution: Very common and widespread on siliceous rocks throughout Western North America, becoming exclusively montane in southern California and Arizona. Local Distribution: Abundant on siliceous and neutral rock throughout the Great Basin, becoming uncomFigure 140. Lecidea atrobrunnea—1.5×. mon in the Ecotone, and absent from the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Mostly above 2000 m, except for one collection at 1580 m. Field Notes: From the perspective of field monitoring, you could not ask for a better indicator. As a group, it is immediately recognizable from a distance. It forms large, showy, brown rosettes with black, button-like apothecia (Figure 140). There are a few similar species, but most do not occur in our area. The few that do are easy to learn. Rhizocarpon bolanderi is a much smaller species composed of tiny, concave areoles; and while L. atrobrunnea group is highly variable, it never forms regularly concave areoles. Some species of Acarospora also form brown rosettes, but the apothecia are very different, being immersed in the thallus and usually some shade of brown while L. atrobrunnea group has jetblack, superficial, button-like apothecia. It grows on all exposures of both neutral and siliceous rocks. And it is often locally abundant where it occurs. Comments: This is a mid- to high-elevation indicator for the Great Basin. It becomes rare in lowelevation Great Basin. While conducting field work in the Ecotone in 2018, we had an opportunity to subjectively evaluate this species group, and confirmed its efficacy in picking out Great Basin species assemblages repeatedly. Note that it is tolerant of calcareous influences (we found it on small igneous intrusions in a massive limestone cliff), which is important in eastern Nevada because there is such an abundance of limestone that everything is covered in a fine calcareous dust. III.A.2. Aspicilia nashii Regional Distribution: Common montane species throughout the Intermountain Region, becoming rare in the Mojave. It is the most common species of Aspicilia in the mountains of Nevada. Local Distribution: Abundant on siliceous and neutral rock throughout the Great Basin and the upper elevations of the Ecotone, absent from the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Most common above 1600 m. The lowest site is Delamar Dry Lake at 1387 m. Figure 141. Aspicilia nashii—3×. Field Notes: This ubiquitous siliceous species may be an excellent indicator, however it is highly variable and easy to confuse with several other species of Aspicilia in the field. Typical specimens of A. nashii Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 99 are characterized by the presence of a conspicuous, radiating, fibrous, black prothallus at the edge, with scattered, convex marginal areoles, and a distinctive deep olive-gray coloration mottled with white around its apothecia and pycnidia (Figure 141). When well-developed, A. nashii’s prothallus is distinctive and diagnostic. However specimens with poorly-developed prothallus can be mistaken for a number of other species. The A. desertorum group typically has uniformly developed areoles scattered throughout, while A. nashii’s areoles are best-developed and crowded toward the interior. A. phaea’s areoles become flattened and almost continuous near the margin. A. fumosa lacks the olive coloration. However, note that A. nashii sometimes becomes gray in the center; in such cases look for the olive coloration on younger areoles growing near the margin. A. knudsenii (common north of the Great Basin), A. americana and A. olivaceobrunnea (both common in Arizona), are best distinguished in the lab by chemistry and conidia length, but since none are common in the Mojave, they can be lumped in with A. nashii for our purposes. III.A.3 Caloplaca epithallina Regional Distribution: Very common and widespread in the mountains of Western North America. Local Distribution: Common in siliceous habitats in the Great Basin, becoming uncommon in the Ecotone, absent from the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Over 1400 m, dropping out suddenly at lower elevations. Field Notes: From the perspective of field monitoring, this would make an excellent candidate, as it is easily identifiable at a glance: it forms tiny, bright red Figure 142. Caloplaca epithallina growing on Dimeapothecia and grows on other lichens (Figure 142). laena oreina—1.5×. There is only one species that looks similar, Caloplaca arenaria. However, C. arenaria grows on bare rock, while C. epithallina always grows on other lichens. (Note also that C. crenulatella and C. nashii also frequently lack a thallus, but they have orange instead of red apothecia, and they grow exclusively on calcareous rocks.) The only challenge is that C. epithallina is tiny, often hiding in plain sight intermixed with other showier species, sometimes limited to just a few scattered apothecia. Look for it on north-facing siliceous outcrops, especially ones with extensive populations of its favorite host species, Dimelaena oreina, Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Rhizocarpon disporum. Comments: One concern is whether the local absence of Caloplaca epithallina from the Mojave has to do with lack of habitat or climate incompatibility. This is a parasitic lichen, and its favorite host species are expected to be present in siliceous montane habitat throughout the Mojave, but they are locally absent (see discussion for Dimelaena oreina below). 100 III.A. Great Basin Indicator Species on Siliceous Rock III.A.4. Caloplaca adnexa Regional Distribution: Common at middle to high elevations throughout the Intermountain Region and Rocky Mountains, but since it is rarely fertile it is probably under-collected. Local Distribution: Common in siliceous habitats in the Great Basin and Ecotone. One collection from high elevation in the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Most common over 1600 m. The lowest collection was from the lower end of Rainbow Canyon at 1265 m. Figure 143. Caloplaca adnexa—3×. Field Notes: This parasitic species grows on a number of common siliceous saxicolous crustose lichens, especially Aspicilia spp. and Rhizocarpon disporum. Even though it is often sterile, it is usually easy to recognize in the field. It is almost always a distinctive pale orange with a faint whitish bloom (Figure 143). The only other species which can be mistaken for it is Caloplaca cladodes, which has a subcrustose form apparently parasitic on the same kinds of host species as C. adnexa. However, C. cladodes is bright orange and has lumpy areoles. C. adnexa has smooth to faintly roughened areoles. When fertile, the apothecia of C. adnexa are dark red-orange, contrasting with the thallus. C. cladodes’s apothecia are the same bright orange as the thallus or only slightly darker. III.A.5. Acarospora thamnina Regional Distribution: Widespread in Western North America, especially common in the mountains of southern California and the Sierra Nevada, but apparently rare in the Mojave. Local Distribution: At about half of our siliceous Great Basin and Ecotone sites, absent from the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Most common over 1600 m. Lowest collection is from Antelope Canyon at 1450 m. Field Notes: This seems to be a good indicator species, but there are many brown Acarospora species. Figure 144. Acarospora thamnina—1.5×. With practice it may be possible to learn to recognize it. Typical specimens are distinctively shiny and tend to follow cracks (Figure 144). Make a point of checking the underside: A. thamnina is characterized by black-stipitate squamules. It is most common on hard, siliceous rocks in sunny situations. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 101 III.A.6. Physcia caesia Here we also include Physcia subalbinea (see comments below). Regional Distribution: Very common and widespread throughout Western North America, but apparently absent from the Mojave. Local Distribution: At most of our siliceous Great Basin and Ecotone sites, found only once in the Mojave at a high-elevation site in the Mormon Mountains. Local Elevation Range: Over 1400 m. Figure 145. Physcia caesia—12×. Field Notes: This is one of a suite of several “physcioid” species common in relatively moist microsites. It differs from all other similar species in having a white-spotted upper surface and coarse, often bluish-tinted soralia (Figure 145). Other sorediate physcioid species are uniformly gray and usually strongly pruinose. Look for it on siliceous outcrops, on overhangs and among mosses on northern exposures, especially near the ground. Comments: Given how abundant this species is throughout the region, even in mountains far south of the CFO, it is quite surprising that it is absent from the Mojave. But both our data and floristic studies in the Mojave confirm the observation. Note that we have made no attempt to distinguish Physcia subalbinea from P. caesia in this report pending further research. For our purposes here, it should make no difference; both are spotted and form bluish gray soralia. III.A.7. Dimelaena oreina, Phaeophyscia sciastra, Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca Comments: These three species have high indicator indices for the Great Basin, however they are considered common siliceous montane species throughout Western North America, including the Mojave. Yet, for some reason, they do not occur on siliceous rock in the Mojave portion of the CFO. We hypothesize that the reason for this is that they are strongly averse to calcareous influence. In the northeastern Mojave, siliceous habitat is restricted to island outcrops amid seas of calcareous strata. Thus, these siliceous outcrops are coated in calcareous dust, and these calcareous-averse species are absent, even on montane siliceous outcrops where they would otherwise be expected to occur. 