Session 1: Systematics and Evolution

CONVENER: Mats Wedin [e-mail: mats.wedin@eg.umu.se]
CHAIRPERSON: David Hawksworth
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: Starri Heidmarsson

An understanding of systematics and evolution is fundamental to all biology. It is a modern and exciting science in which recent progress and insights are overwhelming. This session will present a stimulating overview of recent research on the taxonomy, phylogeny and classification of lichens and lichenicolous fungi. We will include monographic revisions based on critical morphological and anatomical studies; major regional syntheses; major phylogenetic studies causing the rethinking of classifications to better reflect natural relationships; and studies of co-evolution and character evolution utilizing phylogenies. The main session will have 8–10 oral presentations, including invited talks.

We encourage posters in all areas of systematics, especially from those who never attended an IAL congress before.

Session 2: Quality and Quantity: maintaining biological diversity in space and time

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CONVENER: Christoph Scheidegger [e-mail: christoph.scheidegger@wsl.ch]
CHAIRPERSON: Irwin Brodo
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: Svetlana Chabanenko

This session will contribute to an understanding of the measurement, interpretation and maintenance of lichen diversity on different spatial and spatio-temporal scales. In recent years many red lists have contributed to our knowledge of the conservation status of lichens on a regional basis. But how far has lichen conservation biology contributed to the survival of species and local populations, and what is the scientific rationale for high-priority conservation efforts for locally endangered but globally widespread species? And, what methods are currently being used to measure and interpret lichen diversity and rarity? We encourage contributions on all aspects of Biodiversity research and Conservation Biology, but especially on: lichen conservation in anthropogenic, traditional and multifunctional landscapes; population biology, population genetics and phylogeography (including vicariants and disjunctions) in lichen conservation strategies; methodology of monitoring lichens for conservation, e.g., red lists; measurement and interpretation of lichen diversity.

Session 3: Genes, Physiology and Structure

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CONVENER: Peter Crittenden [e-mail: Peter.Crittenden@nottingham.ac.uk]
CHAIRPERSON: Richard Beckett
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: Diane Fahselt

This session will be broad ranging and provide opportunities for speakers working in varied areas of lichen biology. It will encompass:
a) lichen life cycles including development and dispersal of propagules, establishment and development of the thallus, thallus structure, turnover and decomposition,
b) lichen physiology including gas exchange, and nutrient and water relationships,
c) primary and secondary biochemistry,
d) genetics of mycobionts and photobionts including genetic variation and genetics of reproduction.

Session 4: Contributions of lichen ecology to a better understanding of lichens in ecosystems

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CONVENER: Susan Will-Wolf [e-mail: swwolf@facstaff.wisc.edu]
CHAIRPERSON: Bruce McCune
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: Per-Anders Esseen

The Ecology Session will address how different kinds of lichen ecological studies (including vegetation science, mineral cycling, population ecology, reproductive biology) contribute to the understanding of lichens in ecosystems. Topics can include regional case studies of ecology of entire lichen communities; studies of ecological lichen guilds such as nitrogen-fixers or soil crust lichens; studies of some aspect of ecology of single or a few species of importance to selected ecosystems; modeling of community dynamics or habitat response; and new methods for ecological studies with lichens. The results of any such studies can potentially contribute to improvements in conservation or better management of lichen species and their ecosystems. Presentations should include a brief explanation of how contributions from the research can improve conservation or management of lichen species or communities. Presenters should also discuss to what extent the results can be generalised to other species or ecosystems.

Session 5: Lichen Photobionts – physiological, ecological and phylogenetic aspects of their diversity

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CONVENER: Thomas Friedl [e-mail: tfriedl@gwdg.de]
CHAIRPERSON: Burkhard Büdel
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: William B. Sanders

Green algae and cyanobacteria are the photosynthetically active partners of lichen fungi. From the aspect of biodiversity it is surprising that lichen symbiosis embraces such diverse groups. The result is an astonishing diversity of physiological, biochemical, and metabolic features of lichens. Photobiont diversity is also a key-feature in the capability of lichens to colonize an enormous range of diverse habitats. Because of the paucity of morphological characters, molecular approaches are required for assessing photobiont diversity in lichens. We encourage contributions on all aspects of research on lichen photobionts, in particular on:
a) their role in the adaptation of lichens to the habitats;
b) the physiology and biochemistry of their metabolism regarding interactions with fungi, nutrient uptake and carbon/nitrogen fixation;
c) their diversity, with emphasis on molecular approaches to their identification, phylogenetic position and selectivity of lichen fungi towards their algal partners;
d) their morphology and ultrastructure including novel techniques for theirsuccessful isolation and culturing.

