• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.343-353
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• 2023

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.7
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• pp.11-23
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• 1986

Korea has a long history from several thousand years ago. Specially stonecultural properties were used for the long period in Korea. Ancient tombs of prehistoric age, Sukgul-am (stone cave), Chumsung-dae (astronomical observatory)and stone statue of Buddha in the period of three dynasties were made of stone. There after the foundation stone, mortarstone, millstone, and other stone facilities at home have been also used for a long time. For the conservation of the cultural properties, the ecological distribution of lichens was investigated with the stone buildings around tombs and multistory stonepagodas.1. Yoo-nung (The tomb of Emperor Sungjong) : The stone buildings of granitearound tomb about 80 years old are clean and solid in quality, but they were covered in places with three kinds of lichens as the circle forms of pale-green and dark-gray colored thallus in crustose type. They were examined ecological distribution, identification and measurement of lobe size of lichens.2. Yoong-nung (The tomb of son of Emperor Yung-jong) : Granite buildings around tomb about 200 years old are also clean, moreover, they were also covered with the same kinds of crustose lichens in overlap.3. Yung-nung (The tomb of Emperor Sejong) : More than seven species of crustose, foliose and one species of fruticose lichens were growing on thegranite stone buildings built in about 500 years ago.4. Shilluk-sa multistory brick pagoda : It was built at the Koryo dynasty more than about 700 years. More than 5 species of crustose folios and two species of fruticose lichens were growing well on the granite stone at shade area. It was assumed that foliose lichens as dominant species with the respect of ecological aspect.5. Shilluk-sa multistory marble pagoda : This marble pagoda was built at the middle period of the Koryo dynasty as the same age of multistory brick pagoda. It was covered with black colored thallus such as crustose lichens. It is seemed that only crustose lichens on the stone were due to the drymarble stone. From the results described above, distribution of lichens showed that only crustose lichens on the stone from the short history (about 100-200 years) were grown with small size of circle form, stone buildings over 500 years were covered with crustose, folios and fruticose lichens, and the lichens distribution on the stonemore than 500 years appeared more foliose and fruticose than crustose type. Therefore, it is suggested that the succession of lichens on the stone buildings iscrustose$\rightarrow$foliose$\rightarrow$fruticose.Parmelia mexicana, Cladonia floerkeana, Ramalina yasudae identified are described in this paper and other unidentified species of saxicolous lichens will bedescribed later.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2014

South Korea is covered primarily by temperate vegetation; therefore, foliicolous lichens may not be expected to play an important role in its lichen flora. Indeed, more than 100 years after the first lichen record from South Korea reported by Hue, the paper "Pyrenocarpous lichens in Korea" published by Moon and Aptroot, reported on the presence of two foliicolous lichens, Strigula nemathora Mont, and S. smaragdula Fr., for the first time in South Korea. No detailed reports on foliicolous lichens have since been published in South Korea. In Japan, the neighboring country, approximately 83 foliicolous lichen species are distributed at the southernmost part under temperate to subtropical climatic conditions. However, a large number of foliicolous lichens, with many recent records, have been reported in neighboring countries like China and Taiwan. According to Thor et al., studies on foliicolous lichen flora of Asia are comparatively poor compared to those reported from America. There are six lichenogeographical regions: the Neotropics, Valdivia, Tethyan, African Paleotropics, eastern Paleotropics, and Neozelandic-Tasmanian, which are demarcated based on the known worldwide distribution pattern of foliicolous lichen flora. South Korea belongs to the eastern paleotropic region, where a higher number of local endemic foliicolous lichens have been reported. So far, there are a total of six known foliicolous lichen taxa from South Korea; S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, S. melanobapha, S. nemathora, S. smaragdula, and S. subelegans from Jeju Island. So far, the genus Strigula is the only known representative of the foliicolous lichen flora in South Korea. Among the recorded species, S. concreta, S. smaragdula, and S. subelegans are abundant and widespread. Japan, the closest area to Jeju Island, has the same distribution pattern of foliicolous lichens, with S. smaragdula, S. melanobapha, and S. subtilissima. Pollen studies conducted by Chung reported that changes in vegetation on Jeju Island, due mainly to deglacial warming and the influence of geographical change, resulted from sea-level rises. In general, all of the foliicolous lichens observed so far were restricted to the southernmost part of South Korea, particularly Jeju Island. Island might be influenced by its geographical setting. One reason could be the close dispersal distances of spores and vegetative propagules from areas such as the southern part of Japan and eastern part of China, where more foliicolous lichens can be found. Thor et al. also showed that the southern part of Japan harbors more foliicolous lichens than the northern part. Considering that China is close to Jeju Island, many foliicolous lichens, including S. concreta, S. macrocarpa, S. nemanthora, and S. smaragdula, have been reported from Yunnan province, the southernmost part of China. Geographically, this province is far away from Jeju Island. In other provinces, such as Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, which are closer to Jeju Island, no foliicolous lichens have been recorded so far. Therefore, the chance of spores and propagules coming from such closer areas is questionable. Thus, the location of origin of ancestors of foliicolous lichens of South Korea and the time and means of their invasion of this island is controverisial. The current study would lead the way to finding answers to the above mentioned questions.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.292-298
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• 2004

