Néstor L. Hladun

Phylogenetic reassessment of the Teloschistaceae (lichen-forming Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes).

The Teloschistaceae is a widespread family with considerable morphological and ecological heterogeneity across genera and species groups. In order to provide a comprehensive molecular phylogeny for this family, phylogenetic analyses were carried out on sequences from the nuclear ribosomal ITS region obtained from 114 individuals that represent virtually all main lineages of Teloschistaceae. Our study confirmed the polyphyly of Caloplaca, Fulgensia and Xanthoria, and revealed that Teloschistes is probably non-monophyletic. We also confirm here that species traditionally included in Caloplaca subgenus Gasparrinia do not form a monophyletic entity. Caloplaca aurantia, C. carphinea and C. saxicola s. str. groups were recovered as monophyletic. The subgenera Caloplaca and Pyrenodesmia were also polyphyletic. In the subgenus Caloplaca, the traditionally recognized C. cerina group was recovered as monophyletic. Because this study is based solely on ITS, to maximize taxon sampling, the inclusion of phylogenetic signal from ambiguously aligned regions in MP (recoded INAASE and arc characters) resulted in the most highly supported phylogenetic reconstruction, compared with Bayesian inference restricted to alignable sites.

Molecular phylogenetic studies reveal an undescribed species within the North American concept of Melanelixia glabra ( Parmeliaceae )

We employ a molecular phylogenetic approach using nuclear ITS and mitochondrial SSU rDNA gene regions to test the general efficacy of species boundaries in the morphological species Melanelixia glabra. 35 new sequences are generated for this study. Our results provide evidence that M. glabra is polyphyletic, indicating that using only morphological criteria to define species boundaries in this group of lichenised fungi underestimates actual species-level diversity. These analyses also demonstrate that the geographically distant population of the M. glabra complex in North America is the sister group of two Indian species (M. glabroides and M. villosella) and exhibits considerable molecular divergence from the European and Turkish specimens (M. glabra s. str). Additionally, some minor morphological differences support the isolation of the American clade. Such results strongly suggest that this population of M. glabra is a new phylogenetic (morphological+phylogenetic) taxon that is described here as a new species (Melanelixia californica). Our approach using two independent genes appears to be a rigorous method to critically examine species boundaries originally based on traditional morphological approaches in this group of lichenised fungi. Our study shows that the use of morphology, molecular data and geography provide a robust approach to delimitation of phylogenetic species.

Bacidia thyrrenica (Ramalinaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), a new species from the Mediterranean region, and a comparison of European members of the Bacidia rubella group

Bacidia thyrrenica (Ramalinaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), a new species from the Mediterranean region, and a comparison of European members of the Bacidia rubella group

Mycocalicium llimonae , a new species from the Iberian Peninsula

The new species, Mycocalicium llimonae , is described based on specimens collected from cones of Pinus halepensis in the west of the Iberian Peninsula. The new taxon is compared with the other species of the genus Mycocalicium in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Mycocalicium subtile , and also with other genera in the Mycocaliciaceae .

First report of the pantropical species Diploschistes rampoddensis from Europe.

The lichen species Diploschistes rampoddensis, previously known only from a few localities in tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania, is reported here for the first time in Europe. A detailed description, including macroand microscopic characters, and comparisons with closely related taxa are also provided. Molecular analyses based on the nrITS were used to confirm this new record for the European lichen biota.