High diversity of Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) in Amazonian Peru

A survey of crustose microlichens at Los Amigos Biological Station in Amazonian Peru revealed 116 species of Graphidaceae at this site. This is the second highest number of Graphidaceae ever reported for a single site world-wide, after the Surumoni crane station in Venezuela, with 131 species, and followed by Fakahatchee Strand Park Preserve in Florida, with 111 species. Based on the number of Graphidaceae found at Los Amigos, we predict the total lichen species richness at this site to be approximately 700 species. Of the 116 species encountered at Los Amigos, 59 were graphidoid species (former Graphidaceae s.str.) and 67 thelotremoid species (former Thelotremataceae). The following 18 species are described as new: Ampliotrema sorediatum Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Chapsa hypoconstictica Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Chapsa scabiocarpa Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Chapsa subsorediata Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Diorygma nigricans Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Fissurina flavomedullosa Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Fissurina platythecioides Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Graphis apertoinspersa Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Graphis pitmanii Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Leucodecton inspersum Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia cicra Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia fenestrata Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia microsorediata Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia natashae Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia plicata Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia protoinspersa Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, Ocellularia pustulata Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova, and Thelotrema amazonicum Rivas Plata & Lucking, spec. nova.