Genus Xanthoparmelia Research Articles

The First Miniature, Small Foliose, Brown Xanthoparmelia in the Northern Hemisphere.

The genus Xanthoparmelia includes several subcrustose, squamulose, small foliose, and small subfruticose species, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we report on the first small foliose species lacking usnic acid in the genus occurring in the Holarctic. The species has been previously known as Lecanora olivascens Nyl., but subsequent studies of the morphology, secondary chemistry, and molecular data of the nuITS rDNA indicate that this species instead belongs to Xanthoparmelia. Consequently, the new combination Xanthoparmelia olivascens (Nyl.) V.J. Rico and G. Amo is proposed, and an epitype is designated here. We discuss the unique presence of a subcrustose Xanthoparmelia species lacking cortical usnic acid in the Northern Hemisphere. This species fits phylogenetically into a clade that was previously only known from the Southern Hemisphere, and hence represents another example of N-S disjunction in lichenized fungi.

Traditional knowledge of medicinal mushrooms and lichens of Yuman peoples in Northern Mexico

BackgroundMushrooms and lichens are natural therapeutic resources whose millenary importance persists in indigenous and mestizo communities of Mexico. However, in this regard, in the northern part of the country there are few ethnobiological explorations. This study investigates the local knowledge of medicinal mushrooms and lichens used by Yuman peoples, whose native speakers are in imminent danger of extinction along with their biocultural heritage due to changes in their traditional primary activities and the usurpation of their ancestral lands.MethodsEthnographic techniques in the field and standard lichenological and mycological methods in the laboratory were used.ResultsInformation was obtained on the medicinal use of 20 species, of which six are lichens of the genus Xanthoparmelia and 14 are non-lichenized fungi, mainly gasteroids. The latter are primarily used to treat skin lesions, while lichens are used in heart, urinary, and gastrointestinal diseases. The transmission of this local knowledge to future generations is discussed, as well as the intercultural cognitive convergence about the uses of medicinal mushrooms and lichens.ConclusionsThe Yuman peoples preserve knowledge, practices and beliefs around mushrooms and lichens. Although increasingly less used, they still form part of their culinary and traditional medicine; even some are also used as ludic and ornamental purposes, and as trail markers. Beyond the pragmatic importance of these organisms, traditional knowledge about them is an essential part of the cultural identity that the Yuman peoples strive to preserve.

Diversity of Xanthoparmelia (Parmeliaceae) species in Mexican xerophytic scrub vegetation, evidenced by molecular, morphological and chemistry data

The genus Xanthoparmelia is the largest genus of lichen- forming fungi with about 800 species worldwide. Xanthoparmelia is also common in the deserts of central Mexico, but only a few molecular studies exist on its species’ diversity in this region. In this study, we sampled 38 Xanthoparmelia species from around the world including species from the xerophytic scrubs of central Mexico to assess the diversity using an integrative approach. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using a combination of the ITS, mtSSU and nuLSU genetic markers. We evaluated our phylogenetic results in a context of traditional morphological and chemical characters. The combined evidence of molecular, morphological, and chemical data identified a total of 18 Xanthoparmelia species-level lineages occurring in central Mexico. However, numerous traditionally circumscribed species did not form monophyletic groups in the molecular phylogenetic reconstructions. This conflict indicates that taxonomy and species delimitation in the genus Xanthoparmelia requires revision and emphasizes the importance of molecular evidence for more robust species delimitations in this genus.

Repeated Colonization Between Arid and Seasonal Wet Habitats, Frequent Transition Among Substrate Preferences, and Chemical Diversity in Western Australian Xanthoparmelia Lichens

Arid soil habitats are challenging for sedentary and slow-growing lichens because the integrity of the substrate can easily be disturbed by natural forces, e.g., wind and flood. Yet, adaptation into such habitat types occurred multiple times in lichens that may be associated with specific morphological and ecological adaptations. We studied the genetic and chemical diversity of the lichen-forming fungal genus Xanthoparmelia in Western Australia, where it is abundant in both arid and temperate ecoregions occurring on both soil and rock substrates. We found frequent evolutionary transitions among substrate types and between arid and temperate habitats. However, specific chemical phenotypes were not associated with different habitat and substrate types, and the level of phenotypic (the composition of secondary metabolites) divergence was not correlated with the level of genetic divergence among taxa. The study closes by discussing the importance of arid soil habitats for evolutionary diversification in the hyperdiverse genus Xanthoparmelia.

