Search

The lichen-forming fungal genus Flavoparmeliaincludes species with distinct distribution patterns, including subcosmopolitan, restricted, and disjunct species. We used a dataset of nuclear ITS and LSU ribosomal DNA including 51 specimens to understand the influence of historical events on the current distribution patterns in the genus. We employed Bayesian, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony approaches for phylogenetic analyses, a likelihood-based approach to ancestral area reconstruction, and a Bayesian approach to estimate divergence times of major lineages within the genus. We identified two major clades in the genus, one of them separating into two subclades and one of those into four groups. Several of the groups and clades have restricted geographical ranges in the Southern Hemisphere, but two groups include species with wider distribution areas. Our analyses suggest that the genus originated in southern South America during the Eocene–Oligocene transition and that the diversification of the Australasian groups occurred recently. The subcosmopolitan distribution of species is explained by long-distance dispersal, while vicariance probably played a major role in the origin of the genus. Several currently accepted species were found to be non-monophyletic, indicating that the species delimitation in the genus requires further studies.

Phylogenetic relationships of the genera Cladiaand Heterodeawere reconstructed using a combined dataset of nuclear ITS, nuclear LSU and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences. Based on different analyses (Bayesian approach, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood), the ingroup (Cladia+ Heterodea) is strongly supported as monophyletic. Pilophorus strumaticushas a well supported sister–group relationship to the ingroup and together they form a sister group with a well–supported clade, which includes Metus conglomeratusand Pycnothelia papillaria. The Shimodaira–Hasegawa test and the ELW test significantly rejected monophyly of Cladiaexcluding Heterodea. Within Cladiathree main clades can be distinguished which share morphological and chemical characters. The position of the foliose genus Heterodeawithin the fruticose Cladiais supported by anatomical and chemical characters. The species of clade II that includes two Cladiaspecies and Heterodeashare a similar type of upper cortex and two–layered medulla with an inner or lower medulla consisting of dark pigmented, thick–walled hyphae. Our phylogenetic estimate and the anatomical studies indicate that the foliose thallus of Heterodeaoriginated from pseudopodetia of Cladia. It is discussed that the species currently classified in Cladiaand Heterodeaneed to be placed in the same genus.