Protocols in Lichenology: Culturing, Biochemistry, Ecophysiology and Use in Biomonitoring (Springer Lab Manuals)

As an intricate association between a fungus and one or more green algae or cyanobacteria, lichens are one of the most successful examples of symbiosis. These fascinating organisms survive extreme desiccation and temperatures. They are adapted to a great variety of habitats, from coastal fog zones of deserts to intertidal zones, from plant leaves in tropical rain forests to the glacial moraines of the Himalayas, and they are dominant components of communities in circumpolar ecosystems. Possibly, because of their tendency to grow in nutrient-poor habitats, lichens are extremely efficient accumulators of atmospherically deposited pollutants, and are therefore widely used to monitor environmental pollution. The wide range of secondary products only found in lichens show pharmaceutically interesting fungicidal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lichens are extremely difficult to culture, grow very slowly, and their secondary metabolites very often complicate the analyses of other compounds. As a result, they require special techniques. This manual provides well-tested protocols, including tissue culture protocols and methods for studying lichen ultrastructure, (eco)physiology, primary and secondary compounds, and nucleic acids. Protocols for using lichens to monitor environmental pollution and to document lichen biodiversity are also provided. Special terms used in lichenology are explained in a glossary. Front Matter....Pages I-XVI Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Isolation and Culture of Lichen Photobionts and Mycobionts....Pages 3-33 Culture of Thallus Fragments and Redifferentiation of Lichens....Pages 34-46 Resynthesis of Photosymbiodemes....Pages 47-60 Protoplast Isolation from Lichen Mycobionts....Pages 61-64 Differentiation Processes in Lichens — in Vivo Cultivation and Transplantation Methods....Pages 65-74 Isolation and Culture of Lichenicolous Fungi....Pages 75-84 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 Preparative Techniques for Transmission Electron Microscopy and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Lichens....Pages 87-117 Preparative Techniques for Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy of Lichens....Pages 118-132 Front Matter....Pages 133-133 Measurement of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Lichens....Pages 135-151 Characterising Photosynthesis and Respiration in Freshly Isolated or Cultured Lichen Photobionts....Pages 152-181 Analysis of Ethylene and ACC in Lichens....Pages 182-195 Measuring Activities of the Enzymes Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Reductase in Lichens....Pages 196-211 Studying the Effects of Elevated Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Lichens Using Open Top Chambers....Pages 212-223 In Situ Measurement of the Water Content of Lichens....Pages 224-235 Determination of the Parameters of Lichen Water Relations....Pages 236-254 Measurement of Lichen Growth....Pages 255-278 Front Matter....Pages 279-279 Analysis of Phenolic Products in Lichens for Identification and Taxonomy....Pages 281-295 Investigating the Production of Secondary Compounds in Cultured Lichen Mycobionts....Pages 296-306 Analysing Lichen Enzymes by Isoelectricfocussing....Pages 307-331 Analysis of Lipids in Lichens....Pages 332-347 Front Matter....Pages 279-279 Measuring Ergosterol and Chitin in Lichens....Pages 348-362 Analysis of Chlorophylls, Carotenoids, and Tocopherols in Lichens....Pages 363-378 Front Matter....Pages 379-379 Isolation of Nucleic Acids From Lichens....Pages 381-391 PCR Techniques and Automated Sequencing in Lichens....Pages 392-411 RAPD-PCR of Lichens....Pages 412-421 Front Matter....Pages 423-423 Biomonitoring Radionuclide Deposition with Lichens....Pages 425-457 Biomonitoring Heavy Metal Pollution with Lichens....Pages 458-482 Bioindication of Sulphur Dioxide Pollution with Lichens....Pages 483-503 Front Matter....Pages 505-505 Management of a Lichen Herbarium....Pages 507-523 Documentation of Lichens by Macrophotography....Pages 524-535 Computer-Aided Identification Systems for Biology, with Particular Reference to Lichens....Pages 536-553 On-Line Documentation of Lichen Biodiversity....Pages 554-570 Back Matter....Pages 571-580 As an intricate association between a fungus and one or more green algae or cyanobacteria, lichens are one of the most successful examples of symbiosis. These fascinating organisms survive extreme desiccation and temperatures. They are adapted to a great variety of habitats, from deserts to intertidal zones, from tropical rain forests to the peaks of the Himalayas and to circumpolar ecosystems. Lichens are extremely efficient accumulators of atmospherically deposited pollutants, and are therefore widely used to monitor environmental pollution. Their wide range of secondary products show pharmaceutically interesting fungicidal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lichens are extremely difficult to culture. This manual provides well-tested tissue culture protocols, protocols for studying lichen ultrastructure, (eco)physiology, primary and secondary compounds, and for using lichens as bioindicators. Ilse Kranner, Richard Beckett, Ajit Varma, Eds. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.