Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Will-Wolf, Susan [1], Mark, Kristiina [2], Saag, Lauri [3], Leavitt, Steven D. [4], Nelsen, Matthew P. [5], Tíµrra, Tiiu [6], Saag, Andres [2], Randlane, Tiina [2], Lumbsch, H. Thorsten [7].

Potential studies on ecological patterns are suggested for the recently diversified Usnea section Usnea .

Opportunities to study novel ecological patterns in Usnea (Parmeliaceae) are suggested from results of molecular studies by Mark et al. (2016; Org., Divers., Evol. v16. DOI 10.1007/s13127-016-0273-7) on section Usnea in Europe and North America. Based on six nuclear markers (ITS, IGS, beta-tubulin, MCM7, RPB1 and RPB2) sequenced for 144 samples from 18 species, several distinct clades formed clusters of two or more traditional species. Morphological variation within these clusters (synonymy not yet proposed for most) might thus reflect different current ecological conditions rather than phylogeny. These character sets are the most likely candidates for ecological studies within a group: 1) fertile vs vegetative reproduction and squamatic vs thamnolic acid in Usnea florida + U. subfloridana; 2) medulla density, shape of soralia, and production of papillae, fibrils or isidiomorphs in U. fulvoreagens + U. glabrescens + U. pacificana; 3) base color and production of papillae, fibrils or isidiomorphs in U. barbata + U. chaetophora + U. dasopoga + U. diplotypus; and 4) degree of fertility, thallus form, shape of soralia, and production of isidiomorphs in U. barbata + U. intermedia + U. lapponica + U. substerilis. Several distinct clades represented traditional morphology-based species (Usnea cavernosa, U. praetervisa, U. silesiaca, U. wasmuthii), supporting the taxonomic value of their distinguishing morphological characters. One new species, Usnea parafloridana from Wisconsin, USA, is morphologically similar to U. subfloridana but has norstictic acid and differs from its closest relative U. wasmuthii in both chemistry and branching frequency. These latter sets of findings emphasize that the same morphological/chemical characters may have taxonomic significance for some species/groups but not others in the same section, so ecological patterns may not be generalizable beyond groups.

1 - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Botany, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison , WI, 53706, USA
2 - University Of Tartu, Institute Of Ecology And Earth Sciences, Lai Street 38-40, Tartu, N/A, 51005, Estonia
3 - Estonian Biocentre, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Tartu, Estonia
4 - The Field Museum, Science and Education, Chicago, IL, USA
5 - Stanford University, Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA
6 - University of Tartu, Estonian Marine Institute, Tallinn, Estonia
7 - The Field Museum, Department Of Botany, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA

Keywords:
ecology
Chemical Ecology
lichen
morphology
section Usnea
variation.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 8, Bryology and Lichenology (ABLS) I
Location: 205/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 9:45 AM
Number: 8004
Abstract ID:176
Candidate for Awards:None