Contribution to the lichen flora of Erzi Nature Reserve, Republic of Ingushetia, North Caucasus, Russia

Abstract: As a result of lichenological exploration of the Erzi Nature Reserve in the Republic of Ingushetia, North Caucasus, Russia, we report 266 species of lichenized fungi, 13 of lichenicolous fungi and seven of non-lichenized saprophytic fungi, representing 115 genera. Twenty-three species are recorded for the first time for North Caucasus, of which 16 are new for the Caucasus and ten are new for Russia (Arthonia protoparmeliopseos, Aspicilia viridescens, Buellia abstracta, Lecidella viridans, Micarea soralifera, Rinodina straussii, R. tunicata, R. zwackhiana, Schizoxylon alboatrum and Verrucaria fuscoatroides). Of the 16 species new for the Caucasus, seven are recorded for the first time for Asia (Buellia abstracta, Micarea nigella, M. soralifera, Ramonia chrysophaea, Rinodina tunicata, Schizoxylon alboatrum and Verrucaria elevata). In addition, two taxa listed in the Red Data Book of Russia are recorded: Leptogium burnetiae and Usnea florida. Citation: Urbanavichus G. P. & Urbanavichene I. N. 2017: Contribution to the lichen flora of Erzi Nature Reserve, Republic of Ingushetia, North Caucasus, Russia. — Willdenowia 47: 227–236. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.47.47306 Version of record first published online on 9 November 2017 ahead of inclusion in December 2017 issue.


Introduction
The caucasus is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots (Krever & al. 2001) and one of the most diverse regions of russia (Geltman & al. 1998). in contrast to the relatively well-studied lichen flora of the W caucasus, its c and e parts (including the republic of ingushetia) are still poorly explored. in north caucasus, seven nature reserves include the most important natural ecosystems with great biological diversity and natural features of exceptional scientific interest. The lichen flora of six of these has been studied (Urbanavichus & Urbanavichene 2004, 2015Urbanavichus & al. 2010); only the erzi nature reserve remains to be studied. The present study aims at improving our knowledge of the reserve's lichen flora and, together with other recent contributions on caucasian lichens, to serve as an official documentation of newly discovered/reported species for the region and for russia.

Research area
The erzi nature reserve (Kotiev & al. 2015) covers an area of 35,292 ha and is located on the n slope of the Greater caucasus in the sunhza and dzheirakh districts of the republic of ingushetia, c. 35 km s of Magas city (Fig. 1). in russia the reserve is bordered by the republic of northern Ossetia (severnaya Osetiya) and the republic of chechnya along the main caucasian 228 Urbanavichus & Urbanavichene: Lichen flora of erzi nature reserve ridge, with the republic of Georgia to the south. The altitude ranges from 850 to 3031 m (the highest peak Mt Khakhal gi). The landscape features mountain range spurs over deep river valleys, steep s slopes and gently sloping n slopes. rivers in the reserve include the assa and armkhi, which feed into the Terek river. The outcropping rocks are predominantly of shales and sandstones of Miocene age; Jurassic calcareous rock formations are rare. about onethird of the reserve is forested, mostly on the lower n slopes. The forests are mostly oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and birchpine (Betula pendula roth., Pinus kochiana Klotzsch ex K. Koch) communities. Underbrush at the mid-level includes sea buckthorn (Hip pophae rhamnoides L.), willow (Salix caprea L.), grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) and in some places extensive hazel (Corylus avellana L.). approaching the sub-alpine zone the brush features caucasian rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum Pall.). above 2000 m, but below the alpine zone at 2500 m, is a belt of mountain forest-steppe: wheatgrass-wormwood-cereal xerophytic steppes on shallow meadow soils. although the reserve is rather small, it supports about 18 % (c. 1100 species) of the caucasian flora. The climate of erzi is characterised by long, cold winters, and short, cool summers. The average number of days of precipitation per year is 113. The average temperature is −1.4°c in January and 26.4°c in July. The average annual precipitation ranges from 350 -400 mm below 1200 m altitude to 500 -600 mm above 2000 m. Over 160 historical and cultural sites (martial towers, temples, necropolis tracts, sacred groves, and structures from ancient, medieval and later periods) are also protected by the reserve.

Material and methods
The lichen specimens were collected in the following seven localities: Our results are based on investigations from the field trips made between 29 June and 6 July 2016. air-dried samples were examined using a stereo microscope, a light microscope and the usual spot tests with standard identification methods for lichenized and lichenicolous fungi; thin layer chromatography (TLc) was undertaken where necessary (Orange & al. 2001). a bullet "•" marks the analysed specimens. remarkable species and species difficult to identify in the field were collected. common macrolichens and some crustose lichens were not collected in the field, only registered in each locality. The specimens are kept in the herbarium of the Komarov botanical institute, st. Petersburg (Le), and in the private herbarium of G. Urbanavichus ("herb. Urbanav."). all taxa listed here were collected by the authors. For nomenclatural aspects, mainly hafellner & Türk (2016) and Lawrey & diederich (2016) were followed, except for some of the Teloschistaceae taxa.

Checklist of taxa
symbols used before a species name are as follows: # = lichenicolous fungi; + = non-lichenized fungi; * = new for russia; † = new for the caucasus; ‡ = new for north caucasus (i.e. not new for the whole caucasus); ! = new for asia; and after species name "•" = analysed specimens (see Material and methods).
species names are cited with their authorship. They are followed by locality numbers (loc. 1 -7, see Material and methods) and, in parentheses under each locality, collection numbers (e.g. IU ER16/1009) and the herbarium (Le or herb. Urbanav.). collection numbers of the first author are preceded by GU and those of the second author by IU.
For certain species, additional comments are provided.