Klaus Kalb

Klaus Kalb (born 1942) is a German lichenologist and an authority on tropical lichens.

Biography


Klaus Kalb was born in Nuremberg in 1942 and grew up in southern Bavaria. From 1960 to 1965 he studied biology, chemistry, and geography at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg. Kalb was greatly interested in lichens and decided to pursue a doctoral degree; his thesis work was about lichen communities in the Ötztal Alps. From 1978 to 1981, he was a teacher at the Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro in São Paulo, Brazil. This position afforded him the opportunity to initiate research into tropical lichens. Kalb earned his habilitation from the University of Regensburg in 1989, becoming an associate professor with that institution. He is editing the exsiccata series Lichenes Neotropici, starting with 2017 together with André Aptroot.

In 2014, the University of Wisconsin herbarium purchased Kalb's lichen collection of 60,000 specimens for $75,000. With the acquisition of Kalb's collection, rich in tropical and European specimens, the herbarium houses about 70% of the world's known lichen taxa.

Recognition
In 2007, on the occasion of his retirement, Kalb was honoured with a Festschrift, featuring 24 scientific papers written by 51 authors. The Festschrift included a publication list, a list of taxa described by him and of taxa named after him.

Eponyms
Four lichen genera have been named in honour of Kalb: Kalbiana Henssen (1988); Kalbographa Lücking (2007); Kalbionora Sodamuk, S.D.Leav. & Lumbsch (2017); and Klauskalbia S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös, E.Farkas & Hur (2021).

Many species have also been named to honour Kalb. These include: Acanthothecis kalbii Dal-Forno & Eliasaro (2009); Acanthotrema kalbii Lücking (2012); Astrochapsa kalbii Poengs., Lücking & Lumbsch (2014); Byssoloma kalbii Sérus. (1996) Caloplaca kalbiorum S.Y.Kondr. & Kärnefelt (2007); Chaenothecopsis kalbii Tibell & K.Ryman (1995) Chapsa kalbii Frisch (2006); Cladina kalbii Ahti (2000); Coenogonium kalbii Aptroot, Lücking & L.Umaña (2006); Compsocladium kalbii Frisch (2007); Enterographa kalbii Sparrius (2004); Gyalideopsis kalbii Vězda (1983); Heterodermia kalbii M.F.N.Martins & Marcelli (2007);  Hypotrachyna kalbii Elix, T.H.Nash & Sipman (2009); Hypotrachyna klauskalbii A.Fletcher ex Sipman, Elix & T.H.Nash (2009);  Lecanora kalbiana Lumbsch (1996); Lecanora klauskalbii Sipman (2007); Lecidea kalbii Hertel (1984); Leptogium kalbii Marcelli & I.P.R.Cunha (2007); Megalospora kalbii Sipman (1983); Musaespora kalbii Lücking & Sérus. (1996); Ocellularia kalbii Mangold, Elix & Lumbsch (2007); Opegrapha blakii Ertz & Diederich (2004); Opegrapha kalbii Matzer (1996); Pertusaria kalbii A.W.Archer & Messuti (1998); Phaeographis kalbii Staiger (2002); Phyllopsora kalbii Brako (1991); Physcia kalbii Moberg (1990); Piccolia kalbii Van den Broeck & Ertz (2013); Pseudocyphellaria kalbi D.J.Galloway (1993); Pseudoparmelia kalbiana Elix & T.H.Nash (1998);  Rinodina kalbii Giralt & Matzer (1994); Roselliniella kalbii Hafellner (1985); Trichothelium kalbii Lücking (2004); Usnea kalbiana A.Gerlach & P.Clerc (2017); Xanthoparmelia kalbii Hale (1984);  Xanthoparmelia klauskalbii Elix (2007); Xanthoparmelia neokalbii T.H.Nash & Elix (1995); and Lecanora kalbii Bungartz & Elix (2020).

Selected publications
As of 2012, Kalb had about 120 scientific publications, particularly on tropical lichens. Some of his major works include: