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The nomenclature and taxonomy of Acarospora molybdina is revised using morphological and molecular data. The new combination Myriospora molybdina is proposed and Acarospora hysgina is recognized as a distinct species while A. brunneola is reduced to synonymy with A. hysgina. In its new circumscription M. molybdina is an arctic species, in Scandinavia only occurring in northernmost Norway. Further localities are reported from Greenland, Russia, Svalbard and the USA (Alaska). Acarospora hysgina is the correct name for a species distributed along the west coast of Sweden and Norway, formerly thought to belong to A. molybdina. Localities are also reported from Canada (New Brunswick), Greenland and the USA (Maine). The following names are lectotypified: Acarospora brunneola, A.molybdina var. confusa, Lecanoraereutica β microcyclos, Parmelia ereutica, P. hysgina and P. molybdina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new genus Australidea Kantvilas, Wedin & M. Svensson is described to accommodate Lecidea canorufescens Kremp., a widespread lichen in temperate Australasia. It is characterized by a crustose thallus with a green photobiont, reddish brown, biatorine apothecia with an internally hyaline, cupulate proper exciple constructed of branched and anastomosing hyphae, mainly simple paraphyses, 8-spored, Porpidia-type asci and simple, hyaline, non-halonate ascospores. A phylogenetic analysis places the new genus in the family Malmideaceae. Lecidea canorufescens Kremp., L. glandulosa C. Knight, L. immarginata R. Br. ex Cromb. and L. intervertens Nyl. are lectotypified. These names, plus L. dacrydii Müll. Arg. and L. eucheila Zahlbr., are all synonyms of Australidea canorufescens (Kremp.) Kantvilas, Wedin & M. Svensson comb. nov. Several genera superficially similar to Australidea, including Malcolmiella Vĕzda, Malmidea Kalb et al. and Myochroidea Printzen et al., are compared. A comprehensive anatomical and morphological description of the genus Malcolmiella, recorded for Tasmania for the first time, is also provided. The new combination M. interversa (Nyl.) Kantvilas, Wedin & M. Svensson is introduced and the names M. cinereovirens Vĕzda and M. cinereovirens var. isidiata Vĕzda are reduced to synonyms. The systematic position of this genus remains unclear, although phylogenetic analysis suggests its affinities lie with a group of genera that includes Bryobilimbia Fryday et al., Romjularia Timdal and Clauzadea Hafellner & Bellem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tremella caloplacae s. l. is a species complex comprising six putative species. • Host-shift speciation is predominant in the evolutionary history of T. caloplacae. • Dating analyses link T. caloplacae speciation to their hosts' adaptive radiation. Lichenicolous fungi are a heterogeneous group of organisms that grow exclusively on lichens, forming obligate associations with them. It has often been assumed that cospeciation has occurred between lichens and lichenicolous fungi, but this has been seldom analysed from a macroevolutionary perspective. Many lichenicolous species are rare or are rarely observed, which results in frequent and large gaps in the knowledge of the diversity of many groups. This, in turn, hampers evolutionary studies that necessarily are based on a reasonable knowledge of this diversity. Tremella caloplacae is a heterobasidiomycete growing on various hosts from the lichen-forming family Teloschistaceae, and evidence suggests that it may represent a species complex. We combine an exhaustive sampling with molecular and ecological data to study species delimitation, cophylogenetic events and temporal concordance of this association. Tremella caloplacae is here shown to include at least six distinct host-specific lineages (=putative species). Host switch is the dominant and most plausible event influencing diversification and explaining the coupled evolutionary history in this system, although cospeciation cannot be discarded. Speciation in T. caloplacae would therefore have occurred coinciding with the rapid diversification – by an adaptive radiation starting in the late Cretaceous – of their hosts. New species in T. caloplacae would have developed as a result of specialization on diversifying lichen hosts that suddenly offered abundant new ecological niches to explore or adapt to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichens are obligate symbioses between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. Most lichens resynthesize their symbiotic thalli from propagules, but some develop within the structures of already existing lichen symbioses. D iploschistes muscorum starts as a parasite infecting the lichen C ladonia symphycarpa and gradually develops an independent D iploschistes lichen thallus. Here we studied how this process influences lichen-associated microbiomes and photobionts by sampling four transitional stages, at sites in Sweden and Germany, and characterizing their microbial communities using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene and photobiont-specific ITS rDNA sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. A gradual microbiome shift occurred during the transition, but fractions of C ladonia-associated bacteria were retained during the process of symbiotic reorganization. Consistent changes observed across sites included a notable decrease in the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria with a concomitant increase in Betaproteobacteria. Armatimonadia, Spartobacteria and Acidobacteria also decreased during the infection of C ladonia by D iploschistes. The lichens differed in photobiont specificity. C ladonia symphycarpa was associated with the same algal species at all sites, but D iploschistes muscorum had a flexible strategy with different photobiont combinations at each site. This symbiotic invasion system suggests that partners can be reorganized and selected for maintaining potential roles rather than depending on particular species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyanolichen genus Epiphloea is currently included within the Heppiaceae (Lichinomycetes) based on ascus characteristics. The presumed presence of a prototunicate ascus has been used as support for this classification, despite the incongruence with other characters (e.g. spores). Here, we use a molecular phylogeny of the two markers mtSSU rDNA and Mcm7 to investigate the position of Epiphloea. In addition, we have re-investigated the ascus characteristics. Our results place the two species, Epiphloea byssina and E. terrena, within the Collemataceae, nested in Leptogium s. str. The ascus type in both species is shown to be Lecanoralean and similar to the ascus in other Collemataceae, with a strongly amyloid tube-like structure. This observation supports the placement within Lecanoromycetes and refutes the earlier suggested affinities with Heppiaceae and Lichinomycetes. The correct names for these species are Leptogium byssinum and Leptogium terrenum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We estimated phylogeny in the lichen-forming ascomycete family Pannariaceae. We specifically modelled spatial (across-site) heterogeneity in nucleotide frequencies, as models not incorporating this heterogeneity were found to be inadequate for our data. Model adequacy was measured here as the ability of the model to reconstruct nucleotide diversity per site in the original sequence data. A potential non-orthologue in the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of Degelia plumbea was observed. We propose a revised generic classification for the Pannariaceae, accepting 30 genera, based on our phylogeny, previously published phylogenies, as well as available morphological and chemical data. Four genera are established as new: Austroparmeliella (for the ‘Parmeliella’ lacerata group), Nebularia (for the ‘Parmeliella’ incrassata group), Nevesia (for ‘Fuscopannaria’ sampaiana), and Pectenia (for the ‘Degelia’ plumbea group). Two genera are reduced to synonymy, Moelleropsis (included in Fuscopannaria) and Santessoniella (non-monophyletic; type included in Psoroma). Lepidocollema, described as monotypic, is expanded to include 23 