Markus Osaland Fjelde

• Timdal, Einar; Evankow, Ann; Opedal, Vemund Rudlang & Fjelde, Markus Osaland (2024). Lecania lepidota, a new lichen species from pollarded Fraxinus excelsior in oceanic, old-growth deciduous forests in Norway. Graphis Scripta. ISSN 0901-7593. 36(1), p. 1–14. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The new lichen species Lecania lepidota is described from two localities in oceanic, old-growth, deciduous forests (boreo-nemoral rainforest) in SW Norway, growing near the base of pollarded Fraxinus excelsior. The generic placement is uncertain, as the ITS marker differs significantly from all other available ITS sequences and the mtSSU marker indicates sister relationship with Lecania croatica, a species of uncertain position in the Ramalinaceae. The species is morphologically most similar to Phyllopsora rosei, but differs, e.g., in having a negative PD reaction due to the lack of lichen substances.

• Fjelde, Markus Osaland; Timdal, Einar; Haugan, Reidar & Bendiksby, Mika (2023). Paraphyly and cryptic diversity unveils unexpected challenges in the “naked lichens” (Calvitimela, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. ISSN 1055-7903. 190. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107944. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Molecular phylogenetics has revolutionized the taxonomy of crustose lichens and revealed an extensive amount of cryptic diversity. Resolving the relationships between genera in the crustose lichen family Tephromelataceae has proven difficult and the taxon limits within the genus Calvitimela are only partly understood. In this study, we tested the monophyly of Calvitimela and investigated phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomic levels using an integrative taxonomic approach. We performed a global sampling of all species currently assigned to Calvitimela and conducted additional sampling of C. melaleuca sensu lato across Norway. We included 108 specimens and produced more than 300 sequences from five different loci (ITS, LSU, MCM7, mtSSU, TEF1-α). We inferred phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence times in Calvitimela. Moreover, we analyzed chemical and morphological characters to test their diagnostic values in the genus. Our molecular phylogenetic results show evolutionarily old and deeply divergent lineages in Calvitimela. The morphological characters are overlapping between divergent subgenera within this genus. Chemical characters, however, are largely informative at the level of subgenera, but are often homoplastic at the species level. The subgenus Calvitimela is found to include four distinct genetic lineages. Detailed morphological examinations of C. melaleuca s. lat. reveal differences between taxa previously assumed to be morphologically cryptic. Furthermore, young evolutionary ages and signs of gene tree discordance indicate a recent divergence and possibly incomplete lineage sorting in the subgenus Calvitimela. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological observations revealed that C. austrochilensis and C. uniseptata are extraneous to Calvitimela (Tephromelataceae). We also found molecular evidence supporting C. septentrionalis being sister to C. cuprea. In the subgenus Severidea, one new grouping is recovered as a highly supported sister to C. aglaea. Lastly, two fertile specimens were found to be phylogenetically nested within the sorediate species C. cuprea. We discuss the need for an updated classification of Calvitimela and the evolution of cryptic species. Through generic circumscription and species delimitation we propose a practical taxonomy of Calvitimela.

• Andreasen, Mathias; Möller, Erik & Fjelde, Markus (2021). Neozygites sminthuri (Entomophthoromycota, Neozygitales) a fungal pathogen on springtails new to Norway. AGARICA. ISSN 0800-1820. 42, p. 133–138. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  During a field trip outside of Oslo, a springtail of the family Isotomidae was collected and microscopically investigated. We found the specimen to be infected with the fungal species Neozygites sminthuri (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae). The species is new to Norway and is rarely investigated internationally. Also, it has not been registered on a host species of this family of springtails earlier. The collection is presented with photos and notes on its anatomy, ecology and occurrence in Scandinavia. ntomophthoromycota, Neozygitales, Neozygites, Entomopathogenic fungi, fungi on Collembola

• Fjelde, Markus; Melechin, Alexey & Timdal, Einar (2020). Calvitimela talayana new to Fennoscandia. Graphis Scripta. ISSN 0901-7593. 32(5), p. 101–109. Full text in Research Archive

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• Ronold, Eivind Kverme; Maurice, Sundy; Torp, Vilde Åvesland; Kostich-Nilsen, Celina Alexandria; Methlie, Ine-Susanne Hopland & Schmidt, Frida [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2024). USING eDNA TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF CLEAR-CUTTING FORESTRY ON FUNGAL DIVERSITY IN BOREAL SPRUCE FORESTS. Full text in Research Archive
• Fjelde, Markus Osaland (2022). Omringet av sopp. argument. ISSN 1504-6087. 16(2), p. 28–31. Full text in Research Archive
• Vagle, Johannes Nysveen; Asplund, Johan & Fjelde, Markus Osaland (2024). Lichen chemical traits influence palatability and can mediate the impact of lichenivores on nutrient cycling. Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Lichen functional traits are known to regulate trophic interactions and biogeochemical processes. Consumption of lichens by lichenivorous macrofauna is thought to contribute significantly to the disappearance of lichen litter, and as such lichenivores convert a large amount of lichen biomass into faeces. However, precisely how this conversion influences decomposition rates and nutrient release from lichens remains unknown. In this thesis, I tested the effect of lichen litter conversion into faeces on decomposition, and investigated the relationship between lichen functional traits, palatability and decomposition. I conducted a no-choice feeding bioassay with the generalist snail Cepaea hortensis on 12 lichen species with natural (control) and reduced (acetone rinsed) concentrations of secondary compounds. I performed a standardized decomposition experiment on both control and acetone rinsed groups of intact lichen thalli as well as faeces produced during grazing by C. hortensis. I measured morphological traits of lichen thalli and chemical traits of lichen thalli and snail faeces to test their effects on palatability and decomposition. Of the measured traits, palatability was significantly correlated only with concentrations of secondary compounds while decomposition rate was predominantly associated with C:N ratio. Given these results, I here show that palatability and decomposition of lichen are driven by different chemical traits and that the effect of lichenivore conversion of lichen litter into faeces on nutrient cycling depends on initial litter quality.

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