Abstract Detail

Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS

Dal-Forno, Manuela [1], Lucking, Robert [2], Lawrey, James D. [3].

The genus Acantholichen P. M. Jørg. (lichenized Basidiomycota: Hygrophoraceae) revisited.

The lichenized basidiomycete genus Acantholichen is mostly tropical and characterized by a blue-grey, microsquamulose thallus with spiny apical cells, known as acanthohyphidia, located on both thallus surfaces, giving it a white-pruinose appearance. Due to these specialized hyphae, the genus was originally classified in the Basidiomycota. It was also thought to be monospecific until most recently. However, molecular data combined with detailed study of the anatomy and morphology of many recently collected specimens have revealed a much more diverse group. These studies place the genus in the Dictyonema clade within Hygrophoraceae, a family with a high concentration of lichenized lineages. Our studies combining three fungal loci (ITS, LSU, RPB2), in further study of anatomical and morphological characters, have shown that there are at least five distinct species in the genus: one from the Galapagos Islands, one from Brazil, one from eastern North America and two from Costa Rica (including the type species, A. pannarioides). These differ mainly in color, shape, size and arrangement of the squamules and shape, size and location of the acanthohyphidia. Preliminary data suggests high levels of local endemism; however, more collections are necessary to clarify the real distribution of the species and possibly extending their range. Along with other basidiolichens recently discovered, these findings show that the perception of low diversity in lichenized basidiomycetes is ill-defined.

1 - George Mason University, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4444, USA
2 - Field Museum Of Natural History, Department Of Botany, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605-2496, USA
3 - GEORGE MASON UNIV, DEPT BIOLOGY MSN 3E1, 4400 UNIVERSITY DR, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030-4444, USA

Keywords:
lichens
Basidiomycota
Phylogeny
taxonomy.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 2
Location: Firs North/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 8:45 AM
Number: 2004
Abstract ID:191
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award