species, most of which have been treated in the ‘Parmeliella’ mariana group. Homothecium and Leightoniella, previously treated in the Collemataceae, are here referred to the Pannariaceae. We propose 41 new species-level combinations in the newly described and re-circumscribed genera mentioned above, as well as in Leciophysma and Psoroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing the dates for the origin and main diversification events in the phylogeny of Ascomycota is among the most crucial remaining goals in understanding the evolution of Fungi. There have been several analyses of divergence times in the fungal tree of life in the last two decades, but most have yielded contrasting results for the origin of the major lineages. Moreover, very few studies have provided temporal estimates for a large set of clades within Ascomycota. We performed molecular dating to estimate the divergence times of most of the major groups of Ascomycota. To account for paleontological uncertainty, we included alternative fossil constraints as different scenarios to enable a discussion of the effect of selection of fossils. We used data from 6 molecular markers and 121 extant taxa within Ascomycota. Our various ‘relaxed clock’ scenarios suggest that the origin and diversification of the Pezizomycotina occurred in the Cambrian. The main lineages of lichen–forming Ascomycota originated at least as early as the Carboniferous, with successive radiations in the Jurassic and Cretaceous generating the diversity of the main modern groups. Our study provides new information about the timing of the main diversification events in Ascomycota, including estimates for classes, orders and families of both lichenized and non–lichenized Ascomycota, many of which had not been previously dated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic placement of Collema fasciculare (L.) F. H. Wigg, the most deviating species within Collema (Collemataceae, Lecanoromycetidae), was studied using maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of three molecular loci (mitochondrial SSU rDNA, and the protein-coding, nuclear RPB1 and MCM7 genes). Collema fasciculare belongs to Arctomiaceae (Ostropomycetidae) forming a strongly supported monophyletic group with members of Arctomia. The spores, paraphyses, asci and hymenial reactions in Collema fasciculare are similar to other Arctomia, but the ascoma ontogeny is somewhat different. Also C. leptosporum Malme, another species in the Fasciculare group, shows similarities with Arctomia regarding spores and asci. Arctomia is morphologically heterogeneous and the genus is in need of revision. Until then, the species of the Fasciculare group fit best in Arctomia s. lat. and the combinations Arctomia fascicularis (L.) Otálora & Wedin, Arctomia leptospora (Malme) Otálora & Wedin, Arctomia papuanarum (Degel.) Otálora & Wedin and Arctomia uviformis (Hue) Otálora & Wedin are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently described genus Vahliella (Peltigerales, Ascomycetes) has repeatedly appeared outside the Pannariaceae in molecular phylogenies. Here we include data from additional species of the genus and utilize mtSSU rDNA and RPB1 sequences to confirm its placement as the sister to a group consisting of Lobariaceae, Massalongiaceae, Nephromataceae and Peltigeraceae, in the Peltigerales. The new family Vahliellaceae Wedin, P. M. Jørg. & S. Ekman is described for the genus, and its morphological characteristics are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many lichen fungi form symbioses with filamentous Nostoc cyanobacteria, which cause the lichen to swell and become extremely gelatinous when moist. Within the Lecanoromycetes, such gelatinous lichens are today mainly classified in the Collemataceae (Peltigerales, Ascomycota). We performed Bayesian MCMC, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses of three independent markers (mtSSU rDNA, nuLSU rDNA, and RPB1), to improve our understanding of the phylogeny and classification in the Peltigerales, as well as the evolution of morphological characters that have been used for classification purposes in this group. The Collemataceae and the non-gelatinous Pannariaceae are paraphyletic but can be re-circumscribed as monophyletic if Leciophysma, Physma, Ramalodium and Staurolemma are transferred to the Pannariaceae. The gelatinous taxa transferred to the Pannariaceae deviate from other Collemataceae in having simple ascospores, and several also have a ring-shaped exciple as in other Pannariaceae, rather than the disc-shaped exciple found in the typical Collemataceae. Both Collema and Leptogium are non-monophyletic. The re-circumscribed Collemataceae shares a distinct ascus type with the sister group Placynthiaceae and the Coccocarpiaceae, whereas Pannariaceae includes a variety of structures. All Pannariaceae have one-celled ascospores, whereas all Collemataceae have two- or multi-celled spores. Reconstructions of the number of character state transformations in exciple structure, thallus gelatinosity, and ascus apex structure indicate that the number of transformations is distinctly higher than the minimum possible. Most state transformations in the exciple took place from a ring-shaped to a disc-shaped exciple. Depending on the reconstruction method, most or all transformations in thallus structure took place from a non-gelatinous to a gelatinous thallus. Gains and losses of internal structures in the ascus apex account for all or a vast majority of the number of transformations in the ascus, whereas direct transformations between asci with internal structures appear to have been rare. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The crustose lichenized fungi in the Acarosporaceae are splendid examples of organisms managing to survive in extremely harsh environments, such as highly mineralized rocks and low-pH habitats. Some representatives of the Acarospora smaragdula complex are known to accumulate substantial amounts of potentially toxic metals including iron and copper, resulting in populations with highly divergent coloration and morphology. These populations have often been treated as distinct species by lichen taxonomists. Parsimony and parsimony jackknifing analyses of β-tubulin, nuclear ITS rDNA, and mtSSU rDNA sequence data sets was used to investigate the evolution of iron and copper accumulation and the production of the secondary compound norstictic acid in populations within the A. smaragdula species complex in Sweden, with additional samples mainly from Norway and the UK. Phylogenetic species recognition (concordance of single-gene phylogenies) was used to investigate species delimitations. Seven species are recognized in the complex. Atypically green, copper-accumulating samples, often given species rank, do not form a distinct group but are nested within A. smaragdula s. str., indicating that this ability is widespread in this species. Rust-coloured, iron-accumulating samples form two well supported separate groups, indicating that two morphologically distinct, obligate, iron-accumulating species are present, but facultatively iron-accumulating populations occur in at least one additional species. Norstictic acid, sometimes claimed to characterize the whole A. smaragdula complex, is only present in A. smaragdula s. str. The evolutionary significance of metal accumulation in Acarospora is discussed, as is the significance of our results for the application of phylogenetic species recognition/gene tree concordance-based species recognition, and DNA barcoding. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic and nomenclatural status of the common Scutula (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales, Ascomycota) parasitizing species of Solorina (Peltigeraceae, Lecanorales) is clarified. The type of Biatorina tuberculosa Th. Fr., which, according to the protologue, was described from a Peltigera, is -actually growing on Solorina saccata, and the correct name for this species is here shown to be Scutula tuberculosa (Th. Fr.) Rehm. Lectotypes are designated for Lecidea solorinaria Nyl., Scutula krempelhuberi Körb. and Lecidea solorinicola Vain. Notes on the taxonomy and classification of the genus are given, and a key to the species of Scutula s. str. in the Northern Hemisphere is presented. Scutula tuberculosa is reported as new to Asia and North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new fungus Cercidospora alpina is described from Sweden where it grows on the thallus of the crustose lichen Stereocaulon cumulatum. The ecology and distribution of the new species as well as its morphological similarities to related species are discussed. A key to the known species of Cercidospora occurring in Fennoscandia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation we utilized parsimony and Bayesian analyses of mtSSU and nuLSU rDNA sequence datasets to show that the lichenized ascomycete genera Leptochidium and Polychidium, (formerly classified in Placynthiaceae) form a well-supported monophyletic group with Massalongia (Peltigerales, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota). This group is also supported by morphological characteristics (ascus type, ascoma ontogeny and anatomy), but does not have a formal name on any level. We describe it here as the family Massalongiaceae. Massalongiaceae is related to a group consisting of Peltigeraceae-Nephromataceae, and Lobariaceae, but the detailed relationships within this group are not resolved with convincing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The closely related genera Carestiella, Schizoxylon and Stictis (Stictidaceae, Ostropales, Ascomycota) are revised in northern Scandinavia, and a revised phylogenetic hypothesis, including all seven species of this group in the area, is presented. A key to the species of Stictis s. lat. (including Carestiella, Schizoxylon and Stictis) in Northern Scandinavia is presented. S. albescens and S. confusum are described as new to science, and the new name S. brunnescens is introduced for S. mollis ssp. populorum, when treated as a distinct species. C. socia and S. albescens are the only representatives of their genera in northern Scandinavia, but a total of five species of Stictis are present in the area (S. brunnescens, S. confusum, S. mollis, S. populorum and S. radiata). Substantial within-species variation in ascoma morphology and wall pigmentation is revealed and discussed, and found to correlate with fungal lifestyles; optional lichenization apparently affects several details in fungal anatomy and morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The family Stictidaceae (Ostropales, Ascomycota) contains both lichenized and non-lichenized fungi. Here, we test if Conotrema (lichenized) and Stictis (non-lichenized) as currently delimited are distinct monophyletic genera, by parsimony and parsimony jackknifing analyses of combined nuclear rDNA (ITS and partial LSU rDNA) and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequence data matrices. The study includes four species of Stictis, three species of Conotrema, and representatives of the related Schizoxylon (lichenized), Odontotrema, Carestiella (at least sometimes associated with algae), Cryptodiscus and Thelotrema (lichenized). In all analyses, the Conotrema species were nested within Stictis with high support. Thus, we conclude that Conotrema are only lichenized representatives of Stictis. The type species of the two generic names, C. urceolatum and S. radiata, are sister taxa in our analyses. Furthermore, the analysis gave no support for the present infrageneric classification of Stictis. Carestiella socia (the type of Carestiella) and the two representatives of Schizoxylon studied were also nested within Stictis s. lat. The Odontotremataceae is the sister group to the Stictidaceae, and Cryptodiscus foveolaris groups with Thelotrema rather than with the Stictidaceae. We conclude that lichenization in the Stictidaceae does not characterize natural groups, and that Conotrema should be considered a synonym to Stictis, as predicted by anatomical characteristics. The new combinations Stictis urceolatum and Stictis populorum are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lichenization is one of the most important fungal lifestyles and lichen fungi are assumed to form obligate symbioses with their photobionts. Here we test if lichenized and non-lichenized samples in three cases of closely related lichenizedConotremaand saprotrophicStictis(Stictidaceae, Ostropales, Ascomycota) in northern Scandinavia, form distinct monophyletic groups (= species).• We applied phylogenetic species recognition, by analysing fungal DNA sequence data from four independent genomic markers.• Separate parsimony and parsimony jack-knifing analyses of three independent genes are congruent and result in intermixed groups of lichenized and saprotrophic specimens. The sequence variation in an intron also supports this. Our results suggest that all three cases represent independent fungal phylogenetic species, which can undergo their whole sexual lifecycle either as lichens or as saprotrophs.• The use of different nutritional modes– optional lichenization– allows separate individuals to exploit different niches during the forest succession. We suggest that this environmental plasticity may be common in the Stictidaceae, and propose that it is an overlooked strategy in fungi adapted to unpredictable successional ecosystems.New Phytologist(2004)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01198.x© New Phytologist(2004) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present major cladistic analyses of the Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota, Fungi) focusing on the Lecanorales suborder Peltigerineae, a group including the majority of the cyanobacterial lichens. DNA sequence datasets from the mtSSU and nLSU rDNA were produced and analyzed with maximum parsimony and parsimony jackknifing. The results suggest that the Lecanorales is monophyletic. The Peltigerineae (including Placynthiaceae, Peltigeraceae, Lobariaceae, Nephromataceae, Collemataceae, Coccocarpiaceae, Pannariaceae, and Massalongia) is likewise a monophyletic group. The Lobariaceae, and Lobaria in the traditional sense, are strongly supported as monophyletic, in contrast to results of other investigations based on nITS rDNA data. Pseudocyphellaria may be paraphyletic. Placynthiaceae is the sister group to the Collemataceae and Collema may be nested within Leptogium. Pannariaceae in the traditional sense is not a monophyletic group. Finally, the Lecanorineae is nonmonophyletic in all analyses, and the Cladoniineae and Teloschistineae are nested within the Lecanorineae in the combined analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Sphaerophorus globosus complex (Lecanorales, lichenized Ascomycota) shows a large morphological variation, and three relatively distinct morphotypes can be distinguished in parts of the distribution area. Here, we utilize a multigene-based maximum-parsimony approach (nITS + LSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, β-tubulin, and actin) to investigate whether these morphotypes constitute distinct species. The results show that there are at least two well-supported monophyletic groups that we interpret as phylogenetic species within the S. globosus complex. These species do not completely correspond to the predefined morphotypes. One group, an apparently undescribed species, contains noncoralloid specimens from the North American Pacific Northwest. The other group, S. globosus, consists of two well-supported monophyletic groups: one contains coralloid epiphytic specimens from the North American Pacific Northwest that are morphologically indistinguishable from epiphytic specimens from Europe and are presently interpreted as belonging to the same species and the other is morphologically variable and contains terrestrial specimens from Europe, North America, and southernmost South America and coralloid epiphytic and epilithic specimens from Europe. The results suggest that the population in southernmost South America originated by long-distance dispersal from arctic populations in the Northern Hemisphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract:The lichen genus Calycidium Stirt. (Calycidiaceae,Lecanorales , ‘Caliciales’ s. lat.) contains two species: C. cuneatum Stirt., distributed in Australia (Tasmania) and New Zealand, and C. polycarpum (Colenso) Wedin, comb. nov., distributed in Argentina, Australia (Tasmania), Chile and New Zealand. The morphology, chemistry, ecology and distribution of the two species is discussed, as is the taxonomic position of the genus. Calycidium is reported as new to Argentina. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the study regarding the identity of Trimmatothelopsis versipellis. It says that the study has investigated both the Trimmatothelopsis versipellis and the Polysporina subfuscescens. It states that the researchers who conducted the study found out that apothecia species belonged to the lichenicolous Polysporina subfuscescens. Moreover, the study indicates that Trimmatothelopsis versipellis is not a part of the lichen species but listed under lichenicolous fungus.