This study reports, for the first time, the ivestigation of the distribution of Korean saxicolous lichens in the coastal rocks of U-do islet, which is known as an unpolluted zone in Jeju. More than thirty lichens were obtained and investigated from the coastal rocks frequently contacted by seawater. A molecular analysis using PCR amplification of the rRNA ITS regions revealed the coastal rock lichens could be placed into 8 families and 14 genera, Ramalinaceae (Bacidia, Ramalina), Physciaceae (Buellia, Dirinaria, Phaeophyscia, Physcia, Pyxine), Lecanoraceae (Candelaria, Lecanora), Parmeliaceae (Xan­thopannelia), Graphidaceae (Graphis), Pertusariaceae (Pertusaria), Rhizocarpaceae (Rhizocarpon), and Teloschistaceae (Caloplaca), showing a diversity of lichens, with foliose (flat leaf-like), crustose (crust­like), and fruticose (miniature shrub-like) life forms might be distributed in the coastal rocks. These findings suggested the possibility that the lichens identified in the present work might be resistant to a salty environment.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.100-103
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• 2005

Lichens play an important role in breaking down rocks physically and chemically. Physical weathering occurs mechanically through hyphae and rhizines growing into the rocks. Lichen substances such as oxalic acid, acidic polysaccharides and depsides may assist altering rocks chemically. These actions partly contribute to soil formation but prove harmful for the substratum. Some people do not like to keep lichens on stained glassof churches or on gravestones mainly because of its unglamorous appearance. A biocide, 'Koretrel', is very effective in removing lichens and blue-green algae from the surface of concrete. After spraying 'Koretrel' in the open air, lichens (Caloplaca sp., Endocarpon petrolepideum, Physciella melanchra, Phaeophyscia hispidula, etc.) growing on buildings died within three months and peeled off fromthe substratum. One year after treatment, concrete surfaces were almost lichen free for three or four years. The biocide makesuse of a kind of lichen substance and harmless both for substances and environment. Our recent experiments show that it is also useful for water grasses growing on the surface of an aqueduct of a hydroelectric power station.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1978

Epiphytic lichens were sampled quantitatively on the cherry trees (Prunus serrulata) at Jeonju and Hadong along both north and south exposures of tat trees. Coverage of lichens was determinated for each species by 10*20cm quadrat. Lichen species diversities such as total diversity (D), mean diversity (D), Shannon diversity (D') and redundancy (R) were estimated according to Brillouin and Shannon equation. The importance value of lichen species was meassured by niche preemption model, The importance value transformed into some fraction k of the niche space. The value of k was compared with aggregation of lichens communities in to areas. The ten most important awariensis, Parmelia incurva, Parmelia crinita, Dirinaria applanta, Parmelia wallichiana, Parmelia austrosinensis and Cetraria platyphylla. The mean coverage epiphytic lichens on north side of tree was higher than of south side in two areas. The species diversities of epiphytic lichen of two areas shows that a change in the value of D' along vertical was not paralled with the D and R. In Kumsan-sa, D, D and D' increased upward along the tree of north exposure, but did not follow this trend in south, However in Sangge-sa, D, D and D' of both sides increased.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.183-191
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• 2020