102 III.B. Great Basin Indicator Species on Calcareous Rock III.B. GREAT BASIN INDICATOR SPECIES ON CALCAREOUS ROCK III.B.1. Aspicilia boykinii Regional Distribution: Common on calcareous rock throughout the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau as far south as the Grand Canyon. Absent from the Mojave. Local Distribution: At most of our Great Basin calcareous sites, except for the two lowest elevation sites. Also present at high elevation in the Ecotone (Delamar Mountains and Tikaboo Peak) and Mojave (Mormon Mountains). Local Elevation Range: Mostly over 1700 m, but one site in the Mormon Mountains at 1550 m. Figure 146. Aspicilia boykinii—2.5×. Field Notes: This is a strikingly beautiful species, with rounded, radiating, snow-white thalli, and usually white-dusted immersed apothecia (Figure 146). There are several other similar species. Some forms of Aspicilia determinata can be almost indistinguishable, and the only reliable character is the presence of algae below the apothecia of A. determinata. Acarospora strigata can also sometimes form continuous rosettes, but (in the Great Basin at least) never grows as large. Buellia venusta also forms large white rosettes, but its thallus is very smooth and scarcely cracked into areoles, and its apothecia tend to form elevated bumps with a low white thalline collar. Look for Aspicilia boykinii on open northern exposures of massive limestone cliffs. Comments: Because Aspicilia determinata can be so similar, it may be necessary either to carry a razor blade in the field to section apothecia in situ, or to collect small fragments to verify in the lab. III.B.2. Acarospora stapfiana, Caloplaca trachyphylla Regional Distribution: Caloplaca trachyphylla (= Xanthomendoza trachyphylla) is most abundant on the Colorado Plateau, but is common throughout the Intermountain Region, extending south of the CFO in the mountains. Acarospora stapfiana is a parasite on C. trachyphylla, and only very rarely occurs on other species. It is found throughout the range of C. trachyphylla. Local Distribution: Both species are found throughFigure 147. Strongly pruinose form of Acarospora out the CFO on both calcareous and siliceous rock, stapfiana growing free of host—1.5×. becoming most common at middle elevations. Local Elevation Range: Both species are found mostly above 1500 m (on calcareous rock), with a couple scattered records of C. trachyphylla (without A. stapfiana) down to 800 m. Field Notes: These are very distinctive species. A. stapfiana, especially, is unmistakable: it is the only yellow Acarospora that grows on Caloplaca. However, on limestone it is usually strongly whitepruinose, and we often observed it growing independent of its host (Figure 147). In this latter case, it can be mistaken for other white-pruinose Acarospora, especially A. tintickiana (see below). However it is easy to see the yellow cortex below the pruina by scratching or wetting it. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 103 C. trachyphylla is usually distinctive, forming large orange rosettes (Figure 148). Some forms can approach Xanthoria elegans, but note the distinctly roughened texture of C. trachyphylla, especially when growing on limestone; by contrast, X. elegans is smooth. Presence of A. stapfiana is among the best clues of the identity of ambiguous specimens. Look for these species on relatively exposed rocks of all types. C. traphyphylla is typically replaced by Xanthoria elegans then C. biatorina/saxicola on progressively more shaded surfaces. Comments: Both species are common on both Figure 148. Acarospora stapfiana (white) growing on Caloplaca trachyphylla (orange)—1×. siliceous and calcareous substrates in the CFO. But for unknown reasons they occur almost exclusively on siliceous rocks in the Mojave. Therefore they are only useful indicator species for the calcareous community. (Their indicator index is only 22 for the siliceous community.) III.B.3. Acarospora tintickiana Regional Distribution: This is a Great Basin endemic, uncommon but widespread on hard limestone throughout the region. Local Distribution: Scattered in all three zones at middle to high elevation. Local Elevation Range: Mostly above 1500 m, with one collection in the East Pahranagat Range at 1379 m. Field Notes: This is a very distinctive species, easily recognizable at a glance in the field by its large, round, strongly pruinose, brownish thalli with characteristiFigure 149. Acarospora tintickiana—1.5×. cally radiating, convex marginal areoles, and thick apothecial rims (Figure 149). Pruinose, free-living forms of Acarospora stapfiana can be remarkably similar, but that species is yellow under the pruina, not brown. A. tintickiana is found exclusively on hard limestone, typically on open northern exposures. III.B.4. Megaspora rimisorediata Regional Distribution: Widespread throughout Western North America, but apparently especially common in the Great Basin. Local Distribution: Common throughout the Great Basin and upper Ecotone, with only one site in the Mojave at high elevation in the Mormon Mountains. Local Elevation Range: Above 1400 m. Field Notes: Despite the fact that it was almost always present at our Great Basin sites, the stats don’t show how locally uncommon the species is on limestone. Often all that is present is small scraps on scattered clumps of moss. Look for it in shady spots near Figure 150. Megaspora rimisorediata—2.5×. 104 III.B. Great Basin Indicator Species on Calcareous Rock the base of north-facing cliffs and outcrops. Look for a “dirty” white crust on moss. Verify by checking for the distinctive eroded fissures, which are easy to see with 10× hand lens (Figure 150). Comments: This species is far more common on trees, especially Juniper and Sagebrush, but most useful as an indicator for the calcareous saxicolous community. III.B.5. Seirophora contortuplicata Regional Distribution: Widespread throughout Western North America, reaching its southern limit in northern Arizona and at high elevations in the northern Mojave. Local Distribution: Infrequent and scattered in the Great Basin, mostly the western half of the CFO. One site in the Ecotone (Tikaboo Peak). Local Elevation Range: Above 1700 m. Field Notes: If you can find it, it is a good indicator that you’re in the Great Basin. But finding it is the problem. It seems to prefer hard-to-reach nooks high Figure 151. Seirophora contortuplicata—1.5×. on north-facing cliffs, where they are sheltered from rain but receive abundant indirect light. Fortunately, it is immediately recognizable in the field and cannot be mistaken for anything else in our area. It forms small, tangled, orange, fruticose clumps (Figure 151). The combination of dingy gray-orange color and fruticose form are unique. Note that some specimens, especially dying ones, are almost entirely gray. Comments: In the CFO we found it on both siliceous and calcareous outcrops, but it is more common on calcareous rocks. III.B.6. Lecidea tessellata Regional Distribution: Widespread throughout Western North America, especially on siliceous rock. Here we are specifically interested in calcareous populations. Local Distribution: Common in the Great Basin, absent from the Ecotone and Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Mostly above 2000 m, one collection at 1550 m (Golden Gate Range) and another at 1700 m (near Panaca). Field Notes: This species forms relatively large, white, regularly tessellated, areolate patches with conFigure 152. Lecidea tessellata—1.5×. trasting black apothecia inset distinctively between the areoles (Figure 152). Buellia spuria looks similar, but it has a black prothallus around the margin. A few other Buellia also have inset apothecia and white thallus, but none are as regularly tessellate as L. tessellata. It may sound subtle, but the gestalt is remarkably easy to learn. Questionable species can be verified by cutting an apothecium open: the dark brown spores and hypothecium of Buellia spp. are typically visible even with a 10× hand lens. L. tessellata has colorless spores and hypothecium, thus the apothecia are entirely white inside. Comments: This is an interesting case. Lecidea tessellata is an extremely widespread, common lichen that usually grows on siliceous rocks. However, in the Great Basin we frequently find populations growing on limestone. We do not know whether these limestone populations are unique to the Great Basin or if it is a more widespread phenomenon. Unpublished molecular data (Steve Leavitt, Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 105 pers. comm.) suggests that there are multiple distinct, deep, species-level lineages within L. tessellata in the Great Basin. It is possible that these calcareous populations represent an undescribed species. III.C. GREAT BASIN INDICATOR SPECIES IN BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUST COMMUNITIES III.C.1. Caloplaca tominii Also called Xanthocarpia tominii and Caloplaca / Xanthocarpia erichansenii. Regional Distribution: Widespread and common throughout the Intermountain Region, apparently rare in California and Arizona. Local Distribution: Common in the Great Basin and upper Ecotone, with one disjunct population in the Mojave at a salt seep near Toquop Wash at 800 m. Local Elevation Range: Mostly 1400–2000 m. Field Notes: This is an easy species to recognize in the field. It forms a delicate, yellow-orange, granular Figure 153. Caloplaca tominii—2.5×. crust directly on soil (Figure 153). There are three other yellow/orange biological soil crust lichens in our area: Candelariella aggregata (see below) usually grows on decaying plant matter, such as dead perennial grass tufts, has larger, corticate granules, and usually has abundant apothecia, while C. tominii grows directly on soil, has fine, granular soredia and rarely has apothecia. Fulgensia subbracteata has a thicker crust forming more contiguous patches, and it breaks down into coarse, irregular fragments, not granular soredia. F. desertorum lacks granules, and usually has abundant bright orange apothecia. III.C.2. Candelariella aggregata Regional Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the Intermountain Region, but apparently absent from southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona. Local Distribution: Scattered locations in the Great Basin and northern Ecotone, absent from the Mojave. Local Elevation Range: Over 1550 m, but most common around 1700 m. Field Notes: This distinctive species, forms bright lemon-yellow, granular patches with abundant yellow Figure 154. Candelariella aggregata—2.5×. apothecia (Figure 154). See Caloplaca tominii above for comparison with the other yellow/orange soil crusts in our region. Look for it especially around the base of small shrubs like Sagebrush in dry, sloping rangeland. 