A lichenicolous species, Calicium ramboldiicola , growing on Ramboldia elabens is described. In phylogenetic analyses with 22 Calicium taxa, based on 121 sequences from five DNA regions (mtSSU, Mcm7 , nuITS, nuLSU, β-tubulin), the new species formed a strongly supported clade with C. abietinum and C. verrucosum. Although the ascomata of the new species resemble miniatures of those of C. abietinum , no morphological synapomorphies for this clade were found. Calicium ramboldiicola is known from boreal and hemiboreal areas of northern Europe and north-eastern North America. It is the second known lichenicolous species of Calicium and the first found on a lichen in the Lecanorales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rostania occultata species complex ('Collema occultatum s. lat.') is revised in Fennoscandia and found to consist of four species, all epiphytes on deciduous trees: Rostania effusa A. Košuth., M. Westb. & Wedin sp. nov., R. occultata (Bagl.) Otálora et al., R. pallida A. Košuth., M. Westb. & Wedin sp. nov. and R. populina (Th. Fr.) A. Košuth., M. Westb. & Wedin comb. nov. Rostania effusa and R. pallida are newly described from humid habitats in old-growth boreal coniferous forests, usually with a mixture of deciduous trees, and from similar areas in the subalpine birch-dominated forests of Fennoscandia. Rostania effusa is characterized by apothecia with red-brown apothecium discs and an excipulum thallinum with a simple pseudocortex and cubic to oblong, muriform spores. Rostania pallida has apothecia with whitish to pale yellowish discs and an excipulum thallinum with a distinct cellular pseudocortex, and ellipsoid, muriform mature spores that are often constricted at the centre. A lectotype is designated for Collema quadratum J. Lahm ex Körb. The new combination Rostania populina is introduced for the species recognized until now as the variety Rostania occultata var. populina (Th. Fr.) Perlmutter & Rivas Plata. A key to the six species in Rostania s. str. is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent finds of Leightoniella zeylanensis, classified variously in the Collemataceae and Pannariaceae, enabled us to generate DNA sequence data for investigating its phylogenetic affiliation. Newly generated sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrLSU), the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosomal (mrSSU) DNA, and the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II gene (RPB1) indicate that L. zeylanensis is a member of the Pannariaceae, belonging to a strongly supported clade together with Physma, Lepidocollema, and Gibbosporina (= the ‘Physma clade’). With the currently available data, however, relationships within this clade are largely impossible to reconstruct with confidence. Leightoniella zeylanensis was found to possess ellipsoid ascospores surrounded by a thick, gelatinous perispore with pointed ends, supporting a previously published hypothesis that such a perispore type is a synapomorphy for the Physma clade. A lectotype is designated for the basionym Pterygium zeylanense Leight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first part of an ongoing taxonomic treatment of Bunodophoron (Sphaerophoraceae, Lecanorales) in the Neotropics, based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis of three markers together with studies of morphology and chemistry, and using the general mixed Yule coalescence (GMYC) method to delimit species boundaries. In the Neotropics, species in this genus grow on the ground or on shrubs in the páramos, and as epiphytes in the montane rainforests. We describe here a new species from the páramos of Colombia, Bunodophoron crespoae Soto, M. Prieto & Wedin sp. nov., and discuss its distinction from another large and common páramo species Bunodophoron flabellatum (Hue) Soto, M. Prieto & Wedin comb. nov. Both species are primarily terrestrial in the páramos, although B. flabellatum may occasionally also grow as an epiphyte. Bunodophoron crespoae is characterized by the white, c. 10–13 cm long, subterete to narrowly flattened, main branches. It differs from the otherwise similar B. flabellatum by being distinctly subterete, more abundantly branched, and by having smaller ascospores. Both are distinguished from the primarily epiphytic B. melanocarpum by the considerably larger thallus size, with the main branches of B. melanocarpum rarely exceeding 3·5 cm in length and 2 mm in width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tremella caloplacae (Zahlbr.) Diederich is a species complex including at least nine different species. Here, we formally describe the new species Tremella elegantis , T. nimisiana , T. parietinae , T. pusillae and T. sorediatae. Tremella elegantis induces galls in the hymenium of Rusavskia elegans and forms 2-celled basidia, where cells rarely elongate and sometimes give the appearance of two immature, independent basidia. Tremella nimisiana has small basidiomata (less than 1 mm diam.), narrowly ellipsoid to pyriform 2-celled, occasionally clavate to subcylindrical 3-celled basidia, and grows in the hymenium of Xanthocarpia species. Tremella parietinae is characterized by the exclusive growth in the hymenium of Xanthoria parietina , the broadly fusiform to ellipsoid probasidia, and the subspherical, pyriform or ellipsoid 2(–3)-celled basidia. Tremella pusillae has ellipsoidal probasidia, 2(–3)-celled pyriform or ellipsoidal basidia that sometimes are constricted at the septum, and grows only on Calogaya pusilla. Tremella sorediatae is characterized by inducing galls on the thallus of Rusavskia sorediata and by pyriform to ellipsoid basidia that sometimes are constricted at the septum. Three species are not formally described and are left unnamed as Tremella sp. 13 on Calogaya biatorina , Tremella sp. 14 on Calogaya decipiens and Tremella sp. 15 on Polycauliona sp. Tremella caloplacae in the strict sense is re-circumscribed as a species confined to Variospora species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate species delimitations are of great importance for effectively characterizing biological diversity. Our criteria for delimiting species have changed dramatically over the last decades with the increasing availability of molecular data and improvement of analytical methods to evaluate these data. Whereas reciprocal monophyly is often seen as an indicator for the presence of distinct lineages, recently diverged species often fail to form monophyletic groups. At the same time, cryptic species have repeatedly been detected in numerous organismal groups. In this study, we addressed the species delimitation in the crustose lichen-forming fungal genus Diploschistes using multilocus sequence data from specimens representing 16 currently accepted species. Our results indicate the presence of previously undetected, cryptic species-level lineages in the subgenus Limborina. In the subgenus Limborina, samples from different continents currently classified under the same species were shown to be only distantly related. At the same time, in parts of subgen. Diploschistes characterized by short branches, none of the currently accepted species formed monophyletic groups. In spite of the lack of monophyly in phylogenetic reconstructions, a multispecies coalescent method provided support for eight of the nine accepted species in subgen. Diploschistes as distinct lineages. We propose to reduce D. neutrophilus to synonymy