Jan Eric Ingvar Kärnefelt (born 1944) is a Swedish lichenologist.
Early life and education
Kärnefelt was born in
Gothenburg
Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
, Sweden in 1944. His initial goal in his higher-level studies at
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne () is a university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1388. It closed in 1798 before being re-established in 1919. It is now one of the largest universities in Germany with around 45,187 students. The Universit ...
in 1966–1967 was to become a dentist. He changed courses in 1968, turning instead to biology at the
University of Gothenburg
The University of Gothenburg () is a List of universities in Sweden, university in Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg. Founded in 1891, the university is the third-oldest of the current List of universities in Sweden#Public universities, S ...
in 1968.
Gunnar Degelius
Gunnar Bror Fritiof Degelius (né Nilsson until 1932; 27 January 1903 – 22 July 1993) was a Swedish lichenologist. Between the publications of his first and final scientific papers, Degelius had a 70-year-long research career. While he was b ...
, his first teacher during undergraduate studies in botany in 1968, inspired him and others. After Degelius' retirement in 1969, Ingvar continued his studies at
Lund University
Lund University () is a Public university, public research university in Sweden and one of Northern Europe's oldest universities. The university is located in the city of Lund in the Swedish province of Scania. The university was officially foun ...
systematic botany
''Systematic Botany'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering the study of systematic botany. It is published quarterly by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. According to the ''Journal Citation Reports'', the journal has a 2010 i ...
. In 1971 he met Ove Almborn, who became his supervisor. In 1979, he defended his thesis titled "The brown fruticose species of ''Cetraria''". The thesis was later awarded a prize for the best
doctoral dissertation
A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...
in botany at Lund University during a 5-year period by the
Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund (), is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in Lund, on December 2, 1772, and received a Royal Charter by Gustav III, on March 6, 1778.
Career
Kärnefelt became
associate professor
Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''.
In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a position ...
at the Department of Systematic Botany at the University of Lund, where he mentored several PhD students.
Kärnefelt's research interests include the
Parmeliaceae
The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 82 ...
and the
Teloschistaceae
The Teloschistaceae are a large family (biology), family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class (taxonomy), class Lecanoromycetes in the division (botany), division Ascomycota. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, althoug ...
, both
families
Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
in which he described several taxa new to science. In 1987 he started a project regarding the status of
threatened
A threatened species is any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which is vulnerable to extinction in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensatio ...
lichens in southern Sweden. This project, which was extended until 1995, provided funding for his PhD students and resulted in the publication of a highly cited book in 1997. Kärnefelt became director of the Botanical Museum in 1994, and Professor in 2000. Following a reorganization in the Faculty of Science he also became director of the Biological Museum in 2001. He was able to secure funding from the to support digitization and curation of collections in Swedish biological museums.
Kärnefelt was the president of the
International Association for Lichenology
The International Association for Lichenology (IAL) is an organisation that encourages the understanding of lichens and lichenology, and promotes their study and conservation worldwide. It unites lichenologists across the globe, as well as nation ...
from 1992 to 1996, and later elected Honorary President of this association for life. In the period 1997–2005 he was the
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...
for the journal of the Nordic Lichen Society, ''Graphis Scripta'', and has been on the editorial board of the ''
Nordic Journal of Botany
The ''Nordic Journal of Botany'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of botany, including the plant ecology, taxonomy, evolution, conservation, and biogeography of plants, algae, bryophytes, and fungi. It originated from four botanical j ...
'' since 2001.
Recognition
He had an entire issue of '' The Lichenologist'' (volume 41, issue 5, 2009) dedicated to him, with articles written by former students. He is a member of Royal Physiographic Society in Lund.
Eponymy
Four
genera
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...
Close to 300 in Lund University publications, including scientific publications, popular publications, reviews, biographies and newspaper articles.
Selected publications
Kärnefelt, I. 1979. The brown fruticose species of ''Cetraria''. ''Opera Botanica'' 46: 1-150.
Kärnefelt, I. 1986. The genera ''Bryocaulon'', ''Coelocaulon'' and ''Cornicularia'' and formerly associated taxa. ''Opera Botanica'' 86: 1-90.