106 III.C. Great Basin Indicator Species in Biological Soil Crust Communities III.C.3. Aspicilia hispida Also called Circinaria hispida. Regional Distribution: Widespread throughout the Intermountain Region, becoming rare in Arizona and apparently absent from southern California. Local Distribution: Scattered in the Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: 1500–1850 m. Field Notes: This is a distinctive but extremely inconspicuous species. It forms delicate, dark olivegray, white-spotted, bushy tufts hidden among pebbles in open shrublands (Figure 155). There are several Figure 155. Aspicilia hispida—2×. other related, rare, fruticose species in the same community, including especially A. fruticulosa (not yet known in the CFO). A. hispida is distinguished from these by being entirely dark olive-gray and fruticose, and having delicate, sharp-pointed branch tips. A. fruticulosa has stubby, thick branch tips. Other species are whitish-gray and at least partly trailing (cf. A. filiformis and A. reptans, for example). Comments: We include this species here, despite its apparent rarity in the CFO, because it is expected to be more common than our few records indicate. III.D. MOJAVE INDICATOR SPECIES ON SILICEOUS ROCK III.D.1. Acarospora heufleriana Regional Distribution: Arizona and southern Utah, eastward into the Great Plains. Apparently absent from California. Local Distribution: Common in the Mojave with a few scattered populations in the Ecotone and Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: From 700 to 1760 m but mostly below 1400 m. Field Notes: This species looks very similar to Acarospora socialis. Together, the two species are easily recognizable at a glance in the field. They both form Figure 156. Acarospora heufleriana—2×. bright yellow thalli comprised of scattered areoles which become subsquamulose (Figure 156). Other yellow crusts either have distinctly radiating marginal areoles (Pleopsidium flavum) or are regularly areolate with areoles not becoming subsquamulose (e.g., A. chrysops and Rhizocarpon spp.) Acarospora stapfiana is also very similar, but it almost always grows as a parasite on Caloplaca trachyphylla (see above). Unfortunately, A. heufleriana and A. socialis differ most reliably in chemistry only: A. heufleriana contains norstictic acid (turns red in KOH). The reaction is usually quite strong in this species, and it may be possible to see in the field if the worker carries a small eye-dropper bottle of 10% KOH. Apply directly to one or two squamules and wait at least a minute for the reaction to develop. A. heufleriana turns red, A. socialis does not react. Look for it on exposed siliceous rocks. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 107 III.D.2. Buellia nashii, Candelariella citrina, Lichinella americana, Rinodina castanomela Comments: We exclude these species because they are very difficult to identify in the field. Buellia nasii is often indistinguishable from B. dispersa without microscopy and chemistry. Candelariella citrina is characterized by its citriform spores, but otherwise almost indistinguishable from C. rosulans. Lichinella americana is one of a host of obscure, tiny, black lichens which are notoriously hard to identify, even in the lab. Siliceous populations of Rinodina castanomela are usually poorly-developed and hard to recognize in the field (most of our siliceous records were collected accidentally with other more conspicuous species). III.E. MOJAVE INDICATOR SPECIES ON CALCAREOUS ROCK III.E.1. Peltula obscurans Comments: This is common on both calcareous rock outcrops and pebbles in the Mojave. See the discussion in the biological soil crust community below. III.E.2. Caloplaca pellodella Regional Distribution: Especially common in Arizona, but with scattered collections throughout Western North America from southern Idaho southward. Local Distribution: Scattered throughout the southern half of the CFO in the Mojave and Ecotone, absent from the Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: Mostly below 1300 m, but with scattered collections up to 1635 m near the Shooting Gallery. Field Notes: This species is unmistakable with its Figure 157. Caloplaca pellodella—20×. thick, dark gray areoles and bright orange-pruinose apothecial disks (Figure 157). But it can be very hard to spot, because it is very small and often occurs scattered among other crustose species. Look for it in shaded microsites. Comments: This species occurs on both calcareous and noncalcareous substrates in the CFO, but our data suggest that it may be a better indicator on calcareous rock (indicator index 60 versus 32). III.E.3. Acarospora “alborosulata” Regional and Local Distribution: Presently known only from a handful of populations in the Mojave portion of the CFO. Elevation Range: Below 1000 m. Field Notes: This species forms distinctive irregular rosettes of pale brown (dark brown when parasitized), squamulose thalli, often with a thin white pruina (Figure 158). It is probably most similar to Acarospora rosulata, however that species is restricted to siliceous substrates in the Great Basin, typically forms more regular rosettes, never is pruinose, and has more broadlyattached areoles. A. “alborosulata” is restricted to cal- Figure 158. Acarospora “alborosulata”—7×. 108 III.E. Mojave Indicator Species on Calcareous Rock careous rocks, usually in shaded microsites, and is often found growing out of the center of a white crustose lichen (Aspicilia determinata). Comments: This species appears to be rare and narrowly endemic to the northeastern Mojave. Like Seirophora contortuplicata (see above) and Calopalca teicholyta (see below), it can be hard to find, but where it occurs, it is an excellent indicator of the Mojave. III.E.4. Caloplaca teicholyta Regional Distribution: Apparently rare in North America, presently known only from the Mojave portion of the CFO and the Great Plains (Caleb Morse, pers. comm.) Local Distribution: Low elevation Mojave and one site in the Ecotone (Hiko Canyon), absent from the Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: Below 1250 m. Field Notes: Like Seirophora contortuplicata and Acarospora “alborosulata” (see above), if you can find it, it seems to be an excellent indicator, perhaps very Figure 159. Caloplaca teicholyta—7×. sensitive to climate if its range is really as restricted as it appears to be. But it is hard to find. Look for it on sheltered overhangs near the ground on calcareous outcrops. It forms rather unremarkable, dirty-white patches. Check for its coarse, gray soredia and radiating marginal areoles (Figure 159). Well-developed specimens are distinctive once you know what to look for. But damaged specimens or specimens mixed with other species tend not to have well-developed marginal areoles, and these specimens can be hard to identify, even in the lab. The best thing is to search for a specimen with those distinctive radiating marginal areoles. No other sorediate crust in our area has white-pruinose, radiating marginal areoles. III.E.5. Staurothele monicae Regional Distribution: Found in a narrow swath from southern California into the Great Plains, mostly staying just south and east of Nevada, with scattered reports from Nevada. Local Distribution: Throughout the CFO, but becoming rare in the northern half. Local Elevation Range: Most common at lower elevations, but found up to 2110 m. Field Notes: This common species is hard to learn to recognize in the field. It is an areolate crust with small, gray to gray-brown areoles, and perithecia usually Figure 160. Staurothele monicae—20×. entirely or half-immersed in the areoles. The perithecia, even if immersed, remain quite visible as black disks or bumps, often with a nicely contrasting brown ostiole in the center, forming a distinctive “bulls-eye” pattern (Figure 160). It can grow on pebbles in full sun, or on vertical or even shaded rock. It often grows intermixed with other species. Take care to distinguish it from other Staurothele species in our area: all are brown, often dark, and do not have the bulls-eye pattern of the black perithecium with pale ostiole. Some species of Verrucaria are very similar, as well, but they are rare. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 109 Comments: While this species can be found throughout the CFO, it is statistically much more common at lower elevations: about 80% of our records (including hitch-hikers) were collected below 1400 m (correcting for the bias of there being twice as many sites over 1400 m as below). However, Staurothele monicae’s wide range presents challenges for using it as an indicator species. III.E.6. Lecanora muralis Comments: This is a strange case because Lecanora muralis is a very common and widespread lichen, occurring on all kinds of rock throughout the world. It should not be a good indicator for anything. Nevertheless, on calcareous rocks, except for a single population at 1700 m in the Golden Gate Range, we found it exclusively below 1400 m. It is equally common throughout on siliceous rock. We cannot explain the apparent scarcity on Great Basin limestone. III.F. MOJAVE INDICATOR SPECIES IN BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUST COMMUNITIES III.F.1. Peltula obscurans Peltula obscurans has three common varieties, two of which occur in the CFO: var. deserticola and var. obscurans, apparently differing only in the chemistry of the apothecial disk. Here we do not distinguish between these two varieties. Regional Distribution: Common from southern California into the Great Plains and southward. Apparently absent from the Great Basin. Local Distribution: Common in the Mojave, one collection at low elevation in the Ecotone, and absent from the Great Basin. Figure 161. Peltula obscurans (form with dark Local Elevation Range: Mostly below 1000 m with apothecia)—7.5×. a few scattered records up to 1450 m in the Mormon Mountains. Field Notes: This is a small but distinctive species. It grows regularly on both siliceous and calcareous rocks, and in biological soil crust communities it grows frequently on small pebbles. It forms small, scattered, brown areoles, much like a young Acarospora. But unlike Acarospora, P. obscurans typically forms bright red, round apothecia that more or less fill the fertile areoles (Figure 161). Most Acarospora, by contrast, typically produce brown to black apothecia that do not fill the areoles. But some specimens of P. obscurans have dark apothecia, and these are easily confused with A. erratica, and vice versa. A. erratica can be locally common on pebbles, too. Some specimens must be cut open to see the color of the photobiont—A. erratica has bright, grass-green algae in a distinct, thin layer just under the upper cortex, and is white below that; P. obscurans has dark forest-green cyanobacteria more or less filling the areoles. This should be visible with 10× hand lens in the field. Comments: Peltula obscurans’s occurrence on pebbles suggests that it is a fast-growing, opportunistic, colonizer species, making it a particularly promising candidate for monitoring climate change. 110 III.F. Mojave Indicator Species in Biological Soil Crust Communities III.F.2. Acarospora bolleana This species is being revised by Knudsen et al., in prep. It would come out as A. glaucocarpa in existing keys. Regional Distribution: Presently known only from southern Nevada (our specimens) and western Texas. Local Distribution: Common in the Mojave and lower Ecotone, absent from the Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: Below 1350 m. Field Notes: Our collections are exclusiely on limestone pebbles in the biological soil crust community. It forms distinctive scattered white-pruinose brown disks (Figure 162). Sarcogyne regularis is very similar, Figure 162. Acarospora bolleana—7.5×. except it is lecideine: its disks lack algae entirely. By contrast, A. bolleana has a narrow white thalline rim around the edge of its disks which contains algae. Acarospora strigata can also form dispersed white areoles, but its areoles are usually conspicuously cracked, and the apothecia are small, taking up only a small portion of the areoles. A. bolleana has large apothecia taking up almost the entire areole. Comments: More research is required to understand the ecology and distribution of this species. But preliminary indications are that it is a fast-growing, opportunistic, colonizer species, much like Peltula obscurans (see above), and therefore may be an excellent candidate for monitoring climate change. III.F.3. Peltula richardsii Regional Distribution: Common throughout southern California, southern Arizona and southward. It becomes rare northward in southern Nevada and northern Arizona. Local Distribution: Scattered in the Mojave at the southern edge of the CFO, absent from both the Ecotone and Great Basin. Local Elevation Range: Below 850 m. Field Notes: This is very distinctive species when fertile owing to its conspicuous, large, inset, deep red apothecia (Figure 163). When sterile it is more difficult Figure 163. Peltula richardsii—1.5×. to separate from a few other species, as it just forms clumps of brown squamules. In particular it is important to learn to distinguish it from Placidium spp., as these are widespread, first-generation colonizer species of biological soil crusts found throughout the region. The key is the texture of the squamules. Peltula richardsii has large, shiny, distinctively cracked squamules. Placidium has smaller, dull, mostly uncracked squamules. Placidium is highly variable, especially in terms of color and shape and degree of pruina, but Peltula richardsii is fairly consistent in our experience. Other species of Peltula and Heppia are also similar, but of these, only Peltula patellata is regularly found in the Great Basin. Its squamules are much smaller and have a distinctive raised “lip” around the edge of the squamules. Appendix III. Candidate Bioindicator Species 111 III.G. RECOMMENDED USES OF INDICATOR SPECIES We recommend the establishment of permanent monitoring sites in the southern Great Basin to monitor for the following: • • • Establishment of young thalli or increased frequency of Mojave indicator species. Disappearance of, decreased frequency or stress responses in Great Basin indicator species. Decreased growth rate of selected individual thalli of Great Basin indicator species, as measured at periodic intervals of several years. Care should be taken to choose thalli of similar size, as growth rates can vary according to age. Appearance of young thalli of Mojave species in a previously exclusively Great Basin habitat, or increased frequency at a site where they were previously rare would indicate that climatic conditions have recently become more favorable for Mojave species. Great Basin species are expected to respond negatively: existing thalli may die, show decreased growth rates, or otherwise demonstrate signs of environmental stress, such as necrosis or decrease in production of fruiting structures or secondary metabolites. Combining these methods at the same site should yield robust data demonstrating early warning signs of climatic shifts, possibly in advance of indications from plants and other biota. Further field testing is required to determine the most appropriate methods for monitoring these bioindicators. Biological soil crust lichens may prove to be the most useful indicators. Because of the ephemeral nature of the soil substrate, they can be expected to respond on a time scale that is more appropriate for land management objectives. On the Colorado Plateau Belnap et al. (2001) demonstrated that BSC cover can increase up to 9% in 6 months, and in the badlands of Southeastern Spain Lázaro et al. (2008) demonstrated an increase as high as 26% in a year. Additionally, BSC communities have been found to have significant shifts in species diversity and cover in relation to changes in climate variables over time periods as short as 5 years (Belnap et al. 2001, Escolar et al. 2012). Lichens which grow on rocks, by contrast, grow very slowly (typically 0.3–0.5 mm per year) and can live for upwards of 5000 years in undisturbed habitats such as the arctic-alpine (Beschel 1961). This suggests that the response time of rock-dwelling lichens to climatic shifts may be slower than that of BSC lichens. 112 Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats APPENDIX IV. RARE OR THREATENED HABITATS Figure 164. Cliffs on Highland Peak. Figure 166. Map of siliceous and calcareous high-elevation habitats (> 2400 m) in and around the CFO. IV.A. HIGHLAND PEAK High-elevation sites in the CFO are rare and at risk of significant shifts in flora and fauna as a result of changing climate. These sites include Highland Peak, Seaman Range H.P. and Mount Irish, each hosting a locally unique and diverse population of lichens (Figure 166). Highland Peak is the highest of these, reaching 2864 m. It has a complex of enormous limestone cliffs with excellent northern exposure. It hosts a remarkable, thriving, mixed-age forest of Bristlecone Pine and White Fir covering ca. 15 hectares on the steep, upper, northern slopes— the only appreciable example of Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland in the CFO. This is also the only actively recruiting Bristlecone forest with a dense canopy in the CFO. (Figures 164 and 165.) This is a remarkable mountain by all measures. It hosts by far the greatest number of unique species: 6% of the lichens here were found nowhere else in the CFO. Eight of these unique species have robust local populations, possibly representing important source populations for the Figure 165. Map of Highland Peak. Arrows point to excellent, shadowed, north-facing cliffs and gullies. Dashed line marks extent of Bristlecone–Fir forest. Red triangles mark big antenna installations. Figure 165. Highland Peak Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats 113 rest of the region. The site also has an unusually large number of unknown species and a particularly rich community of lichen parasites. Only the rhyolite/tuff and volcanic ash formations near Panaca Kilns surpass Highland Peak in terms of total lichen diversity (Appendix I). There are several other high-elevation limestone ranges in the CFO, such as Roe Peak, Worthington Peak, Mount Irish and parts of Seaman Range and Golden Gate Range (Figure 166). But most of these mountains are significantly lower in elevation, with little or no Bristlecone–Fir forest. For example, we expected Worthington Peak to be comparable, but found it to have half as many species on limestone, with no unique species and very few unknowns and lichen parasites (see Figure 12 for more details on why Highland and Worthington Peaks may be so different). We also surveyed Mount Irish, another interesting site because of the extensive quartzite cliffs below the limestone peak (see below). The Quinn Canyon and Sheep Ranges, just outside the CFO, and the high ranges in White Pine County, such as the Snake and Schell Creek Ranges, are the nearest potentially similar habitats. 