with D. diacapsis and point out that additional sampling will be necessary before accepting additional species in subgen. Limborina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pucciniomycotina is a highly diverse group of fungi, showing a remarkably wide range of lifestyles and ecologies. However, lichen-inhabiting fungi are only represented by a few species included in the genera Chionosphaera and Cystobasidium , and their phylogenetic position has never been investigated. Phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear SSU, ITS, and LSU ribosomal DNA markers reveal that the lichenicolous members of Cystobasidium ( C. hypogymniicola , C. usneicola ) form a monophyletic group distinct from Cystobasidium and outside the Cystobasidiales . The new genus Cyphobasidium is consequently described to accommodate these lichen-inhabiting species. Cyphobasidium is characterized by producing conspicuous galls on the host lichen thalli, by having distinctive basidia that arise from a thick-walled, cup-like structure, the probasidium, that persists after the senescence of the actual basidium (meiosporangium), and by its lichenicolous occurrence on species of Hypogymnia and Usnea . Cyphobasidium is one of the few representatives of the Cystobasidiomycetes in which the sexual stage predominates in nature, whereas most species in the group are known only from an asexual yeast phase. This is the first time the position of lichen-inhabiting taxa within the Pucciniomycotina is investigated using molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new lichenicolous Tremella species are described and characterized morphologically and molecularly. Tremella celata grows on Ramalina fraxinea, inducing the formation of inconspicuous galls, and having hyphae with incomplete clamps. Tremella endosporogena develops intrahymenially in the apothecia of Lecanora carpinea, having single-celled basidia and clampless hyphae. Tremella diederichiana is the name proposed for a species micromorphologically close to T. christiansenii but inducing the formation of small, pale galls on the thallus and apothecia of Lecidea aff. erythrophaea. Tremella variae grows on Lecanora varia thallus, instead of on the apothecia, as do the other known Tremella species parasitizing Lecanora s.l. Phylogenetic relationships and host specificity of these species are investigated and compared with other taxa that show morphological resemblances, phylogenetic affinities or similar hosts. The formation of mitotic conidia inside old basidia (endospores), which is a poorly known reproductive strategy in the Basidiomycota, is also a distinctive character of Tremella endosporogena. A discussion on the reproductive role and systematic implications of endospores is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the evolutionary history of the Parmeliaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota), one of the largest families of lichen-forming fungi with complex and variable morphologies, also including several lichenicolous fungi., We assembled a six-locus data set including nuclear, mitochondrial and low-copy protein-coding genes from 293 operational taxonomic units ( OTUs)., The lichenicolous lifestyle originated independently three times in lichenized ancestors within Parmeliaceae, and a new generic name is introduced for one of these fungi. In all cases, the independent origins occurred c. 24 million yr ago. Further, we show that the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene were key periods when diversification of major lineages within Parmeliaceae occurred, with subsequent radiations occurring primarily during the Oligocene and Miocene., Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the independent origin of lichenicolous fungi associated with climatic shifts at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. Moreover, diversification bursts at different times may be crucial factors driving the diversification of Parmeliaceae. Additionally, our study provides novel insight into evolutionary relationships in this large and diverse family of lichen-forming ascomycetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichens are well-known examples of complex symbiotic associations between organisms from different Kingdoms. Microfungi in particular, establish diverse associations with the hosting lichen thallus, as species-specific parasites or transient co-inhabitants. The whole community of lichen-associated fungi constitute the 'lichen mycobiome' comprising both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, including filamentous and yeast taxa. Metabarcoding results and microscopy analyses show that in some thalli, basidiomycetes are frequent lichen-associated fungi but still only a few species could be axenically isolated and morphologically characterized. Within a broad project aiming at characterizing the mycobiome diversity by culture-dependent and independent approaches in two lichen species selected as reference models – Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Tephromela atra , we succeed in isolating and culturing 76 new strains of basidiomycetous yeasts. The lichen thalli were collected in different mountain regions worldwide and at relatively high elevation. The yeast strains were isolated on different growth media and were studied for their morphological and genetic diversity. Nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and ribosomal large subunit (LSU) sequence analyses identified them to belong to ten families within the orders Agaricostilbomycetes, Cystobasidiomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Ustilaginomycetes. The yeasts here detected showed patterns of host-preference in a few cases and they are potentially related to the ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most lichenicolous fungi belong to the Ascomycota, c. 5% of them are members of the Basidiomycota. Among these, the poorly known genus Crittendenia in the Pucciniomycotina has recently been described for lichenicolous fungi with minuscule needle-like synnematous basidiomata. Although only two species were hitherto known, the wide observed host-spectrum suggested a larger number of mainly host-specific species. A classical revision using morphological characters alone proved to be virtually impossible, because of the large variability of the material from each host genus, and the scant morphological differences between hypothetically distinct species from different hosts. We studied over sixty specimens and made a large number of measurements of the available morphological characters. We additionally generated 18 ITS and 21 nuLSU rDNA sequences and conducted maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. We also performed one species delimitation analysis (bPTP-ML). By combining sometimes subtle morphological differences, host choice and phylogenetic results, we were able to accept eighteen morphologically and/or genetically distinct species, all confined to a single host genus or to several closely related host genera. Two further putative species are left unnamed, as richer material is needed and molecular data are missing. Sixteen new species are described: Crittendenia absistentis (on Bacidia absistens), C. bacidinae (on Bacidina apiahica), C. bryostigmatis (on Bryostigma muscigenum), C. byssolomatis (on Byssoloma maderense), C. crassitunicata (on Melanohalea ushuaiensis), C. heterodermiae (on Heterodermia comosa), C. hypotrachynae (on Hypotrachyna), C. kakouettae (on 'Byssoloma' kakouettae), C. lecanorae (on Lecanora), C. lecidellae (on Lecidella elaeochroma), C. lopadii (on Lopadium disciforme), C. parvispora (on Bacidia), C. physciiphila (on Phaeophyscia, Physcia and Physciella), C. physconiae (on Physconia distorta), C. stictae (on Sticta fuliginosa) and C. teloschistis (on Teloschistes). Further, a ML analysis of the Agaricostilbomycetes using ITS and nuLSU sequences suggested that Crittendenia cannot be included in any known family, and the new family Crittendeniaceae is therefore described for the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontotremataceae is polyphyletic and constitutes two distantly related clades, the true Odontotremataceae and a segregate group within