Additions to lichen flora of Mordovskii reserve, Republic of Mordovia, and Middle Russia

Mordovskii Reserve is one of the most valuable woodland localities in the Middle Russia. Although the first lichen records on Mordovskii Reserve date back to the 1937-1938, the first list was published only in 1960, and the study of the Reserve’s lichen flora was rather poor. The second list of 2004 contains only 136 taxa, therefore, in 2013-2015 the authors explored virgin forests of Mordovskii Reserve. Results of the conducted lichen study are presented in the article. As a result of the research, 43 taxa were recorded in the Reserve for the first time. 39 species are new to the Republic of Mordovia. Six species: Briancoppinsia cytospora (Vouaux) Diederich, Ertz, Lawrey et van den Boom, Bryobilimbia sanguineoatra (Wulfen) Fryday, Printzen et S. Ekman, Epicladonia sandstedei (Zopf) D. Hawksw., Lecania croatica (Zahlbr.) Kotlov, Lichenodiplis lichenicola Dyko et D. Hawksw. and Pyrenochaeta xanthoriae Diederich are new to the Middle Russia. Therefore, Mordovskii Nature Reserve accounts for 340 species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi and is currently characterized by the highest diversity of flora when compared to other protected areas of the Middle Russia. Thus, this Reserve can play an important role as a key territory for further dissemination of rare lichen species onto the territories of cross-border regions.