Diversidad de macrolíquenes saxícolas en México: caso de estudio del distrito minero de Guanajuato

Antecedentes y Objetivos: La diversidad de macrolíquenes saxícolas en el estado de Guanajuato es poco conocida. Los escasos datos que existen son menciones de colectas y de especies en páginas electrónicas especializadas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue contribuir, mediante la elaboración de un listado florístico, al conocimiento de la diversidad de macrolíquenes saxícolas en cuatro localidades (cerro “La Bufa”, parque ecológico “El Orito”, carretera panorámica “El Pípila” y Sierra de Santa Rosa de Lima).Métodos: Los ejemplares fueron recolectados y posteriormente determinados mediante el uso de claves especializadas, considerando características morfológicas, anatómicas y químicas. Se apoyó en observaciones al microscopio estereoscópico y compuesto, respuesta a reactivos químicos y, en algunos casos, en la realización de cromatografía de capa fina. Finalmente se revisaron descripciones de las mismas y se cotejaron los ejemplares determinados con aquellos existentes en el herbario EBUM de la Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo.Resultados clave: Se presenta una lista de 42 especies para el distrito minero de Guanajuato, que constituyen registros nuevos para las localidades estudiadas; 23 son nuevos registros para el estado de Guanajuato y uno lo es para México.Conclusiones: De las 42 especies, la familia Parmeliaceae es la más representativa del área de estudio, especialmente el género Xanthoparmeliacon nueve especies, de las cuales tres son nuevos registros para el estado de Guanajuato y una de ellas lo es para México. La zona de La Bufa con clima semicálido y la ignimbrita como roca dominante reúne la mayoría de las especies registradas. Las especies de las familias Cladoniaceae, Usneaceae, Ramalinaceae y Stereocaulaceae son representativas de la zona de Santa Rosa de Lima en donde domina un clima húmedo y la toba riolítica como roca principal.

Overview of Xanthoparmelia taxa from South Korea including the description of two new species (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota)

In the genus Xanthoparmelia, species boundaries are based on morphological and chemical features such as the presence and/or absence of secondary metabolites, diagnostic reproductive structures, isidia morphology, and color of lower surface. Two new species of Xanthoparmelia are described from South Korea, X. kolriana with cylindrical isidia containing atranorin and salazinic acid as major components in the medulla together with cortical usnic acid, while X. volcanicola is characterised by a red coloured medulla, and subglobose isidia. The characteristics of Xanthoparmelia species and their distribution in South Korea are outlined and an identification key given. Additionally, we used ITS ribosomal DNA sequences to assess the monophyly of Xanthoparmelia species from South Korea. Our results reveal that traditionally circumscribed species were not recovered as monophyletic clades. Further, we here show that ITS is insufficient to estimate a well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis, but suggests that traditional taxonomy may not reflect natural groups. This communication provides an important framework for future studies assessing species boundaries in Xanthoparmelia species in South Korea.

Pleistocene Speciation in North American Lichenized Fungi and the Impact of Alternative Species Circumscriptions and Rates of Molecular Evolution on Divergence Estimates

Pleistocene climatic fluctuations influenced patterns of genetic variation and promoted speciation across a wide range of species groups. Lichens are commonly found in habitats that were directly impacted by glacial cycles; however, the role of Pleistocene climate in driving speciation in most lichen symbionts remains unclear. This uncertainty is due in part to limitations in our ability to accurately recognize independently evolving lichen-forming fungal lineages and a lack of relevant fossil calibrations. Using a coalescent-based species tree approach, we estimated divergence times for two sister clades in the genus Xanthoparmelia (Parmeliaceae) restricted to western North America. We assessed the influence of two different species circumscription scenarios and various locus-specific rates of molecular evolution on divergence estimates. Species circumscriptions were validated using the program BP&P. although speciation was generally supported in both scenarios, divergence times differed between traditional species circumscriptions and those based on genetic data, with more recent estimates resulting from the former. Similarly, rates of evolution for different loci resulted in variable divergence time estimates. However, our results unambiguously indicate that diversification in the sampled Xanthoparmelia clades occurred during the Pleistocene. Our study highlights the potential impact of ambiguous species circumscriptions and uncertain rates of molecular evolution on estimating divergence times within a multilocus species tree framework.

