Alan M. Fryday

Global assessment of genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in the lichen-forming species Tephromela atra

Understanding how many species exist and the processes by which they form remains a central topic of ecological and evolutionary biology, but represents a special challenge within microbial groups. The lichen-forming fungi represent one of the best examples in which species evolution and diversity create patterns of high phenotypic plasticity coupled with wide geographic distributions. We sampled the lichen-forming species Tephromela atra and related species at a world-wide scale to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis using three nuclear markers. Samples were also studied for morphological and chemical traits to assess how well the phenotypic relationships with species, previously segregated from T. atra, agrees with molecular data. We used a genealogical concordance approach and identified 15 monophyletic clades, which may represent independent lineages. By combining morphological and chemical characters, ecological preferences and geographic origin we distinguish six different species. Although subtle phenotypical traits are frequently used for describing previously cryptic species in fungi, the continuum of variability found in morphology and chemical patterns in T. atra prevents the description of new taxa with characteristic traits. We observed that phenotypic characters arise in parallel at local or regional scale but are not correlated with genetic isolation. Therefore, they are insufficient for characterizing species with broad geographic ranges within T. atra.

Diagnostics for a troubled backbone: testing topological hypotheses of trapelioid lichenized fungi in a large-scale phylogeny of Ostropomycetidae (Lecanoromycetes)

Trapelioid fungi constitute a widespread group of mostly crust-forming lichen mycobionts that are key to understanding the early evolutionary splits in the Ostropomycetidae, the second-most species-rich subclass of lichenized Ascomycota. The uncertain phylogenetic resolution of the approximately 170 species referred to this group contributes to a poorly resolved backbone for the entire subclass. Based on a data set including 657 newly generated sequences from four ribosomal and four protein-coding gene loci, we tested a series of a priori and new evolutionary hypotheses regarding the relationships of trapelioid clades within Ostropomycetidae. We found strong support for a monophyletic group of nine core trapelioid genera but no statistical support to reject the long-standing hypothesis that trapelioid genera are sister to Baeomycetaceae or Hymeneliaceae. However, we can reject a sister group relationship to Ostropales with high confidence. Our data also shed light on several long-standing questions, recovering Anamylopsoraceae nested within Baeomycetaceae, elucidating two major monophyletic groups within trapelioids (recognized here as Trapeliaceae and Xylographaceae), and rejecting the monophyly of the genus Rimularia. We transfer eleven species of the latter genus to Lambiella and describe the genus Parainoa to accommodate a previously misunderstood species of Trapeliopsis. Past phylogenetic studies in Ostropomycetidae have invoked “divergence order” for drawing taxonomic conclusions on higher level taxa. Our data show that if backbone support is lacking, contrasting solutions may be recovered with different or added data. We accordingly urge caution in concluding evolutionary relationships from unresolved phylogenies.

The Lichen Collection of Henry Imshaug at the Michigan State University Herbarium (msc)

Abstract The lichen collection assembled by Dr. Henry Imshaug at the herbarium of Michigan State University (msc) is described. It is not only one of the largest in North America, but is notable also for its geographic range, including important collections from the Caribbean and several southern hemisphere island groups. Until recently this collection was not readily accessible, but it is now fully available to researchers through loans and visits.

A New Species of Fuscopannaria with a Green Photobiont, and Other Taxonomic Innovations and New Records of Lichenized-Fungi from Alaska

Abstract The new species, Fuscopannaria globigera Fryday & P. M. Jørg, is described, Catillaria jemtlandica is transferred to Megalaria with Lecidea sublimosa included as a synonym, and Pyrenocollema bryospilum is transferred to Collemopsidium. Epigloea medioincrassata and Lecidea haerjedalica are recorded for the first time from North America and Arthonia lapidicola, Caloplaca spitsbergensis, C. variabilis, Dactylospora deminuta, and Rhizocarpon lecanorinum are documented for the first time from Alaska.