Stictidaceae including "Odontotrema"cassiopes, "O." diffindens, lichenicolous "Odontotrema" species and "Bryodiscus" arctoalpinus. Sphaeropezia here is accepted as the name for this latter group. An updated phylogeny of the Stictidaceae based on mtSSU, nuLSU and the protein coding gene RPB2 is presented together with a taxonomic revision of Swedish taxa of Odontotrema and Sphaeropezia. Bryodiscus and Lethariicola are synonymized under Sphaeropezia, and three new Sphaeropezia species are described: the lignicolous S. capreae, the fungicolous S. lyckselensis and the lichenicolous S. mycoblasti. The new species are distinguished from other species by molecular and morphological characters, and substrate preferences. The new combinations Sphaeropezia arctoalpina, S. cassiopes, S. grimmiae, S. hepaticarum, S. melaneliae, S. ochrolechiae and S. thamnoliae are proposed. The morphology of these species was studied in detail. We further propose to combine the remaining lichenicolous Odontotrema species, exept O. stereocaulicola, in Sphaeropezia based on their close relationship to the studied lichenicolous taxa. These additional new combinations include Sphaeropezia bryoriae, S. cucularis, S. figulina, S. intermedia, S. japewiae, S. lecanorae, S. navarinoi, S. pertusariae, S. rhizocarpicola, S. santessonii, and S. sipei. A lectotype is designated for the name Odontotrema diffindens Nyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lichenicolous fungi are a species-rich biological group growing on lichen thalli. Here, we analyze the genetic structure of the lichenicolous basidiomycete Tremella lobariacearum and three host species (Lobaria pulmonaria, Lobaria macaronesica, and Lobaria immixta) in Macaronesia. We used ordination and analysis of molecular variance to investigate the structuring of genetic variation, and a simulation test to investigate whether rDNA haplotypes of T. lobariacearum were significantly associated with host species. To investigate the evolutionary and demographic history of the lichenicolous fungus and its hosts, we used coalescent samplers to generate trees, and Bayesian skyline plots. We found that the hosts were most important in structuring populations of the lichenicolous species. Despite their wide geographic distribution, the same haplotypes of T. lobariacearum consistently associated with a given host species. Our results suggest that the Lobaria hosts create a selective environment for the lichenicolous fungus. Both the pathogen and the host populations exhibited substantial genetic structure. However, evolutionary and demographic histories differed between the parasite and its hosts, as evidenced by different divergence times and tree topologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With this paper the genus Roccella is complete and fully revised. The genus contains 24 species of which eight species from the Old World in Asia and Africa are here treated in detail, Roccella applanata, R. babingtonii, R. balfourii, R. boryi, R. minuta (newly described here), R. montagnei, R. phycopsioides (newly described here) and R. sinensis. Roccella tinctoria with a predominantly Macaronesian distribution has some outpost localities in south western Africa is also included in this treatise. A full species phylogeny is presented based on data from four molecular markers, RPB2, nuLSU, ITS 1 and 2 and an anonymous locus. The African-Asian species together with three Macaronesian species (R. allorgei, R. fuciformis, R. maderensis) form a poorly supported monophyletic clade. The sister group to that clade is the significantly supported group containing the American and European-Macaronesian species. Roccella montagnei is the most widespread of all Roccella species ranging from Australia, around the Indian Ocean and further on along the west coast of Africa up north to the Cape Verde Islands. It is a genetically variable species, but morphologically, anatomically and chemically distinct and it is here maintained as one species. The distribution of roccellic acid among the samples within the monophyletic species group Roccella applanata, R. babingtonii, R. boryi, R. montagnei was surprising: sorediate specimens contain roccellic acid whereas fertile specimens, except for four samples, lack roccellic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A monograph of the genus Placomaronea is presented; all species described earlier are revised, a total of six species is recognized, and an identification key is presented. In addition to the three previously known species, P. candelarioides, P. lambii and P. mendozae, three new species are described: Placomaronea kaernefeltii is a large rosette-like species known from one locality in northernmost Chile; Placomaronea fuegiana is a bullate, areolate species described from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Placomaronea minima is a small, areolate to minutely lobate species described from Chile and Argentina, and is the first species of Placomaronea to be reported from the African continent. In a phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS rDNA, Placomaronea is shown to form a monophyletic group within the Candelariales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancestral state reconstructions of morphological or ecological traits on molecular phylogenies are becoming increasingly frequent. They rely on constancy of character state change rates over trees, a correlation between neutral genetic change and phenotypic change, as well as on adequate likelihood models and (for Bayesian methods) prior distributions. This investigation explored the outcomes of a variety of methods for reconstructing discrete ancestral state in the ascus apex of the Lecanorales, a group containing the majority of lichen-forming ascomycetes. Evolution of this character complex has been highly controversial in lichen systematics for more than two decades. The phylogeny was estimated using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inference on DNA sequence alignments of three genes (small subunit of the mitochondrial rDNA, large subunit of the nuclear rDNA, and largest subunit of RNA polymerase II). We designed a novel method for assessing the suitable number of discrete gamma categories, which relies on the effect on phylogeny estimates rather than on likelihoods. Ancestral state reconstructions were performed using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood on a posterior tree sample as well as two fully Bayesian methods. Resulting reconstructions were often strikingly different depending on the method used; different methods often assign high confidence to different states at a given node. The two fully Bayesian methods disagree about the most probable reconstruction in about half of the nodes, even when similar likelihood models and similar priors are used. We suggest that similar studies should use several methods, awaiting an improved understanding of the statistical properties of the methods. A Lecanora-type ascus may have been ancestral in the Lecanorales. State transformations counts, obtained using stochastic mapping, indicate that the number of state changes is 12 to 24, which is considerably greater than the minimum three changes needed to explain the four observed ascus apex types. Apparently, the ascus in the Lecanorales is far more apt to change than has been recognized. Phylogeny corresponds well with morphology, although it partly contradicts currently used delimitations of the Crocyniaceae, Haematommataceae, Lecanoraceae, Megalariaceae, Mycoblastaceae, Pilocarpaceae, Psoraceae, Ramalinaceae, Scoliciosporaceae, and Squamarinaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the natural relationships within the large bitunicate order Pleosporales, with special focus on the coprophilous families Delitschiaceae, Phaeotrichaceae and Sporormiaceae. