Message - 7th IAL Symposium

The 7 th International Association for Lichenology Symposium 2012
(4B-P3) Submission ID: IAL0137-00002
COMPARISON OF FLUORESCENCE ACTIVITY IN POPULATIONS OF
LASALLIA PUSTULATA AND L. HISPANICA IN THE FIELD AND UNDER LAB
CONDITIONS ALONG A SEASONAL GRADIENT
Vivas M. 1 , Pintado A. 2 , Pérez-Ortega S. 3 , Sancho L. 2
1 Biología Vegetal II, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
2 Biología Vegetal II, Universidad Complutense, Facultad de Farmacia, Madrid, Spain
3 MNCN, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Lasallia pustulata and L. hispanica (Umbilicariaceae, Lecanorales) are the two only species of this
genus present in Iberian Peninsula. They often share distribution, although L. hispanica can stand harder conditions,
being able to colonize higher altitudes in Iberian mountains. We have chosen a locality near Madrid, in
Central Spain, where the two species coexist, to test the consistency of fluorescence field and lab measurements.
For that purpose, we have measured the evolution of PSII quantum yield once a month during a whole
year in field conditions, and then we have collected three thalli of each species to repeat these measurements
after two days of acclimation to lab conditions (namely, 12h 100 µmol m -2 s -1 / 12 h darkness, 10 º C, spraying once
a day with spring water), trying to minimize the influence of previous climatic episodes in fluorescence performance.
The comparison between both systems shows a common pattern of evolution along the year. However,
we could observe differences that reflect the influence of previous days weather in the results, showing a highly
plastic response of Chl a.
(4B-P4) Submission ID: IAL0158 - 00002
PHOTOBIONT SELECTIVITY AND SPECIFICITY IN CALOPLACA SPECIES IN A FOG
INDUCED LICHEN COMMUNITY IN THE ATACAMA DESERT, NORTHERN CHILE
Vargas R. 1 , Beck A. 2
1 Departamento de Botanica, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile
2 Lichenology and Bryology, Botanische Staatssammlung München, München, Germany
Little is known about the nature of the association between mycobionts and photobionts in isolated
communities. Here we studied the photobiont diversity of different Caloplaca Th. Fr. species in a fog induced
community in the Atacama Desert. We compared nrDNA ITS sequences of both symbionts, photobionts and
mycobionts, along with morphological characters of the different lichen thalli, to investigate the diversity and to
assess the degree of selectivity and specificity of photobionts species in a community of Caloplaca species.
Specimens of 6 species (C. orthoclada Zahlbr., C. fernandeziana Zahlbr. and 4 undescribed species) were
sampled in an altitudinal gradient in a coastal riff with strong fog presence, 60 km south of Iquique, Chile. The
photobiont species in this community belonged to two species of the genus Trebouxia, T. arboricola Puymaly s.l.
and T. gigantea (Hildreth & Ahmadjian) Gaertner. Most of the fungal species were lichenized with photobionts
belonging to different haplotypes of T. arboricola s.l., although specimens of two species (C. orthoclada and C.
sp. 1) were related to representatives of T. gigantea as well. These results indicate that members of the genus
Caloplaca in northern Chile have a moderate selectivity and appear to be selective to members of the Trebouxia
arboricola group. Also, an altitudinal variation in Trebouxia haplotypes was observed at high altitudes, which had
higher water availability given a higher fog condensation and precipitation. This may suggest that short-term
ecological factors, as altitude and water availability could result in local specificity and specialization as a product
of local adaptation.
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