Message - 7th IAL Symposium

Lichen: from genome to ecosystem in a changing world
3A-P
(3A-P22) Submission ID: IAL0206-00001
PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE CRUSTOSE STEREOCAULON SPECIES
Högnabba F. 1 , Nordin A. 2 , Myllys L. 3 , Stenroos S. 3
1 Finnish Museum of Natural History, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Finland
2 Botany, Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Sweden
3 Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki, Finland
Species traditionally included in the genus Stereocaulon (lichenized ascomycetes) are characterized by
a dimorphic thallus that consists of a crustose primary thallus and a fruticose secondary thallus (pseudopodetia).
However, six crustose species lacking a fruticose secondary thallus are currently included in the genus. Four of
these have been included in molecular analyses and their inclusion in the genus was supported. Whether the
crustose growth form is a plesiomorphic or apomorphic feature within Stereocaulon has remained unresolved
due to contradictory placements of the crustose species in earlier studies. The aim of the present study is to clarify
the position of the crustose Stereocaulon species by adding molecular data, especially of the crustose species
not included in earlier analyses, i.e. Stereocaulon nivale and S. plicatile. The inclusion of S. plicatile in the genus
is particularly interesting as it is the only species in the genus with submuriform to muriform ascospores. Phylogenetic
relationships were examined using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and β-tubulin sequences in parsimony analyses. The
results show that the crustose species do not form a monophyletic entity and suggest that the crustose growth
form is a plesiomorphic feature within Stereocaulon. The inclusion of the newly sequenced S. nivale and S. plicatile
in Stereocaulon is confirmed as these species are nested in the genus. The nested position of S. plicatile
indicates an independent gain of the submuriform to muriform spore type within the genus.
(3A-P23) Submission ID: IAL0270-00001
MULTILOCUS-BASED PHYLOGENY AND SPECIES RECOGNITION WITHIN
THE COSMOPOLITAN PELTIGERA NEOPOLYDACTYLA-DOLICHORHIZA COMPLEX
Magain N. 1 , Miadlikowska J. 2 , Lutzoni F. 2 , Goffinet B. 3 , Sérusiaux E. 1
1 Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
2 Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
3 Ecolgy and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States
The Peltigera neopolydactyla-dolichorhiza complex is broadly distributed, growing in boreal and temperate
regions from northern Norway to southern Chile, as well as in tropical mountains. Observed morphotype
and chemotype variation within this complex suggested the presence of multiple undescribed species. This was
confirmed based on a preliminary phylogeny using the ITS region, where P. neopolydactyla and P. dolichorhiza
are not distinct monophyletic species, but rather form a complex assemblage of several species, with some
well-known species, such as P. hymenina, nested within that species complex. A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic
study and a taxonomic revision of this complex are urgently needed. We first generated single-locus
and multilocus phylogenies for the entire section Polydactylon (which includes the P. neopolydactyla-dolichorhiza
complex), using traditional ITS and nucLSU markers, as well as new protein-coding loci from the AFTOL project.
Using 454 generated sequences spanning the entire genome of two species, we are developing primers to
amplify and sequence intergenic spacers to enhance species recognition within this complex. We will assess
species delimitation in the P. neopolydactyla-dolichorhiza complex by applying a pluralistic approach e.g., phylogenetic
and population genetic methods. A detailed study of morphological and chemical characters is conducted
to determine their correlation with genetically inferred species.
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