Kärnefelt, I. 1989. Morphology and phylogeny in the Teloschistales. ''Cryptogamic Botany'' 1: 147-203.
Kärnefelt, I., Mattsson, J.-E. & Thell, A. 1992. Evolution and phylogeny of cetrarioid lichens. ''Plant Systematic and Evolution'' 183: 113-160.
Wang, T., Bengtsson, G., Kärnefelt, I. & Björn, L. O. 2001. Provitamins and vitamins D2 and D3 in Cladina spp. Over a latitudinal gradient: possible correlation with UV levels. Journal of Photochemistry and photobiology 62: 118-122.
Thell, A. Feuerer, T., Kärnefelt, I., Myllys, L. & Stenroos, S. 2004. Monophyletic groups within the Parmeliaceae identified by ITS rDNA, betatubulin and GAPDH sequences. ''Mycological Progress'' 3: 297-314.
Thell, A., Westberg, M. & Kärnefelt, I. 2004. Biogeography of the lichen family Parmeliaceae in the Nordic countries with taxonomic remarks. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ''Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses'' 34: 429-452.
Kärnefelt, I. & Thell, A. 2007. Erik Acharius and his times. In: Kärnefelt, I. & Thell, A (eds): Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 95. J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, pp. 63-74.
Kärnefelt, I. & Thell, A. 2007. International Association for Lichenology: the early years. In: Kärnefelt, I. & Thell, A (eds): Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 95. J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, pp. 75-100.
Kondratyuk, S. Y., Kärnefelt, I., Elix, J. A. & Thell, A. 2009. Contributions to the Teloschistaceae with particular reference to the Southern Hemisphere. In: Thell, A., Seaward, M. R. D. & Feuerer, T. (eds). Diversity of Lichenology - anniversary volume. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 100. J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, pp. 211-290.
Kärnefelt, I. 2009. Fifty influential lichenologists. In: Thell, A., Seaward, M. R. D. & Feuerer, T. (eds). Diversity of Lichenology - anniversary volume. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 100. J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, pp. 291-380.
Kärnefelt, I. 2009. Charles Darwin - äventyr, dramatik, framgång, liv och död. ''Fauna & Flora'' 104: 2-14.
Kärnefelt, I., Scholz, P., Seaward, M. R. D. & Thell, A. 2012. Lichenology in Germany: past, present and future. In ''Schlechtendalia'' 23. p.1-90.
Kärnefelt, I.; Seaward, M. R. D. & Thell, A. 2012. Systematics, biodiversity and ecology of Lichens. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 108, J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, 290 pp.
Thell, A., Crespo, A., Divakar, P. K., Kärnefelt, I., Leavitt, S. D., Lumbsch, H. T. & Seaward, M. R. D. 2012. A review of the lichen family Parmeliaceae - history, phylogeny and current taxonomy. Nordic Journal of Botany. 30, 6, s. 641-664.
Kondratyuk, S., Tuija, A., Kärnefelt, I., & Thell, A. 2023. Lichenicolous fungi of southern Scandinavia with particular reference to those associated with ''Xanthoria calcicola'' s. lat. In ''Folia Cryptogamica Estonica'' 60, pp. 129-136.
Books
Kärnefelt, I. & Thell, A. (eds). 2007. Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 95. J. Cramer, Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin & Stuttgart, 603 pp.
Hafellner, J., Kärnefelt, I. & Wirth, V. (eds) 2010. Diversity and ecology of lichens in polar and mountain ecosystems. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 104. J. Cramer, Gebrüder Borntraeger, Stuttgart, 389 pp.
Kärnefelt, I.; Seaward, M. R. D. & Thell, A. (eds) 2012. Systematics, biodiversity and ecology of Lichens. ''Bibliotheca Lichenologica'' 108, J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart, 290 pp.
Björn, L O. , Shevela, D. & Kärnefelt, I. 2020. ''Växtvärldens uppkomst och utveckling''. Lunds Botaniska Förening, Mixi Print, Olofström, 196 sidor.