Luis Fernando Coca

A single macrolichen constitutes hundreds of unrecognized species

Significance Macrolichens are considered to be well known, including the tropical montane basidiolichen fungus Dictyonema glabratum, also known as Cora pavonia, an important component of threatened paramo ecosystems, where it acts as a biological fertilizer due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This lichen was long believed to represent a single species, but after revising this number to 16 in two genera (Cora and Corella), here we show that at least 126 phylogenetically and morphologically distinct species are contained within this group, with statistical analysis predicting more than 400. Our findings underline the importance of accurately documenting species richness for conservation purposes and support the notion of neotropical paramos as hotspots of recent diversification in plants, animals, and fungi. The number of Fungi is estimated at between 1.5 and 3 million. Lichenized species are thought to make up a comparatively small portion of this figure, with unrecognized species richness hidden among little-studied, tropical microlichens. Recent findings, however, suggest that some macrolichens contain a large number of unrecognized taxa, increasing known species richness by an order of magnitude or more. Here we report the existence of at least 126 species in what until recently was believed to be a single taxon: the basidiolichen fungus Dictyonema glabratum, also known as Cora pavonia. Notably, these species are not cryptic but morphologically distinct. A predictive model suggests an even larger number, with more than 400 species. These results call into question species concepts in presumably well-known macrolichens and demonstrate the need for accurately documenting such species richness, given the importance of these lichens in endangered ecosystems such as paramos and the alarming potential for species losses throughout the tropics.

Neotropical members of Sticta (lichenized Ascomycota: Lobariaceae) forming photosymbiodemes, with the description of seven new species

Abstract As part of a larger systematic and taxonomic revision of the genus Sticta in the northern Andes, several species were discovered forming green algal and cyanobacterial photosymbiodemes, seven of which are new to science and are described here—S. lobarioides Moncada & Coca, S. macrothallina Moncada & Coca, S. neopulmonarioides Moncada & Coca, S. phyllidiokunthii Moncada & Lücking, S. pseudolobaria Moncada & Coca, S. pulmonarioides Moncada & Coca, and S. tatamana Moncada & Coca. All species are discussed and illustrated, and a key to species with Lobaria pulmonaria gross morphology is given.

Six new apotheciate species of Sticta (lichenized Ascomycota: Lobariaceae ) from the Colombian Andes

As part of a phylogenetic and taxonomic revision of the lichenized genus Sticta in Colombia, six new species with apotheciate thalli but lacking vegetative propagules are described: Sticta atroandensis Moncada & Lucking sp. nov., S. brevior Moncada & Lucking sp. nov., S. lumbschiana Moncada & Lucking sp. nov., S. macrocyphellata Moncada & Coca sp. nov., S. parahumboldtii Moncada & Lucking sp. nov., and S. pseudohumboldtii Moncada & Lucking sp. nov. The last two are related to S. humboldtii but phylogenetically distinct and differ in details of cyphellae morphology and spot reactions. Sticta atroandensis is similar to S. andensis but has a dark lower tomentum, whereas S. brevior belongs in the S. kunthii group, being characterized by mainly laminal apothecia with tomentose margins and a rather stout thallus. Both S. lumbschiana and S. macrocyphellata form part of the S. dilatata group and can be characterized by their lobe surface structure and cyphellae anatomy. Keys to species of the S. dilatata and S. humboldtii groups are presented.

From one to six: unrecognized species diversity in the genus Acantholichen (lichenized Basidiomycota: Hygrophoraceae)

We present a taxonomic revision of the lichenized basidiomycete genus Acantholichen, species of which produce a characteristic blue-gray, microsquamulose thallus with spiny apical hyphal cells known as acanthohyphidia. Since its discovery, the genus was thought to be monospecific, only including the generic type, A. pannarioides. However, a detailed morphological and anatomical study of recently collected specimens from the Galápagos, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia, combined with a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region and 28S of the nuc rDNA and RPB2 sequences, revealed a much more diverse and widespread species assemblage. Based on the results of these analyses, we describe five new species in the genus: A. albomarginatus, A. campestris, A. galapagoensis, A. sorediatus and A. variabilis. We also provide an identification key to all species, anatomical and morphological descriptions, photographs and a table comparing main characters of each species.

Pseudocyphellaria crocata (Ascomycota: Lobariaceae) in the Americas is revealed to be thirteen species, and none of them is P. crocata

Abstract We provide a phylogenetic revision of the Pseudocyphellaria crocata complex in the Americas. Specimens traditionally identified as P. crocata, based on their cyanobacterial photobiont, yellow pseudocyphellae, at least partially white medulla, and yellow soralia or soralia-like structures, are shown to represent 13 distinct species, forming a monophyletic group divided into four large clades, three comprising one species each and one containing eight species, plus two taxa for which no molecular data are available. Seven species correspond to what was previously recognized as P. crocata and one to P. dozyana, whereas a further one is identified as the sorediate counterpart of the usually apotheciate taxon P. lechleri and another as a pseudosorediate morph of the usually phyllidiate species P. neglecta. Surprisingly, none of the species represents P. crocata s.str., which must therefore be excluded from the American lichen biota. The 13 recognized species include three species new to science and three new combinations: P. citrina (Gyeln.) Lücking, Moncada & S.Stenroos, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta citrina Gyeln., nom. nov. pro Sticta citrina Pers. nom. illeg.], P. desfontainii (Delise) Vain., P. deyi Lücking, sp. nov., P. dozyana (Mont. & Bosch) D.J.Galloway, P. epiflavoides (Gyeln.) Lücking, Farkas & Lőkös, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta epiflavoides Gyeln.], P. hawaiiensis H.Magn., P. hillii (C.W.Dodge) D.J.Galloway, P. holarctica McCune, Lücking & Moncada, sp. nov., P. lechleri (Müll. Arg.) Du Rietz, P. neglecta (Müll. Arg.) H.Magn., P. punctata Lendemer, Lücking & Moncada sp. nov., P. sandwicensis (Zahlbr.) Moncada & Lücking, comb. nov. [bas.: Sticta crocata f. sandwicensis Zahlbr.], and P. xanthosticta (Pers.) Moncada & Lücking. Based on sequenced specimens, a neotype is selected for P. citrina and epitypes for P. hawaiiensis, P. lechleri, P. sandwicensis and P. xanthosticta. A key to all sorediate or pseudosorediate species of this complex in the Americas is presented, and all species are described, discussed and illustrated.

Two new, sympatric and semi-cryptic species of Sulzbacheromyces (Lichenized Basidiomycota, Lepidostromatales) from the Chocó Biogeographic Region in Colombia

Abstract Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is well-established as universal DNA barcode marker for Fungi. Here we examined the utility of DNA barcoding for delimiting species in lichenized Basidiomycota from Colombia, focusing on the genus Sulzbacheromyces (Lepidostromatales). The topology of the best-scoring maximum likelihood tree based on ITS data shows eight separate, well-supported lineages within Sulzbacheromyces, including the six already known species S. caatingae from Brazil, S. miomboensis De Kesel & Ertz from Africa, and S. bicolor, S. fossicola, S. sinensis, and S. yunnanensis from Asia. In addition, two further, sympatric and semi-cryptic species from the Chocó Biogeographic Region, one of the most diverse regions of the world, are recognized: S. chocoensis Coca, Lücking & Moncada sp. nov and S. tutunendo Coca, Lücking & Moncada sp. nov. Both form separate, strongly supported species-level lineages, but differ morphologically from each other and from S. caatingae in minor details only, which are best assessed with fresh material in the field.