Species delimitation in taxonomically difficult lichen-forming fungi: An example from morphologically and chemically diverse Xanthoparmelia (Parmeliaceae) in North America

Mounting evidence suggests many morphology-based species circumscriptions in lichenized ascomycetes misrepresent fungal diversity. The lichenized ascomycete genus Xanthoparmelia includes over 800 described species displaying a considerable range of morphological and chemical variation. Species circumscriptions in this genus have traditionally been based on thallus morphology, medullary chemistry, and the presence or absence of sexual or asexual reproductive structures. Notwithstanding concerted effort on the part of taxonomists to arrive at a natural classification, modern taxonomic concepts for the most part remain unclear. Here we assess the evolution of characters traditionally regarded as taxonomically important by reconstructing a phylogenetic hypothesis based on sequence data from four nuclear ribosomal markers as well as fragments from two protein-coding nuclear loci. A total of 414 individuals were tested, representing 19 currently accepted species. Most sampled species, as currently circumscribed, were recovered as polyphyletic, suggesting that major diagnostic characters have evolved in a homoplasious manner. The vagrant growth form, distinct medullary chemistries, and production of vegetative diaspores appear to have evolved independently multiple times. Application of a population assignment test resulted in the recognition of 21 species-level genetic clusters, each of which was supported by a comparison of genetic distances as well as a Bayesian species delimitation method calculating probabilities associated with speciation events. Inferred clusters are largely incongruent with traditionally circumscribed species due to the prevalence of cryptic diversity and, in some cases, high levels of intraspecific morphological and chemical variation. These results call for a major taxonomic revision of Xanthoparmelia species in western North America.

Species delimitation and evolution in morphologically and chemically diverse communities of the lichen‐forming genus Xanthoparmelia (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in western North America

Accurate species delimitation is important for understanding the diversification of biota and has critical implications for ecological and conservation studies. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that morphology-based species circumspection in lichenized fungi misrepresents fungal diversity. The foliose lichen genus Xanthoparmelia includes over 800 species displaying a complex array of morphological and secondary metabolite diversity. We used a multifaceted approach, applying phylogenetic, population genetic, and genealogical analyses to delimit species in a single well-supported monophyletic clade containing 10 morphologically and chemically diverse Xanthoparmelia species in western North America. Sequence data from four ribosomal and two low-copy, protein-coding markers, along with chemical and morphological data were used to assess species diversity. We found that traditionally circumscribed species are not supported by molecular data. Rather, all sampled taxa were better represented by three polymorphic population clusters. Our results suggest that secondary metabolite variation may have limited utility in diagnosing lineages within this group, while identified populations clusters did not reflect major phylogeographic or ecological patterns. In contrast to studies revealing previously undiscovered fungal lineages masked within lichen species circumscribed by traditional morphological and chemical concepts, the present study suggests that species diversity has been overestimated in the species-rich genus Xanthoparmelia.

The genus Karoowia (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) includes unrelated clades nested within Xanthoparmelia

Thallus morphology has traditionally played a major role in the classification of lichenised fungi. We have used a combined dataset of nuITS, nuLSU and mtSSU rDNA sequences to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships between the subcrustose genus Karoowia and the mostly foliose genus Xanthoparmelia. Our phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and a Bayesian approach show that Karoowia species do not form a monophyletic group but cluster in different clades nested within Xanthoparmelia. The monophyly of Karoowia either as a separate clade from Xanthoparmelia, or nested within Xanthoparmelia is significantly rejected using alternative hypothesis testing. These results suggest that the usefulness of the phenotypic features used to define Karoowia has been overestimated because the subcrustose growth form has evolved independently in several clades within Xanthoparmelia. Other characters used to circumscribe Karoowia, such as the presence of cylindrical conidia, also occur in Xanthoparmelia, and the differences in rhizine morphology are minimal. Consequently, we propose to reduce Karoowia to synonymy with Xanthoparmelia. The enlarged genus is characterised by the presence of Xanthoparmelia-type lichenan in the hyphal cell walls and the presence of an arachiform vacuolar body in the ascospores. Fifteen new combinations in Xanthoparmelia and the new name Xanthoparmelia mucinae for Karoowia squamatica are made.

Taxonomic Study on the Lichen Genus Xanthoparmelia (Ascomycotina, Parmeliaceae) in Korea

In previous studies investigating the genus Xanthoparmelia, thirteen different species have been reported from South Korea alone. However, there currently has been no revisional study performed until now. To explore the genus Xanthoparmelia, a phenotypic analysis was performed based on morphological, anatomical and chemical characters, while an investigation of Xanthoparmelia phylogeny was based on nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA ITS sequences. A thorough examination of the specimens deposited in the Korean Lichen Research Institute (KoLRI) confirmed that eight species of Xanthoparmelia occur inside South Korea. Our analysis further confirmed the colors of the lower surface and medullar chemistry are important taxonomic characters in Xanthoparmelia. This study also presents a detailed description of each species and a key to the genus.