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed using nSSU, nLSU and mtSSU rDNA sequence data. We also investigated the placement of a number of taxa with uncertain position. Our results showed that Pleosporales, including Delitschiaceae, Sporormiaceae, Zopfiaceae and Testudinaceae, form a monophyletic group with strong support. Although Delitschiaceae has been considered a synonym of Sporormiaceae, the two families do not form one monophyletic group. Similarly, Zopfiaceae and Testudinaceae should be retained as separate families as they did not group together or with Phaeotrichaceae or Sporormiaceae. Zopfiaceae and Delitchiaceae did group together, but without significant support. Eremodothis angulata (currently in Testudinaceae) is closely related to Westerdykella in Sporormiaceae. Phaeotrichaceae and Venturiaceae formed a group with strong BS support on a branch outside Pleosporales, but an alternative topology including Phaeotrichaceae and Venturiaceae within Pleosporales could not be rejected. All taxa in the present study that were placed with uncertain position in Dothideomycetes/Chaetothyriomycetes in the current classification by Eriksson, grouped within the monophyletic Dothideomycetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The molecular phylogeny of Acarosporaceae with a focus on the recently proposed genus Polysporinopsis was investigated using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses, using nuITS-LSU and mtSSU rDNA sequence datasets. A well-supported monophyletic clade corresponding to Acarospora (including the type species A. schleicheri, A. fuscata, A. nitrophila, A. rugulosa, A. bullata, A. sinopica, A molybdina and A. peliscypha) was present in all analyses. Acarospora as currently delimited is not monophyletic; neither A. smaragdula nor A. badiofusca belongs to the genus in the restricted sense. Polysporinopsis, which comprises three species previously classified in Acarospora (P. sinopica-type species, P. smaragdula, and P. rugulosa) is not a monophyletic group separate from Acarospora s. str. Acarospora sinopica and A. smaragdula are not closely related; A. sinopica belongs to Acarospora s. str., but A. smaragdula is one of the most basal taxa currently known in Acarosporaceae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Dimorphism is a widespread feature of tremellalean fungi in general, but a little‐studied aspect of the biology of lichen‐associated Tremella. We show that Tremella macrobasidiata and Tremella variae have an abundant and widespread yeast stage in their life cycles that occurs in Lecanora lichens. Their sexual filamentous stage is restricted to a specific lichen: T. macrobasidiata only forms basidiomata on Lecanora chlarotera hymenia and T. variae only on Lecanora varia thalli. However, the yeast stage of T. macrobasidiata is less specific and can occur in L. varia lichens, whilst all life stages of T. variae may be specific to L. varia. Contrary to the hyphal stages, the yeasts are distributed across the thalli and hymenia of Lecanora lichens, and not limited to specimens with basidiomata. Tremella macrobasidiata was present in all studied L. chlarotera, and in 59% of L. varia specimens. Only in 8% of the L. varia thalli could none of the two Tremella species be detected. Our results indicate that lichen‐associated Tremella may be much more abundant and widespread than previously assumed leading to skewed estimations about their distribution ranges and lichen specificity, and raise new questions about their biology, ecology and function in the symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parmeliaceae is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi with a worldwide distribution. We used a target enrichment data set and a qualitative selection method for 250 out of 350 genes to infer the phylogeny of the major clades in this family including 81 taxa, with both subfamilies and all seven major clades previously recognized in the subfamily Parmelioideae. The reduced genome-scale data set was analyzed using concatenated-based Bayesian inference and two different Maximum Likelihood analyses, and a coalescent-based species tree method. The resulting topology was strongly supported with the majority of nodes being fully supported in all three concatenated-based analyses. The two subfamilies and each of the seven major clades in Parmelioideae were strongly supported as monophyletic. In addition, most backbone relationships in the topology were recovered with high nodal support. The genus Parmotrema was found to be polyphyletic and consequently, it is suggested to accept the genus Crespoa to accommodate the species previously placed in Parmotrema subgen. Crespoa. This study demonstrates the power of reduced genome-scale data sets to resolve phylogenetic relationships with high support. Due to lower costs, target enrichment methods provide a promising avenue for phylogenetic studies including larger taxonomic/specimen sampling than whole genome data would allow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lichenicolous 'heterobasidiomycetes' belong in the Tremellomycetes (Agaricomycotina) and in the Pucciniomycotina. In this paper, we provide an introduction and review of these lichenicolous taxa, focusing on recent studies and novelties of their classification, phylogeny and evolution. Lichen-inhabiting fungi in the Pucciniomycotina are represented by only a small number of species included in the genera Chionosphaera, Cyphobasidium and Lichenozyma. The phylogenetic position of the lichenicolous representatives of Chionosphaera has, however, never been investigated by molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear SSU, ITS, and LSU ribosomal DNA markers reveal that the lichenicolous members of Chionosphaera form a monophyletic group in the Pucciniomycotina, distinct from Chionosphaera and outside the Chionosphaeraceae. The new genus Crittendenia is described to accommodate these lichen-inhabiting species. Crittendenia is characterized by minute synnemata-like basidiomata, the presence of clamp connections and aseptate tubular basidia from which 4–7 spores discharge passively, often in groups. Crittendenia, Cyphobasidium and Lichenozyma are the only lichenicolous lineages known so far in the Pucciniomycotina, whereas Chionosphaera does not include any lichenicolous taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parmeliaceae is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi with a worldwide distribution. We used a target enrichment data set and a qualitative selection method for 250 out of 350 genes to infer the phylogeny of the major clades in this family including 81 taxa, with both subfamilies and all seven major clades previously recognized in the subfamily Parmelioideae. The reduced genome-scale data set was analyzed using concatenated-based Bayesian inference and two different Maximum Likelihood analyses, and a coalescent-based species tree method. The resulting topology was strongly supported with the majority of nodes being fully supported in all three concatenated-based analyses. The two subfamilies and each of the seven major clades in Parmelioideae were strongly supported as monophyletic. In addition, most backbone relationships in the topology were recovered with high nodal support. The genus Parmotrema was found to be polyphyletic and consequently, it is suggested to accept the genus Crespoa to accommodate the species previously placed in Parmotrema subgen. Crespoa. This study demonstrates the power of reduced genome-scale data sets to resolve phylogenetic relationships with high support. Due to lower costs, target enrichment methods provide a promising avenue for phylogenetic studies including larger taxonomic/specimen sampling than whole genome data would allow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we test the current generic delimitation of Rostania (Collemataceae, Peltigerales, Ascomycota) utilizing molecular phylogeny and morphological investigations. Using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial SSU rDNA and two nuclear protein-coding genes (MCM7 and β-tubulin) and utilizing parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic methods, Rostania is shown to be nonmonophyletic in the current sense. A new generic delimitation of Rostania is thus proposed, in which the genus is monophyletic, and three species (Rostania coccophylla, R. paramensis, R. quadrifida) are excluded and transferred to other genera. Rostania occultata is further non-monophyletic, and a more detailed investigation of species delimitations in Rostania s. str. is needed. The