Contributions to the Bulgarian lichenicolous mycota - an annotated checklist and new records

An annotated checklist of 45 taxa of lichenicolous fungi from Bulgaria is presented. Arthonia parietinaria, Athelia arachnoidea, Cercidospora caudata, C. epipolytropa, Didymocyrtis cladoniicola, Endococcus verrucosus, Illosporiopsis christiansenii, Lichenoconium erodens, L. lecanorae, Pronectria subimperspicua, Pyrenochaeta xan-thoriae and Stigmidium tabacinae are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. To assess the expected diversity of lichenicolous fungi in Bulgaria, we applied a Lichenicolous Index (LI) to compare with other regions with better knowledge about lichenicolous mycota. At the current stage of the known number of lichens in Bulgaria we expect between 225 and 315 lichenicolous fungi for the country.

Automated summary

This study presents an annotated checklist of 45 taxa of lichenicolous fungi from Bulgaria, with some species reported for the first time in the country. By comparing with other regions, it is estimated that Bulgaria may have between 225 and 315 lichenicolous fungi based on the known number of lichens in the country.