114 IV.B. Seaman Range High Point IV.B. SEAMAN RANGE HIGH POINT Another pair of high-elevation peaks at risk from climate change are Seaman Range High Point and Timber Mountain in the Seaman Range (Figures 167 and 168). At 2624 and 2575 m, respectively, they have the highest siliceous habitat in the CFO. There is only one other high-elevation siliceous site in the CFO, Mount Irish (see below and Figure 166). We were not permitted to collect specimens when we visited Seaman Range H.P. in 2016, so we are only able to count species that are identifiable by photograph. We plan Figure 167. Seaman Range High Point. to return to the site in 2019, now that we have permission to collect7. However, even with our limited data, we can see that it is an important site. It has robust populations of at least two species found nowhere else in the CFO. One in particular, Sporastatia testudinea (Figure 169), is a characteristic member of high-elevation siliceous community throughout the Intermountain Region. It is surprising that we found it only at this one site. The quartzite cliffs on Mount Irish (see below) are the only other area with a nontrivial amount of high-elevation Figure 168. Map of Seaman Range High Point. siliceous habitat in the CFO. These quartzite cliffs are Arrow points to highest outcrops. approximately 150 m lower in elevation than Seaman Range H.P., and they are situated below a large limestone peak, apparently modifying the habitat significantly, because they only shared about half their flora (about 55 out of 90-100 species). There are several extensive high-elevation siliceous regions just outside the CFO to the north: Quinn Canyon Range, Wilson Creek Range and White Rock Mountains. But this habitat is very rare in the CFO (Figure 166). Figure 168. Seaman Range High Point Figure 169. Sporastatia testudinea on Seaman Range High Point. 7 Preliminary results from 2019 fieldwork: We found 99 species of lichens, 6 found nowhere else in the CFO – Lecanora invadens H. Magn., L. cf. subcavicola B.D. Ryan, L. swartzii (Ach.) Ach., Psora luridella (Tuck.) Fink, Sporastatia testudinea and Xanthomendoza mendozae – and 13 species of parasites, of which one will be a new report for North America, Arthonia hawksworthii Halici. The tentative record of Phaeophyscia constipata turned out to be an unusually robust population of Physcia tenella. Note that this data includes only our saxicolous specimens. Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats 115 Figure 170. Extensive population of Aspicilia “digitata”, an undescribed species that we’ve seen at only 3 other sites in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. Figure 172. Quartzite cliffs on Mount Irish. IV.C. QUARTZITE CLIFFS ON MOUNT IRISH Mount Irish is the last high-elevation peak that we highlight. It is unusual in having both calcareous and siliceous habitat at high elevation. It has a limestone peak sitting atop a 4 km band of tall quartzite cliffs. There are several sections of sheltered, north-facing quartzite cliffs east of the peak that host spectacular lichen communities (Figures 170–172). These quartzite cliffs host a diverse lichen community with many species found nowhere else in the CFO. The site also has an unusually large number of unknown species and a particularly rich community of lichen parasites. The flora at this site is significantly different from the flora of the purely siliceous Seaman Range H.P.; they share only about half of their species. This is an excellent example of calcareous-modified quartzite cliffs and is remarkable and important to preserve. Figure 171. Map of Mount Irish. Arrows point to excellent north-facing quartzite cliffs. Red triangle indicates a large installation on the peak. Figure 171. Mount Irish 116 IV.D. Siliceous Habitat in the Northeastern Mojave Figure 173. Site near peak x3740 in East Mormon Mountains. Figure 175. Map of Mojave siliceous habitat in and around the CFO. Note that the most extensive siliceous habitat is right up against the Ecotone, and that much of this habitat burned extensively in recent years (Figure 184, e.g. Meadow Valley Mountains and the area north of the Mormon Mountains), leaving only a few small islands of intact habitat within the CFO (e.g. Mw3, Mc3, Me2). IV.D. SILICEOUS HABITAT IN THE NORTHEASTERN MOJAVE The northeastern Mojave hosts several species not found elsewhere in the Mojave region. Research by Vandergast et al. (2013) suggests that this area of the Mojave is an evolutionary hotspot for many different types of life, particularly because of its location along the Great Basin ecotone. This area is also more vulnerable to climate change and uphill displacement (Seager et al. 2007, Bradley 2010). Both calcareous and siliceous rock in the northeastern Mojave host lichens that are found nowhere else in the region. But since there is an abundance of limestone habitat at all elevations in this area, we consider calcareous lichen communities in this area secure. In contrast, siliceous habitat is relatively scarce throughout the northeastern Mojave and particularly the Mojave portion of the CFO, limited to small siliceous islands with very narrow elevation ranges (Figure 175). For these reasons, the lichen communities found in these Figure 174. Map of siliceous site in East Mormon Mountains. A = Aspicilia peltastictoides, R = Rhizoplaca marginalis and Caloplaca peliophylla. Red triangle marks two old abandoned buildings. Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats 117 habitats are quite vulnerable to shifting climate and anthropogenic disturbance. We have ranked three species in this habitat S1: Aspicilia peltastictoides, Caloplaca peliophylla and Rhizoplaca marginalis (for details about their populations near peak x3740 see Figures 173 and 174). None of these species is known from elsewhere in the CFO, and they are considered rare throughout their range (Appendix V). Figure 176. Exceptionally lichen-rich volcanic ash formations near Panaca Kilns. IV.E. VOLCANIC ASH FORMATIONS Formations of poorly consolidated volcanic ash are a rare and unexpectedly interesting lichen habitat in the CFO (Figures 176 and 177). When we designed the Figure 177. Map of possible volcanic ash formations in the CFO. study we did not appreciate the importance of this habitat, assuming it would be similar to rhyolite. However, from the perspective of lichens, it appears to be similar to sandstone. For example, Acarospora fuscescens is a common sandstone species on the Colorado Plateau. It was found only twice in our survey, at “Fort Apache” and a small slot-canyon along the wash leading to Bunker Hills, both times on volcanic ash. Unfortunately, it turns out to be difficult to predict occurrences of this kind of rock because the geologic map we were using (Crafford 2010) either categorizes it with ash flow tuff (which can include much harder rock types, such as welded tuff), or with the vague “tuffaceous sedimentary rocks”. We have mapped all the formations we noticed during our survey8 (Figure 177), and included several additional possible locations based on the geologic map and aerial imagery (Google Maps). Rainbow Canyon in particular has a number of extensive soft volcanic ash cliffs on both sides of the road in the northern part. Based on our experience and study of the maps, this appears to be a rare habitat both in the CFO and elsewhere in the Great Basin and Mojave. Eastward, sandstone becomes common throughout the Colorado Plateau. The nearest sandstone occurs in the region around St. George. The two volcanic ash sites we surveyed thoroughly, “Fort Apache” and Panaca Kilns, are both exceptionally diverse, have many taxa found nowhere else in the CFO, and are rich in parasites and unknown species. Panaca Kilns in particular has the highest overall diversity of all of our sites, and is second only to Highland Peak in terms of unique taxa. This is even more remarkable considering the relative lack of diversity of elevation and vegetation types surveyed near Panaca Kilns. Figure 177. Possible volcanic ash formations in the CFO 8 During 2019 fieldwork we found one additional locality at the foot of Seaman Range H.P., and we visited the exceptional ash formations in Rainbow Canyon, confirming the presence of several of the species unique to this substrate. 