Session 6: Lichen Uses

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CONVENER: Ole William Purvis [e-mail: w.purvis@nhm.ac.uk]
CHAIRPERSON: Mark R.Seaward
POSTER-CHAIRPERSON: Stefano Loppi

The many and varied uses for lichens will form the focus for this special topic. Interest in lichen biomonitoring is rapidly growing and has probably never been greater owing to both changes in legislation and a need to understand the effects of pollutants and global change on lichens and sensitive ecosystems. Biomonitoring in a broad sense will be considered, including:
a) biomarkers as an early warning of effects,
b) links between lichen diversity/accumulation studies and epidemiology,
c) remote sensing of lichen-dominated ecosystems,
d) photographic monitoring employing image analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence,
e) herbarium/lichen recording databases as indicators of past environmental conditions.

Other topics include:
biodeterioriation of ancient monuments and rock weathering;
accumulation of heavy metals, mineral transformation and biogeochemical cycling of elements;
bioremediation;
adaptation to toxic environments and the quantification of secondary metabolite variation in relation to environmental stress, e.g., metal toxicity and UV-B radiation such as by formation of oxalates and pigments;
lichenometry to date glacial retreat, ancient monuments etc.;
industrial uses including natural products and their use in pharmaceutical products;
ethnolichenology and use of lichens for cultural and aesthetic purposes;
world-wide web educational resources. 

Discussion session 1: Translation of phylogenetic analyses into classification

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CONVENER: Thorsten Lumbsch [e-mail: tlumbsch@fieldmuseum.org]

Translation of the results of phylogenetic analyses into a classification is a major problem in current systematic research. With the availability of molecular data, this has become more acute than it was previously. The problem is especially acute at the generic level, due to the nature of the binominal system. Numerous users of classifications, but also traditional taxonomists, look critically at nomenclatural changes caused by molecular studies. There are different approaches in dealing with molecular data with respect to nomenclature, such as ignoring these data, accepting paraphyletic assemblages, changing names after each analysis, etc. Each of these possible approaches has its own problems. This topic was partly covered by a previous discussion in the International Lichenological Newsletter, without achieving a clear solution to the problem. Subsequently – in an issue of Nature it was argued that several taxonomies may be accepted, e.g., one for theoretical evolutionists and a separate one for name users. The reluctance of systematists to accept new evidence for phylogenetic relationships, however, may result in even more complications.

Several questions will be discussed in this workshop,including:
1) Should lichenologists change accepted classifications, if they are consistently contradicted by molecular data?
2) How many data are required to accept molecular evidence for the rejection of traditional classification?
3) In the particular cases where monophyletic genera are nested within a larger genus, should the former be lumped in the latter or should the monophyletic groups be expanded to include parts of the larger genera?
4) How would lichenological taxonomy deal with monophyletic groups based on molecular evidence that cannot be circumscribed by phenotypic characters?

These questions will be dealt within two or more general talks on the problem and two case studies of groups of lichens in which the classification problem is acute. The main part of the workshop will then be a discussion of the problems.

Discussion session 2: In search of model organisms

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CONVENER: Rosmarie Honegger [e-mail: rohonegg@botinst.unizh.ch]

A small number of model organisms are of central importance in modern biology. They have a small genome, short reproductive cycles, are easy to cultivate, require little laboratory space and can be transformed. Their genome is now sequenced and large numbers of defined mutants are available which allow for exploring patterns of gene expression and gene function. However, alternatives have to be found when complex interkingdom interactions, such as mycorrhization or lichenization, are to be investigated. Are model systems available for studying the biology of lichen-forming fungi and their photobionts? Gene expression in both partners during lichenization, mating systems, or fungal genes involved in secondary metabolism are of particular interest. The main problems include slow growth rates, lack of standardization of axenic cultures, and poor reproducibility of resynthesis experiments under sterile conditions. Experimental lichenologists from all disciplines are invited to share their knowledge and expertise. By joining efforts, we shall hopefully succeed in finding model organisms in lichenology.

Discussion session 3: Phylogenetic methods: Assembling the lichen tree of life

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CONVENER: François Lutzoni [e-mail: flutzoni@duke.edu]

Reconstructing the phylogenetic history of all lichen-forming and allied fungi, algae and cyanobacteria would significantly enhance our understanding of all aspects of the lichen symbiosis. Despite the major contribution of PCR and substantial improvements to phylogenetic methods, our progress toward this goal has been minimal. This slow pace is due not only to technical difficulties in sequencing multiple loci across a broad spectrum of species, but also to computational limitations of handling large data sets. These problems can be overcome by creative coordinating efforts and developing collaborations among lichenologists, phycologists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, computational biologists, and bioinformaticians. It is clear that we will not make any major progress toward this daunting goal, unless we develop drastically novel and innovative approaches.The main objective of this workshop is to present some of these new initiatives and developments in various fields, and to identify, through discussions and presentations, what are the next steps the lichenological community should take to assemble an extensive and reliable lichen tree of life.

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