A reassessment of the genera Chromatochlamys and Thelenella, and a new species of Strigula from the British Isles

Strigula confusa Fryday, Coppins & Common is described from the western British Isles, where it grows over bryophytes on mildly basic rocks. The concept of the genus Thelenella is expanded to include Chromatochlamys and the following new combinations are made: Thelenella larbalestieri (A. L. Sm.) Coppins & Fryday, Thelenella muscorum var. octospora (Nyl.) Coppins & Fryday, Thelenella vezdae (H. Mayrhofer & Poelt) Coppins & Fryday. Thelenella sordidula (Th. Fr.) H. Mayrhofer is reported for the first time from Europe (Svalbard).

Reassessment of the genus Catillochroma (lichenized Ascomycota, Ramalinaceae )

The species assigned to the genus Catillochroma are reassessed. The two characters used to characterize Catillochroma, exciple anatomy and thalline chemistry, are shown to be variable and contradictory with a number of intermediates. Consequently, Catillochroma is reduced to synonymy with Megalaria, and the species previously placed in Catillochroma transferred, or returned, to Megalaria. As such, the following new combinations are proposed: Megalaria anaglyptica, M. endo- chroma, M. intermiscensand M. leptocheila. The genus Lopezariais also shown to be related to Megalaria and to be closely related to the type species of Catillochroma, C. endochroma, and so is also reduced to synonymy with Megalaria. A number of species found to have been misplaced in Catillaria are also transferred to Megalaria: M. leucochlora, M. melanopotamica, M. obludens, M. pannosa and M. phaeolomiza. Megalaria imshaugii is reduced to synonymy with M. obludens, Megalaria pannosa is reported for the first time from North America and Lopezaria isidiza is reported for the first time from outside Asia from Jamaica.

Bryobilimbia , a new generic name for Lecidea hypnorum and closely related species

The new generic name Bryobilimbia is proposed for Lecidea hypnorum and the closely related taxa Lecidea ahlesii var. ahlesii, L. ahlesii var. nemoralis, L. diapensiae, L. sanguineoatra and Mycobilimbia australis. A phylogenetic analysis based on five genes shows that Lecidea berengeriana does not belong to this group but is more closely related to Romjularia. Both groups of species have been included in Mycobilimbia by some authors but are instead shown to be most closely related to a group of genera (including Clauzadea, Farnoldia, Lecidoma and Romjularia) that do not belong to Lecideaceae s. str. A neotype is selected for Lichen sanguineoater Wulfen and the new combinations Bryobilimbia ahlesii var. ahlesii, B. ahlesii var. nemoralis, B. australis, B. diapensiae, B. hypnorum and B. sanguineoatra are proposed. A lectotype is also selected for L. templetonii Taylor.

Three New Species in the Catillariaceae From the Central Highlands of Scotland

Three species are recognized as additions to the British montane lichen flora: Catillaria gilbertii sp. nov.,Halecania bryophila sp. nov., andH. micacea sp. nov. All three have so far been recorded only from the mica-schist mountains of the Central Highlands of Scotland. ? 1996 The British Lichen Society

Distribution and importance of the lichen vegetation of the Scottish Highlands

Summary The mountains of the Western Highlands of Scotland support a lichen vegetation that is apparently unique in Europe, and probably the world. This lichen vegetation consists mainly of microlichens and is important both intrinsically, with a number of rare and apparently endemic taxa and communities, and as a major contributor to the botanical biodiversity of the ecosystem. By contrast, the lichen vegetation of the Eastern Highlands, which consists mostly of terricolous macrolichens, is best considered a fragmented, species-poor outlier of that present in Scandinavia and is of national interest only.

A New Species of Schaereria (Lichenized Fungi) from the Falkland Islands

Abstract The new species, Schaereria porpidioides, is described from collections made by H. A. Imshaug & R. C. Harris from the Falkland Islands in 1968. The systematic position of Schaereria, with respect to its relationship to Trapelia, is discussed.