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic association of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont or phycobiont), usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium. According to more recent studies, the biological activities of lichens and lichen substances include an antibiotic activity, antitumor and antimutagenic activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), allergenic activity, plant growth inhibitory activity, and enzyme inhibitory activity. This study screened lichen extracts with a potent in vitro antifungal activity against plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. The compounds were isolated from Stereocaulon alpinum and Sphaerophorus globosus, and their chemical structures were identified as methyl hematommate, methyl β-orsellinate, 5-hydroxyferulic acid, sphaerophorin, and 2-heptyl-4,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid by electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses. In vitro disease control against Alternaria mali, Cochliobolus miyabeanus, Colletotrium gloeosporioides, and Verticillum dahliae was evaluated. And among the five compounds, only methyl hematommate was effective against A. mali, C. miyabeanus, and C. gloeosporioides. The compounds were isolated from these lichens, which have a similar biosynthetic pathway, respectively. This is the first report of these compounds being isolated from these lichens.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2014

Collection of lichen together with tree twigs of oak and other trees bearing abundant growth of lichens is a common practice among the villagers and the rivals residing near Oak forests in Kumaun Himalaya. Nainital forest division represents about Twenty nine percent vegetation of the Oak forest in Kumaun Himalaya. In Kumaun, the lichen trade share is decreasing at an alarming rate of 21.93% which requires immediate actions by the Government. Lichen contributed significantly to household earnings with off-farm activities and this sector was found second highest income creator after Agriculture. It is a source of cash income during the season of extraction, which increases economic access to food. It has been observed in the present study that the secondary collector and transporters together get maximum share (>50%) of income generated from lichen, thus economic exploitation of the poorly educated people by the traders was still prevalent in the area. To improve the socio-economic standard of the people of Kumaun, it may is necessary to increase and improve the lichens resources of the area. There is a strong need for scientific management, best harvesting practices and strict monitoring of resources. The present study was conducted to assess the present and future resource potential for the conservation and sustainable management of lichens, existing market mechanism, role of Lichens in economic upliftment and livelihood generation of rural communities in Kumaun Himalaya.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2020

A lichen is a complex microorganism comprising fungi and algae. Various lichens are commonly found in cultural heritage and are reportedly related to weathering. Lichens are commonly studied in Europe; however, few reports exist on lichens in Korean cultural heritage. The present study was conducted as part of the Korean National Arboretum's "A study on the Fungus and Lichen." We report the lichen diversity found at the Placenta Chambers of King Sejong's Sons, Seongju. A total of 65 lichens were collected from 19 placenta chambers and one memorial stone. We identified 40 species belonging to 10 genera, 17 families, and 23 orders. Morphological identification revealed that foliose lichens in the form of leaves(24, 36.9%) and crustose lichens in the form of crust(24, 36.9%) were distributed at a higher percentage than that of fruticose lichen in the form of branches(17, 26.2%). Xanthoparmelia coreana(foliose lichen) and Lepraria sp.(crustose lichen) were the most collected lichens and were distributed on 19 chambers. In addition, Clodonia, a fruticose lichen, had the highest species diversity with eight species. The highest species diversity of lichens was identified on the chamber of Prince Kyeyang(16 lichens), whereas the chamber of Prince Geumsung had the lowest species diversity(five lichens). This study will be used as primary data for the study of distribution of lichen diversity in Korean cultural heritage.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.38-44
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• 1974

The distribution of corticolous lichens had been investigated in the suburb of Seoul in which factories are located densely and Yeosu which located near sea and very few factories are seen in the neighbour. Ten cm point frame was located at random on the trunk of Pinus densiflora, Quercus serrata and Carpinus Tschonoskii from bottom at 0.5m intervals to 8m height of each trees. The occurrence of each species was represented as a percentage of total quadrat frequency and of density. The density of the corticolous lichens was 2.8%, 6.9% and 7.6% at Dongkooneung, Kongneung and Kwangneung apart 15km, 25km and 32km from center of Seoul respectively. In Yeosu district, the occurrence is fairly different from that of Seoul: it is 34.8% and 34.9% at Odongdo and Hoamsan which located within 3km and 5km from the center of Yeosu. The greater frequency of the lichens on the trunk was found at 1~2m height of trees and they were found mostly on the trunk faced south. However, Pertusaria trochophora species occurred more often on the trunk faced east, Graphis scripta on east and north, Parmelia pertusa and Parmelia tinctorum on west side of trunk. Parmelia pertusa increased with increasing height of trees, but Calicium trabinellum and Anzia japonica decreased. Cetraria collata occurred mostly on the middle of above two species. SO2 concentration in the air of Seoul was high enough to eliminate the lichens except Pertusaria trochophora and Graphis scripta.