Journals, Monographs, Newsletter in Lichenology

Scientific Communication in Lichenology: Journals, Monographs, and Newsletters

The discipline of lichenology, as a specialized branch of mycology and botany, relies heavily on formal modes of scientific communication to disseminate research findings, revise taxonomic frameworks, update nomenclatural changes, and foster community engagement. These communications occur across a spectrum of publication types, each serving distinct academic and practical functions. The primary categories include peer-reviewed journals, scientific monographs, and newsletters, each contributing uniquely to the advancement of lichenological knowledge.

1. Peer-Reviewed Journals in Lichenology

Scientific journals are the principal vehicles for publishing original research, reviews, and methodological developments in lichenology. They undergo rigorous peer review and typically appear in regular intervals (quarterly, biannually, etc.). Journals may be fully dedicated to lichenology or broader in scope, encompassing cryptogamic botany, mycology, or systematic biology. They are essential for taxonomic revisions, ecological studies, molecular phylogenetics, biogeographic analyses, and conservation assessments.

a. Specialized Lichenological Journals

These journals are dedicated entirely to lichens and often publish nomenclatural novelties, taxonomic keys, and floristic surveys.

• The Lichenologist (British Lichen Society, Cambridge University Press)
  
  

• Herzogia (Bryologische und Lichenologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mitteleuropa)
  
  

• Graphis Scripta (Nordic Lichen Society)
  
  

b. Cryptogamic and Mycological Journals

Although broader in scope, these journals frequently publish lichen-related research.

• Mycologia
  
  

• Cryptogamie, Mycologie
  
  

• Fungal Diversity
  
  

• Botanica Marina (for marine lichens)
  
  

• Bryologist (especially for North American lichen studies)
  
  

2. Monographs and Floras

Scientific monographs represent comprehensive treatments of a taxonomic group (genus, family, or region) or a subject area in lichenology. Unlike journals, monographs are typically standalone volumes and may appear as part of institutional series or special publications. They provide in-depth morphological descriptions, identification keys, distributional data, illustrations, and often include molecular phylogenies in modern contexts.

a. Taxonomic Monographs

These works offer revisions of entire genera or families, often with global or continental scope.

• Monograph of the Genus Lecanora (Hertel, 1983)
  
  

• Revision of the Lichens of the Family Parmeliaceae (Elix and Hale)
  
  

b. Regional Floras

These are critical for biodiversity inventories and conservation planning within defined biogeographic units.

• Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region (Nash et al.)
  
  

• Lichens of North America (Brodo et al.)
  
  

• Lichen Flora of the British Isles (Purvis et al.)
  
  

3. Newsletters and Informal Publications

Newsletters play a vital role in maintaining communication within the lichenological community. While typically not peer-reviewed or formally cited in taxonomic nomenclature, they are indispensable for sharing updates on ongoing research, conference announcements, obituaries, regional surveys, and community news. They often include preliminary reports, field excursion findings, and identification notes that may later lead to formal publications.

a. International and National Newsletters

• International Association for Lichenology (IAL) Newsletter
  
  

• British Lichen Society Bulletin
  
  

• Nordic Lichen Society Newsletter
  
  

• Australasian Lichenological Newsletter
  
  

b. Institutional and Regional Bulletins

• Opuscula Philolichenum (independent but scholarly; often includes species descriptions)
  
  

• Bibliotheca Lichenologica (a hybrid format, combining monographic and newsletter content)
  
  

• Acta Botanica Fennica (historically published numerous lichen papers from Finland and the Baltic)
  
  

Each publication format—journals, monographs, and newsletters—plays a crucial and complementary role in lichenology. Journals remain the core medium for publishing novel scientific results, monographs provide depth and taxonomic synthesis, while newsletters foster connectivity, inclusivity, and knowledge exchange among professional and amateur lichenologists. Together, they form the backbone of scholarly communication in the field, supporting the continuous evolution of lichen taxonomy, systematics, and applied research.