Xanthoparmelia pseudohungarica in Spain

The genus Xanthoparmelia (Vain.) Hale (including Neofuscelia Essl.) currently includes more than 800 species (Blanco et al. 2004, 2005), 21 of which have been recorded in the Iberian Peninsula (Llimona & Hladun 2001). During recent studies of the lichen flora of Castilla y León by the first author, a rare, loosely adnate or vagrant, terricolous Xanthoparmelia has been found at two localities in Burgos province. Although a collection (VAL-Lich 20080) from one of the localities (Fresnillo de las Dueñas) was previously reported as the American species X. vagans (Nyl.) Hale (Pérez-Ortega et al. 2002), this collection has now been redetermined as X. pseudohungarica (Gyeln.) Hale.

A molecular phylogeny and a new classification of parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan (Ascomycota: Lecanorales)

AbstractGeneric concepts in the parmelioid lichens have been discussed intensively over the past three decades without reaching a broad consensus. We have now employed molecular data from three genes to provide a basis for a revised generic concept of the parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan. The phylogeny of the parmelioid lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan was reconstructed using a combined Bayesian analysis of nuclear ITS, LSU rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences, and a maximum parsimony analysis was also made for comparison. 179 new partial sequences of 58 taxa were generated and 12 sequences were downloaded from GenBank. Our results indicate that the lichens containing Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan form a monophyletic group. However, the segregates proposed earlier do not form distinct clades within the group. Alternative hypotheses of monophyletic Karoowia and Neofuscelia that are not nested within Xanthoparmelia were rejected with our dataset; Karoowia is polyphyletic, and Neofuscelia is reduced to synonymy under Xanthoparmelia. Xanthomaculina convoluta also belongs to Xanthoparmelia. Since we were unable to sequence the umbilicate type species of Xanthomaculina, we refrain from synonymizing that genus with Xanthoparmelia here. The synonymy of Chondropsis and Paraparmelia under Xanthoparmelia already proposed is supported. The revised and enlarged genus Xanthoparmelia includes species that have cell walls with Xanthoparmelia­type lichenan, a palisade plectenchyma with a pored epicortex, lack pseudocyphellae, with usually simple rhizines, generally bifusiform conidia, and medullary chemical diversity. Ten new names are proposed, and 129 new combinations are made into Xanthoparmelia.

Radial Growth and Habitat Selection by Morphologically Similar Chemotypes of Xanthoparmelia

Lichens in the genus Xanthoparmelia were studied at altitudes of 2,545-2,570 m on the East Slope of the Colorado Front Range. Xanthoparmelia lineola (Berry) Hale and X. subdecipiens (Vain.) Hale were the most numerous of five morphologically similar nonisidiate chemotypes identified by thin-layer chromatography. Recognition of the chemotypes as distinct species is supported by differences in annual radial growth under uniform conditions at a transplant locality, and differences in habitat selection along an environmental transect. Xanthoparmelia lineola grows 35% faster than X. subdecipiens during its linear growth phase. It is more tolerant than X. subdecipiens of late-lying snow, but less tolerant of dark-colored, mafic rock substrates. The absence of extremely large Xanthoparmelia thalli in the study area is attributed to former episodes of increased snow cover. Members of the genus Xanthoparmelia (Parmeliaceae) are among the fastest-growing of all saxicolous lichens; their annual and seasonal growth can be determined using repeat photography, tracings, and other direct-measurement techniques. Rapid growth and broad geographical distribution make the Xanthoparmeliae ideal subjects for studies in which environmental factors are manipulated, or experimental treatments applied, and lichen response is evaluated by monitoring growth (Armstrong 1975, 1976a, 1977a,b, 1984; Benedict 1990b, 1991; Brodo 1961, 1964; Fahselt 1976; Gilbert 1971; Hakulinen 1966; Lawrey & Hale 1979; Plummer & Moncrief 1964). To use lichens effectively for this purpose it is important to determine how their growth rates vary as a function of thallus diameter and age. The project reported here was originally designed to investigate the shape of the growth-rate curve of a single Xanthoparmelia species under uniform conditions in a high-altitude, continental environment. The experimental thalli were chosen because they were morphologically indistinguishable and were initially thought to represent a single taxon. All were yellowish-green above and tan to brown below, with chestnut-colored apothecial discs, and rounded lobes 1-5 mm wide. Isidia were lacking. Thalli were firmly attached to their rock substrates by abundant brown rhizines. After the growth-rate study was underway, chemical spot tests on voucher specimens indicated that the experimental thalli included several chemotypes. The study was expanded to address two additional questions: a) Do differences in habitat selection (W. Culberson & Culberson 1967) support treatment of the chemotypes as distinct species? b) Do the chemotypes grow at different rates under u iform environmental conditions?

A New Species in the Lichen Genus Xanthoparmelia from Texas

A New Species in the Lichen Genus Xanthoparmelia from Texas