Lichen distribution along an ocean-inland transect in the fog zone of the Central Namib
VOLKMAR WIRTH, JUTTA MÜLLER, MICHAEL PFIZ, KURT LORIS & MANFRED KÜPPERS

Summary: The lichen flora on gravel plains in the Namib-Desert fog zone north of Swakopmund in Namibia was investigated at 25 sites along a transect extending from the coast 40 km inland. In total, 42 lichen species were found, which were classified into four groups with different distribution patterns, namely:
(1) Caloplaca testudinea group comprising C. testudinea, C. namibensis, C. volkii, Buellia incrustans, Lecidella crystallina, Xanthoparmelia walteri, and X. namibiensis (within the taxonomical group of X. dregeana s.l.) present both inland and along the coast,
(2) Teloschistes group comprising Teloschistes capensis, Ramalina spp. and Xanthoparmelia tentaculina restricted to the coast,
(3) Caloplaca rubelliana group consisting of C. rubelliana, Buellia peregrina, B. stellulata, Lecidella placodina, Xanthoparmelia incomposita and Acarospora species common inland but absent from the coast, and
(4) Xanthoparmelia serusiauxii group comprising X. serusiauxii, X. evernica, X. lapidula occupying a zone even further inland.
Both climatic and mechanical factors affect these lichen distribution patterns.

In: BIODIVERSITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA PATTERNS AND PROCESSES AT REGIONAL SCALE