118 IV.F. Biological Soil Crusts at The Big Hogback near Panaca Figure 178. Wonderland of hoodoos near Panaca. Figure 179. BSC community at The Big Hogback. IV.F. BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS AT THE BIG HOGBACK NEAR PANACA We surveyed biological soil crust communities throughout the CFO, and The Big Hogback had far and away the richest and best-developed. It had 20 species, including 2 parasites. The next richest were the nearby Miller Bench and Caliente Allotment with 15 and 14 species, respectively. The median was 8 species. Only one other site had a parasite on a BSC lichen (on a Placidium sp. at the top of a quartzite cliff at Mount Irish). Lichen parasites are generally an indicator of old, intact habitats (Knudsen, pers. comm.). It is very unusual to find them in BSC communities in our experience. The richest BSCs at The Big Hogback occurred in the Figure 180. Map of the Big Hogback area. Gold cirbroad wash at the foot of the lacustrine hoodoos (Figures cle marks an extensive, well-developed biological 178–180). There were abundant animal trails from horses soil crust community that may extend all along the foot of the hoodoos (red circled cliffs). Gold arrow and/or cows crisscrossing the area, a clear threat to delicate BSCs. There is also a well-used OHV trail in the area. marks one exceptional site. Dashed red line is a well-used OHV trail. If people stay on trail, the It is important to stay on trail in this sensitive habitat. It is BSC community should remain secure. probably worth monitoring the site, especially given how easy it is to access. It may become necessary to fence off some areas where traffic is heavy. Figure 180. The Big Hogback area Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats 119 IV.G. BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS IN RANGELAND Soil habitats in grazed areas throughout the CFO are by no means rare, but intact biological soil crust communities are generally threatened. Considering how rich most of the lichen habitats are in the CFO, the near absence of both early and late succession BSC lichen communities on a substrate that is so ubiquitous is striking. Even more striking is that allotments that had not been grazed in 20+ years (e.g. Caliente Allotment, see Table 2 in Appendix I) had only scattered populations, at best. Biological soil crusts are a valuable component of aridland ecosystems (Belnap 2006); they prevent soil erosion by Figure 181. Well-developed, early succession biological soil crust comwater (Barger et al. 2006, Bowker et al. munity along Toquop Wash in the Mojave. The highly invasive grass 2008) and wind (Eldridge and Leys Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens is thriving where hoof-prints have disturbed the soil crust. 2003). They increase infiltration of water in fine textured soils (Belnap et al. 2005), increase nutrients available to plants (Harper and Belnap 2001, Belnap et al. 2005), fix carbon and nitrogen (Belnap 2002, Barger et al. 2006), and have been found to prevent growth of non-native plant seeds (Hernandez and Sandquist 2011). Concurrently, disturbance of BSCs often results in a flush of nutrients that may foster invasive plant seeds (Barger et al. 2006, Hernandez and Sandquist 2011, Figure 181). 120 IV.H. Ponderosa Pine Woodlands in the Clover Mountains Figure 182. Ponderosa grove following Sheep Creek in the Clover Mountains. IV.H. PONDEROSA PINE WOODLANDS IN THE CLOVER MOUNTAINS Ponderosa Pine is uncommon in the CFO (Figures 182 and 183). Compared to the much richer epiphyte floras on Juniper Figure 183. Map of Ponderosa woodlands in and around the CFO. It and Gambel Oak, Ponderosa Pine supis reported from Highland Peak, but we did not notice any extensive ports a relatively poor lichen flora in the groves in our survey. CFO. But one species, Lecanora “ponderosicola”, is strongly associated with Ponderosa Pine. It was reliably present wherever Ponderosa occurred in our Clover Mountains sites, but only present on Pinyon at three sites. It is a very distinctive species microscopically. The vast majority of Lecanora species have 8 spores per ascus, but L. “ponderosicola” has more than 8. Only one similar species occurs in North America, L. sambuci, but it lacks a superficial thallus and occurs on hardwoods north of the CFO, especially in the Great Lakes region (Śliwa 2007). This new species needs more study in order to fully understand its range and ecological preferences, but preliminary indications are that it may be a narrow endemic, which would make this an important rare habitat9. It is important to note that Ponderosa groves in the CFO are highly threatened by fire. Although Ponderosa is evolutionarily adapted for fire, fire intensity and frequency has increased in recent years, especially in the Ecotone where most local populations occur (Figure 184). As the climate shifts, recruitment may decrease, and local extirpation of Ponderosa woodlands and the lichen species they host is a distinct possibility. Figure 183. Ponderosa woodland in and around the CFO 9 Fieldwork in 2019 turned up an additional record of Lecanora “ponderosicola” on Ponderosa near the north rim of the Grand Canyon, suggesting that the species may be more widespread than initially thought, just overlooked. Appendix IV. Rare or Threatened Habitats 121 IV.I. INCREASED FIRE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY Pinyon–Juniper woodlands cover a significant portion of the CFO and host the highest total diversity of epiphytic lichens (84 species), presumably owing to the extensive coverage of this habitat. These woodlands are thriving, and may even be encroaching into sagebrush habitat as they are in other areas of Nevada. However, in the Mojave and Ecotone portions of the CFO they are threatened by increasingly frequent, spatially extensive and intense fires. Over the past 18 years, the fires occurring in Pinyon–Juniper woodlands in the southern half of the CFO have increased exponentially, with large burns covering significant portions of the Pinyon–Juniper woodlands in the Clover Mountains (2005, 2014), Delamar Figure 184. Map of rangeland fires in the CFO, 1900–2014. Yellow fires occurred before 2000, red fires occurred after 2000, orange areas Mountains (1994, 2005, 2012), South burned both before and after 2000. Pahroc Range (2006, 2012, 2013), and Mormon Mountains (2004, 2005, 2006) (BLM 2015b, Figure 184). A number of locally rare epiphytic lichens occur in these fire-threatened Pinyon–Juniper woodlands, including Cyphelium tigillare, found only at Panaca Kilns; Lecanora mughicola, an uncommon species in Western North America more typical of spruce-fir forests, found at Mount Ella and Highland Peak; Rinodina oleae, a rare species in North America, found at Panaca Kilns and the north end of the Worthington Range; Trapeliopsis flexuosa, apparently rare in Nevada, found only on Mount Ella and Lodge Peak; and Usnea hirta, restricted to montane habitats in desert regions, found along Sheep Creek in the Clover Mountains. Figure 184. Rangeland fires in the CFO, 1900–2014 IV.J. ANTELOPE CANYON Antelope Canyon, a few miles north of Caliente (Figure 185), hosts a high diversity of lichens and, owing to its proximity to Caliente, is at risk of development. Indeed, in 2016 the City of Caliente discussed the industrial expansion of a perlite popping facility, and the company Wilkin Trucking and Mining is considering acquisition of land in the canyon that is currently leased from the BLM for one of its facilities (LCRDA 2016). Also currently underway is the establishment of an electric substation in Antelope Canyon by Vortex Power, Inc. that will burn woodland and municipal waste for energy (Mason 2016). Four usual lichen species in Antelope Canyon were found nowhere else in the CFO— Figure 185. Map of Antelope Canyon. Dotted line marks extent of excellent lichen habitat. Yellow arrow points to survey site. Red triangles mark current industrial development as of February 2019. Caliente is just off-map to south. Figure 185. Antelope Canyon 122 IV.J. Antelope Canyon Acarospora janae, A. oligospora, Lecidea auriculata and Rhizocarpon viridiatrum. Lichens are particularly sensitive to air pollution, therefore we recommend monitoring these populations. IV.K. FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION Extensive fossil fuel extraction in the CFO may seem unlikely owing to limited water resources, however the most productive oil field in Nevada, Railroad Valley, is just one valley to the northwest of Basin and Range National Monument (BRNM). This has spurred explorations for oil in Coal Valley, located in the northeastern area of BRNM. In 2015, Murphy Gap Well 14-23 was approved for oil exploration (DOI-BLM-NV-L030-2015-0003-EA; BLM 2015a). Additional parcels in the CFO were opened for oil and gas leasing in the 2019 December competitive lease sale, including a parcel near Narrow Canyon in the Delamar Mountains, a site with very high diversity of lichens, as well as L3 and L4 listed species (BLM 2019). Exploration for oil produces relatively minor amounts of air pollutants. However, if the well becomes productive and/or hydraulic fracturing is utilized, the potential for significant air pollution increases. The potential impacts on lichens include disappearance of sensitive species in the surrounding area. Lichens are widely used as a warning indicator that pollution has reached critical levels in the atmosphere before the damage becomes evident in other biota. Lichens have no roots, do not shed leaves, and absorb all their nutrients from the air and precipitation. Thus, when air pollution increases, lichens rapidly accumulate these pollutants in their bodies until equilibrium is reached with the surrounding air. The more polluted the air, the longer the equilibrium time. Physiological functions become inhibited and sensitive species may disappear from affected areas within a number of months to years depending on the species, pollution type and climatic factors (Sujetoviené 2015). Heavy metal elemental deposition from large scale industrial oil extraction areas have been found to accumulate in lichens up to three times normal levels at 50 km from the source (Edgerton et al. 2012). Other byproducts of oil and gas production include sulfur and nitrogenous compounds, which have been found to accumulate in lichens up to two times normal levels at distances up to 20 km (Wieder et al. 2016). If fossil fuel extraction in Coal Valley, or elsewhere in the CFO, enters development phase or hydraulic fracturing is pursued, we recommend monitoring sensitive lichen populations in the ranges surrounding the well sites. In the case of Coal Valley, the recommended ranges would include Golden Gate Range, Mount Irish and Seaman Range. Appendix V. Rare Species 123 APPENDIX V. RARE SPECIES V.A. SPECIES WITH LOCAL RANKING Table 8. Species with local ranking Globally rare species; ours are outlying populations or at the edge of their range, in threatened habitats: Aspicilia peltastictoides S1 Caloplaca peliophylla S1 Rhizoplaca marginalis G2/3 S1 Locally rare and habitat