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.

First book presenting well-tested protocols appropriate to study lichens, organisms which are extremly difficult to culture Detailed step-by-step protocols, including troubleshooting sections and many hints and comments from the authors A glossary explains the special terms used in lichenology Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Culture and Cultivation.- 1 Isolation and Culture of Lichen Photobionts and Mycobionts.- 2 Culture of Thallus Fragments and Redifferentiation of Lichens.- 3 Resynthesis of Photosymbiodemes.- 4 Protoplast Isolation from Lichen Mycobionts.- 5 Differentiation Processes in Lichensin Vivo Cultivation and Transplantation Methods.- 6 Isolation and Culture of Lichenicolous Fungi.- Ultrastructure.- 7 Preparative Techniques for Transmission Electron Microscopy and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Lichens.- 8 Preparative Techniques for Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy of Lichens.- Physiology and Ecophysiology.- 9 Measurement of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Lichens.- 10 Characterising Photosynthesis and Respiration in Freshly Isolated or Cultured Lichen Photobionts.- 11 Analysis of Ethylene and ACC in Lichens.- 12 Measuring Activities of the Enzymes Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Reductase in Lichens.- 13 Studying the Effects of Elevated Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Lichens Using Open Top Chambers.- 14 In situ Measurements of the Water Content of Lichens.- 15 Determination of the Parameters of Liehen Water Relations.- 16 Measurement of Lichen Growth.- Lichen Compounds.- 17 Analysis of Phenolic Products in Lichens for Identification and Taxonomy.- 18 Investigating the Production of Secondary Compounds in Cultured Lichen Mycobionts.- 19 Analysing Lichen Enzymes by Isoelectricfocussing.- 20 Analysis of Lipids in Lichens.- 21 Measuring Ergosterol and Chitin in Lichens.- 22 Analysis of Chlorophylls, Carotenoids, and Tocopherols in Lichens.- Nucleic acids.- 23 Isolation of Nucleic Acids from Lichens.- 24 PCR Techniques and Automated Sequencing in Lichens.- 25 RAPD-PCR of Lichens.- Bioindication and Biomonitoring.- 26 Biomonitoring Radionuclide Depositionwith Lichens.- 27 Biomonitoring Heavy Metal Pollution with Lichens.- 28 Bioindication of Sulphur Dioxide Pollution with Lichens.- Biodiversity and Information Systems.- 29 Management of a Lichen Herbarium.- 30 Documentation of Lichens by Macrophotography.- 31 Computer-Aided Identification Systems for Biology, with Particular Reference to Lichens.- 32 On-line Documentation of Lichen Biodiversity.