new combinations Leptogium paramense and Scytinium quadrifidum are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Unraveling the complex relationship between lichen fungal and algal partners has been crucial in understanding lichen dispersal capacity, evolutionary processes, and responses in the face of environmental change. However, lichen symbiosis remains enigmatic, including the ability of a single fungal partner to associate with various algal partners. Psora decipiens is a characteristic lichen of biological soil crusts (BSCs), across semi‐arid, temperate, and alpine biomes, which are particularly susceptible to habitat loss and climate change. The high levels of morphological variation found across the range of Psora decipiens may contribute to its ability to withstand environmental change. To investigate Psora decipiens acclimation potential, individuals were transplanted between four climatically distinct sites across a European latitudinal gradient for 2 years. The effect of treatment was investigated through a morphological examination using light and SEM microscopy; 26S rDNA and rbcL gene analysis assessed site‐specific relationships and lichen acclimation through photobiont switching. Initial analysis revealed that many samples had lost their algal layers. Although new growth was often determined, the algae were frequently found to have died without evidence of a new photobiont being incorporated into the thallus. Mycobiont analysis investigated diversity and determined that new growth was a part of the transplant, thus, revealing that four distinct fungal clades, closely linked to site, exist. Additionally, P. decipiens was found to associate with the green algal genus Myrmecia, with only two genetically distinct clades between the four sites. Our investigation has suggested that P. decipiens cannot acclimate to the substantial climatic variability across its environmental range. Additionally, the different geographical areas are home to genetically distinct and unique populations. The variation found within the genotypic and morpho‐physiological traits of P. decipiens appears to have a climatic determinant, but this is not always reflected by the algal partner. Although photobiont switching occurs on an evolutionary scale, there is little evidence to suggest an active environmentally induced response. These results suggest that this species, and therefore, other lichen species, and BSC ecosystems themselves may be significantly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this work was to study species boundaries in the genus Pectenia and elucidate the biogeographic history of the four currently accepted species. To accomplish this, we included 92 specimens across the range of Pectenia in Europe and northern Africa. We used three nuclear loci and assessed species circumscription using two Bayesian coalescent-based methods and the Bayes Factor approach. We reviewed the value of reproductive mode and other morphological features as predictors of monophyletic groups. Our results suggest that the production of asexual propagules and sexual structures are not characterizing monophyletic groups. The genus includes two morphologically well-characterized main lineages, where one lineage is composed by two sub-lineages that are with a case of cryptic speciation explained by a biogeographic pattern. We suggest treating the two lineages as two species, which are characterized by lobe structure: Pectenia plumbea and P. atlantica . Both of these species include samples with asexual propagules and apothecia, and thus do not correspond to any of the earlier morphologically defined species. The results of the biogeographic analysis indicate that the Mediterranean basin is the most likely ancestral distribution area of P. plumbea , whereas P. atlantica probably originated in Macaronesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-inhabiting fungi harbour species-rich, poorly differentiated, extremophilic taxa of polyphyletic origin. Their closest relatives are often well-known species from various biotopes with significant pathogenic potential. Speleothems represent a unique rock-dwelling habitat, whose mycobiota are largely unexplored. Isolation of fungi from speleothem biofilm covering bare granite walls in the Kungsträdgården metro station in Stockholm yielded axenic cultures of two distinct black yeast morphotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from six nuclear loci, ITS, nuc18S and nuc28S rDNA, rpb1, rpb2 and β-tubulin, support their placement in the Chaetothyriales (Ascomycota). They are described as a new genus Bacillicladium with the type species B. lobatum, and a new species Bradymyces graniticola. Bacillicladium is distantly related to the known five chaetothyrialean families and is unique in the Chaetothyriales by variable morphology showing hyphal, meristematic and yeast-like growth in vitro. The nearest relatives of Bacillicladium are recruited among fungi isolated from cardboard-like construction material produced by arboricolous non-attine ants. Their sister relationship is weakly supported by the Maximum likelihood analysis, but strongly supported by Bayesian inference. The genus Bradymyces is placed amidst members of the Trichomeriaceae and is ecologically undefined; it includes an opportunistic animal pathogen while two other species inhabit rock surfaces. ITS rDNA sequences of three species accepted in Bradymyces and other undescribed species and environmental samples were subjected to phylogenetic analysis and in-depth comparative analysis of ITS1 and ITS2 secondary structures in order to study their intraspecific variability. Compensatory base change criterion in the ITS2 secondary structure supported delimitation of species in Bradymyces, which manifest a limited number of phenotypic features useful for species recognition. The role of fungi in the speleothem biofilm and relationships of Bacillicladium and Bradymyces with other members of the Chaetothyriales are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments to re-synthesise lichens so far focused on co-cultures of fungal and algal partners. However, recent studies have revealed that bacterial communities colonise lichens in a stable and host-specific manner. We were therefore interested in testing how lichenised fungi and algae interact with selected bacteria in an experimental setup. We selected the symbiotic system of Schizoxylon albescens and the algal genera Coccomyxa and Trebouxia as a suitable model. We isolated bacterial strains from the naturally occurring bacterial fraction of freshly collected specimens and established tripartite associations under mixed culture experiments. The bacteria belong to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and corresponded to groups already found associated with fungi including lichens. In mixed cultures with Coccomyxa, the fungus formed a characteristic filamentous matrix and tightly contacted the algae; the bacteria distributed in small patches between the algal cells and attached to the cell walls. In mixed cultures with Trebouxia, the fungus did not develop the filamentous matrix, but bacterial cells were observed to be tightly adhering to the fungal hyphae. Our experiments show that this tripartite fungal-algal-bacterial model system can be maintained in culture and can offer multiple opportunities for functional studies based on experiments under controlled conditions in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships in the cyanolichen family Placynthiaceae to test the current generic delimitations, where the monotypic Collolechia is currently accepted as distinct, based on differences in ascospores, ascus apex characteristics and the leprose thallus. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of two sequence marker datasets confirmed that Collolechia caesia is nested within Placynthium, and should be called Placynthium caesium (Fr.) Jatta. We reassessed the spore and ascus characteristics and showed that Placynthium caesium falls well within the variation in Placynthium and is thus yet another example of a species that differs from close relatives by its crustose-leprose thallus structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]