threatened: Acarospora nicolai Arthonia glebosa Aspicilia filiformis Caloplaca furfuracea Catapyrenium cinereum Collema bachmanianum Diploschistes muscorum Fulgensia desertorum Heppia adglutinata Lecidea diducens Lepraria finkii Parmeliopsis ambigua Phaeorrhiza sareptana Protoblastenia incrustans Psora crenata Psora himalayana Staurothele clopimoides Staurothele fissa Toninia alutacea Verrucaria calciseda Verrucaria fusca Xanthoparmelia lavicola Xylographa septentrionalis G5 G5 G3/5 G4/5 G5 G5 G4/5 G5 G3/5 G4/5 G4/5 G4/5 Locally rare, habitat may be threatened: Acarospora fuscescens Acarospora oligospora Catapyrenium psoromoides G5? Cyphelium tigillare G5 Lecanora mughicola Lecidea auriculata G5? Lepraria elobata Placidiopsis cinerascens G4/5 Placidium lachneum G5 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 Placidium pilosellum Rhizocarpon intermediellum Rhizocarpon viridiatrum Rinodina oleae Sporastatia testudinea Trapeliopsis flexuosa Usnea hirta Xanthomendoza mendozae Locally rare, but not threatened: Acarospora chysops Acarospora obpallens Bellemerea alpina Carbonea assimilis* Cladonia chlorophaea Collema cristatum Collema furfuraceum Collema subparvum Dimelaena thysanota Ephebe lanata Lecidea deplanaica Lecidea truckeei Lempholemma cladodes Lepraria eburnea Leptogium subtile Lichinella minnesotensis Lobothallia radiosa Megaspora verrucosa Melanelixia subargentifera agg. Peltigera ponojensis/rufescens Placynthium stenophyllum var. isidiatum Protoblastenia rupestris Protoparmelia cupreobadia* Psora nipponica Rhizocarpon grande Rhizocarpon macrosporum Rhizocarpon riparium Sarcogyne arenosa Sarcogyne plicata Squamarina lentigera G2/4 G5 G5 G5 G3/5 G5 G3/5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G3/4 G5 G4/5 G5 G3/4 G4/5 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S3/4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 124 Toninia weberi* Verrucaria endocarpoides Verrucaria memnonia Verrucaria muralis Verrucaria nigrescens V.A. Species with Local Ranking G2/4 G5 S4 S4 S4 S4 S4 Verrucaria rupicola Verrucaria viridula Xanthoparmelia plittii Xanthoparmelia pseudocongensis G5 S4 S4 S4 S4 * S4 species that are rare throughout their range, but since their local habitat is secure, do not receive a higher rank. V.B. CRITICALLY IMPERILED SPECIES We have listed three species as critically imperiled (S1 rank). All three species were found only at siliceous sites in the Mojave portion of the CFO, a locally rare and threatened habitat (Appendix IV.D). Two of these species are California disjuncts only known in Nevada from a single site near peak x3740 in the East Mormon Mountains. The third species is present at both the site near peak x3740 and a second site in the Bunker Hills in the southern part of the Meadow Valley Mountains. V.B.1. Aspicilia peltastictoides This species is endemic to the Mojave. Knudsen et al. (2017) consider it naturally rare. It is known only from a handful of collections in southern California (the type locality is Palm Springs). Our four specimens— JH16477 (ASU), JH16137a (BRY), JH16407 (BRY), JH16464 (BRY, verified by K. Knudsen)—extend its range northward into Nevada. We found Aspicilia peltastictoides at two sites in the Mojave, three populations on granite and schist near peak x3740 in East Mormon Mountains (Figure 174; the circled population is especially robust), and one population on a small Figure 186. Aspicilia peltastictoides (JH16464) on rhyolite outcrop in Bunker Hills. granite in East Mormon Mountains—2.5×. Aspicilia peltastictoides is a handsome, distinctive species, recognized by its dispersed apothecia with conspicuously cracked white rims and black disks covered with white pruina (Figure 186). It is somewhat similar to some forms of Acarospora strigata, however species of Acarospora produce numerous tiny spores in each ascus, while Aspicilia peltastictoides produces only 8 spores per ascus. It can also resemble Lecanora utahensis and L. crenulata, from which Aspicilia peltastictioides is perhaps best distinguished in the lab with an ascus stain: the tips of Lecanora asci stain dark blue with a faint axial canal, whereas Aspicilia asci stain only weakly. A. peltastictoides grows directly on granitic and rhyolitic rocks, particularly crumbly ones, in open but north-facing situations. It is expected to occur on other siliceous outcrops in the Mojave portion of the CFO. There are extensive rhyolite outcrops near the Bunker Hills site: there is one small one 2 km northwest and another extensive complex in the Wilderness Area 7.5 km west-northwest (Figure 175). Appendix V. Rare Species 125 V.B.2. Caloplaca peliophylla This rare species is known from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and coastal range of central California south into Baja California. CNALH shows 35 distinct populations. Our specimen—JH16476 (our pers. hb.)—is the first record from outside of California and Baja California. Because our specimen is sterile, sequencing was required to confirm its identity. We have subsequently also verified it against authentic material at ASU. It is a robust specimen, representing a fragment of the one known population in the CFO near peak x3740 in East Mormon Mountains, where it is growing Figure 187. Caloplaca peliophylla (JH16476) on on sheltered schist with an extensive population of schist in the East Mormon Mountains—7×. another rare California disjunct, Rhizoplaca marginalis (see below and Figure 174). Caloplaca peliophylla is distinctive, but only in the gestalt. The texture, shape and color of the areoles are distinctive (Figures 187 and 188). Back in the lab, the most important thing to verify is that the cortex is K+ lavender, has an epinecral layer, and the algal layer is continuous and even. There are other species with big, bullate, gray-brown areoles. Some forms of Caloplaca albovariegata are similar, for example, although we have not seen the combination of uniform coloration, continuous algal layer and three-dimensional areoles in Figure 188. Caloplaca peliophylla (T. Nash III the C. albovariegata complex in our region. Some species of Rinodina, e.g. R. zwackhiana, have a similar 18965, ASU, California coast range)—15×. coloration (and are also K+ lavender). If the material is fertile, then the dark spores of Rinodina immediately distinguish it from Caloplaca. Sterile forms of R. zwackhiana have thinner, flatter areoles and are sorediate along the margins; C. peliophylla never has soredia. Sterile material should probably be sequenced to be certain. This species is expected to be exceptionally rare in the CFO, because it prefers the mediterranean climate of California. Our specimen grows on a deeply sheltered facet of schist near the ground. It is probably best to seek additional populations in similar microhabitats on siliceous outcrops in the Mojave. 126 V.B. Critically Imperiled Species V.B.3. Rhizoplaca marginalis This is a rare southern California species, known from the southern Sierra Nevada and Death Valley to the mountains around Los Angeles. CNALH shows ca. 30 distinct localities. Our specimen—JH16466 (our pers. hb.)—is the first one found outside of California, over 150 miles from the nearest known localities in Death Valley and near Barstow, California. Our population occurs on north-facing vertical schist near peak x3740 in the East Mormon Mountains, together with Caloplaca peliophylla, another California disjunct (see above and Figure 174). It is locally abundant at our Figure 189. Rhizoplaca marginalis (JH16466) on versite. We have seen this pattern—rare but locally abuntical schist in the East Mormon Mountains—0.75×. dant—at several other locations in the Sierra Nevada. Rhizoplaca marginalis is a distinctive species easily recognized in the field by its relatively large, pure white, umbilicate, foliose thalli with pruinose apothecia crowded near the margins (Figure 189). There are several other umbilicate, foliose lichens in the CFO, but they are all differently colored. The other species of Rhizoplaca s. lato are green, or if pale then have pink apothecia. Glypholecia is at least partly brown and has distinctive gyrose (contorted) apothecia. Umbilicaria are brown or gray. Dermatocarpon can be very pale gray but are stippled with dot-like perithecia instead of disk-like apothecia. Peltula euploca is dark gray with powdery marginal soralia. R. marginalis grows on granitic or other siliceous rocks, typically on open, vertical, northern exposures. It should be sought in other siliceous habitats in the Mojave portion of the CFO (Figure 175). Appendix VI. Supplementary Methods 127 APPENDIX VI. SUPPLEMENTARY METHODS VI.A. SITE SELECTION METHODS VI.A.1. Study Area The study area is about 4 million acres and includes the BLM Caliente Field Office (CFO) as well as Basin and Range National Monument (BRNM). The following were excluded from the study area: private lands, Nevada State Parks, Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge and designated BLM Wilderness Areas. We were granted future access to two locations in BLM Wilderness Areas: Mormon Mountains and Seaman Range High Point. VI.A.2. Site Stratification We stratified the study area into three ecoregions, Great Basin, Mojave and the Ecotone, using Level III Ecoregions (EPA 2015), Major Land Resource Areas maps (NRCS 2006) and SWReGAP vegetation maps (Lowry 2005). We delineated the Ecotone as areas where characteristic Great Basin vegetation and characteristic Mojave vegetation intermix into a tight mosaic of small patches (Gosz 1993). We chose the northern Ecotone boundary to extend a considerable distance north of the EPA’s Mojave Ecoregion boundary along low-elevation valleys consisting of vegetation alliances characteristic of the Mojave Ecoregion—e.g., Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub, Sonoran Mojave Creosotebush– White Bursage Desert Scrub. The southern Ecotone boundary is closer to the EPA’s Mojave Ecoregion boundary. Although vegetation alliances classified as typical Great Basin communities, such as Pinyon–Juniper woodland, are found at high elevations in the Mojave, we consider these areas to be disjointed from the primary Ecotone, and classified them as part of the Mojave. (Appendix VII.A.) We then stratified these ecoregions into low-, mid- and high-elevation zones (Bowker et al. 2006). We chose each elevation zone to span 400–600 m and refined the elevation range to that of the dominant vegetation communities in each zone (Appendix VII.B). These zones were then stratified into two geologic categories: calcareous and siliceous (USGS 2015, Appendix VII.C). (Table 9.) We chose collection sites a priori from these 27 groups (3 ecoregions × 3 elevation zones × 2 geology categories), with an attempt to replicate sites in both eastern and western parts of the study area. We used aerial imagery (Google Maps 2015) to select good rock outcrops, SWReGAP vegetation maps (Appendix VII.B) to choose contiguous patches of dominant vegetation alliances as well as rare vegetation alliances such as Aspen Woodland. Where possible, we confined our sites to areas within three miles of a two-track dirt road. We excluded private land and areas with recent fire damage. Within each collection site, dominant substrates were selected for total inventories. Sites targeting biological soil crust lichens were selected using grazing exclosure maps (T. Trapp, pers. comm. February 2016), however, owing to the limited breadth of exclosures throughout the study area, and the unpredictability of pre-selecting sites that ensure the presence of BSC lichens, only eight sites were selected for soil habitat. To fill in this gap, we conducted full inventories of BSC lichens wherever we found a well-developed community. VI.B. FIELD METHODS VI.B.1. Survey methods At each site, we surveyed all lichens found on particular targeted substrates in order to gather robust occupancy data for each major substrate at each site. The area surveyed per substrate ranged from 0.25 to 0.50 ha for rock sites, and 1 to 2 ha for vegetation and soil sites. The number of total surveys per site 128 VI.B. Field Methods Table 9. Elevation zones and characteristic vegetation alliances Great Basin: elev. zone and range characteristic vegetation alliances* Low 1400–1800 m IMB Mixed Salt Desert Scrub, IMB Greasewood Flat, IMB Playa, IMB Big Sagebrush Shrubland. Mid 1800–2400 m GB Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, GB Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland, IMB Montane Sagebrush Steppe. High 2400–2800 m RM Montane Mesic Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland, RM Aspen Forest and Woodland, IMB Subalpine Limber Bristlecone Pine Woodland, RM Subalpine Montane Riparian Woodland, IMW Aspen Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland Complex, GB Pinyon-Juniper Woodland. Ecotone: elev. zone and range characteristic vegetation alliances Low 1000–1400 m Mojave Mid-Elevation Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub, IMB Mixed Salt Desert Scrub, SM Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub, IMB Greasewood Flat, IMB Playa. Mid 1400–2000 m Mogollon Chaparral, RM Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland, IMB Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe, GB Xeric-Mixed Sagebrush Shrubland, IMB Montane Sagebrush Steppe, GB Pinyon-Juniper Woodland. High 2000–2400 m GB Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, RM Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland. Mojave: elev. zone and range characteristic vegetation alliances Low 800–1000 m SM Creosotebush White Bursage Desert Scrub, NAWD Playa, SM Creosote-White Bursage Desert Scrub. Mid 1000–1600 m Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub, IMB Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe, IMB Big Sagebrush Steppe. High 1600–2000 m GB Pinyon-Juniper Woodland. * For descriptions of the vegetation alliances see Lowry (2005). The following are abbreviated: Great Basin (GB), InterMountain Basins (IMB), Rocky Mountain (RM), Inter-Mountain West (IMW), Sonora-Mojave (SM), North American Warm Desert (NAWD). ranged between 1 and 16 depending on the substrates present and the quality of lichen coverage. Time spent per survey ranged from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Time spent at a site ranged from an hour to three days. We also conducted incidental surveys using the expert approach (Benson 2003), targeting interesting microhabitats and only collecting species that were rare, unusual or otherwise interesting. Although we pre-selected locations for site inventories, we didn’t always find what we expected. In such situations, we changed the location if better representative habitat locations were found elsewhere nearby, or changed our targeted substrates to match what was present at that location. VI.B.2. Calibration We ensured our surveys were relatively comparable in area between different sites by documenting our GPS tracks and examining them when databasing our field notes. Appendix VI. Supplementary Methods 129 VI.B.3. Data Acquisition We collected voucher specimens of every species encountered on each targeted substrate. We recorded notes on habitat, substrate, aspect and GPS location for each specimen. We also took detailed habitat and survey notes, including GPS tracks, geology, vegetation and topography. VI.B.4. Specimen Collection Materials and Methods We collected voucher specimens using a small rock chisel and hammer for collecting from rocks, a broad wood chisel and twig clippers for trees and shrubs; soil lichens were collected by hand or with a knife. We collected approximately 5–100 voucher specimens for each substrate survey. Voucher specimens are required in order to be examined microscopically and chemically in a laboratory to identify taxa. We temporarily stored the voucher specimens in small plastic tubs or paper bags, transferring them to acid-free packets at the end of the day or upon returning to the lab. VI.B.5. Survey Precautions When we came to sites with petroglyphs, pictographs or other cultural resources, collections were not made in the immediate vicinity. Inventories of rock surfaces were excluded within 50 m of any rock art. Collections were not made within 50 m of rock game blinds, 100 m of fire rings, and 300 m of cabins. VI.B.6. Rare Species In an effort to preserve rare lichens, when a rare lichen species was not found at least 10 times elsewhere in the site, only a partial collection was made of the lichen for identification, thereby ensuring that no more than 10% of any species was removed from a site. The goal was to elucidate the full range of substrates and macro/microhabitats for each species, while minimizing the collection of rare species to only the minimum fragment required for positive identification. VI.C. LAB METHODS We used standard lab methods for identification of specimens, including chemical spot tests, microscopy, and thin layer chromatography (TLC). See Lendemer and Noell (2018) for details. Primary reference texts included: Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region Vols. 1–3 (Nash et al. 2001, 2004 and 2007), The Microlichens of the Pacific Northwest Vols. 1–2 (McCune 2017a,b), The Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland (Smith et al. 2009), The Biotic Soil Crusts of the Columbia Basin (McCune and Rosentreter 2007), the unpublished keys of Bruce Ryan (Ryan 2004) and Curtis Björk (Björk 2016), and various monographs for particular genera, e.g. Psora (Timdal 1986), Staurothele (Thomson 1991), Toninia (Timdal 1991) and Xylographa (Spribille et al. 2014). VI.C.1. Voucher Specimen Storage Completed voucher specimens have been deposited at the Brigham Young University, Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Herbarium of Non-vascular Cryptogams (BRY-C). Many duplicate specimens have been deposited at Arizona State University (ASU) and the New York Botanical Garden (NY). Specimen information for all specimens collected are available on the Consortium for North American Lichen Herbaria website (CNALH). 130 Appendix VII. Site Stratification Maps APPENDIX VII. SITE STRATIFICATION MAPS VII.A. EPA LEVEL III ECOREGIONS AND MAJOR LAND RESOURCE AREAS Figure 190. EPA Level III Ecoregions and Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA). Figure 190. EPA Level III Ecoregions and Major Land Resource Areas Appendix VII. Site Stratification Maps VII.B. SWREGAP VEGETATION ALLIANCES Figure 191. SWReGAP Vegetation Alliances. Figure 191. SWReGAP Vegetation Alliances 131 132 VII.C. GEOLOGY Figure 192. Geology. Figure 192. Geology VII.C. Geology Appendix VII. Site Stratification Maps VII.D. SITE SELECTION Figure 193. Collection sites. Figure 193. Collection sites 133 134 About the Authors ABOUT THE AUTHORS Nastassja Noell and Jason Hollinger have been working on the lichens of the Intermountain West since 2012. We have conducted lichen inventories from Eastern Washington State southward into Nevada, including the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Washington) and the Humboldt Range (Nevada). We are also working on a long term project to re-inventory 91 alpine sites throughout Western North America that were previously surveyed in the 1950s by lichenologist Henry Imshaug. We live in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina with our dog Marvin. Front cover: Amazing population of undescribed species of Aspicilia on quartzite cliffs on Mount Irish. Inside cover: Basin and Range National Monument. Above: The authors in the Ruby Mountains in 2015.

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The Lichen Flora of the Caliente Field Office Lincoln County, Nevada

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