The saxicolous and terricolous lichens of northeastern Brazil, with special reference to the Vale do Catimbau in Pernambuco

Abstract

The saxicolous and terricolous lichen biota of the Vale do Catimbau in Pernambuco state (Brazil) was studied and with 74 species found to be relatively rich. Most species are new to the state and five are new to Brazil, viz. Andreiomyces ob­ tusatica (Tønsberg) B.P. Hodk. & Lendemer, Caloplaca brittonii (Zahlbr.) Aptroot, Candelariella rosulans (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., Clavascidium antillarum (Breuss) Breuss, and Stromatella bermudana (Riddle) Henssen. In addition, some new state records were found of corticolous and lignicolous lichens. A comparison is made with all other places in northeastern Brazil where saxicolous lichens have been studied. For this, the Serra de Itabaiana in Sergipe state was revisited too, and many additional species were recorded there. All places differ markedly in species composition. This seems to be correlated to altitude, biome, and rock type (sandstone versus granite), with the biome mostly influencing the species composition and the altitude the species richness. Some of the species newly reported from Brazil are so far known from the Antilles and there seems to be some resemblance between these lichen biotas.