Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia
It has long been assumed that lichen-forming fungi have very large distribution ranges, and that endemic species are rare in this group of organisms. This is likely a consequence of the “everything small is everywhere” paradigm that has been traditionally applied to cryptogams. However, the descript...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/3/166 |
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| author | Israel Pérez-Vargas Javier Tuero-Septién Nereida M. Rancel-Rodríguez José Antonio Pérez Miguel Blázquez |
| author_facet | Israel Pérez-Vargas Javier Tuero-Septién Nereida M. Rancel-Rodríguez José Antonio Pérez Miguel Blázquez |
| author_sort | Israel Pérez-Vargas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It has long been assumed that lichen-forming fungi have very large distribution ranges, and that endemic species are rare in this group of organisms. This is likely a consequence of the “everything small is everywhere” paradigm that has been traditionally applied to cryptogams. However, the description of numerous endemic species over the last decades, many of them in oceanic islands, is challenging this view. In this study, we provide another example, <i>Xanthoparmelia ramosae</i>, a species that is described here as new to science on the basis of morphological, chemical, and macroclimatic data, and three molecular markers (<i>ITS</i> rDNA, <i>nuLSU</i> rDNA, and <i>mtSSU</i>). The new species is endemic to the island of Gran Canaria but clusters into a clade composed exclusively of specimens collected in Eastern Africa, a disjunction that is here reported for the first time in lichen-forming fungi. Through the use of dating analysis, we have found that <i>Xanthoparmelia ramosae</i> diverged from its closely related African taxa in the Pliocene. This result, together with the reproductive strategy of the species, points to the Relict theory as a likely mechanism behind the disjunction, although the large gap in lichenological knowledge in Africa makes this possibility hard to explore any further. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:07:03Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:07:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d8f1d70c4544e15a22251804280e2c72024-03-27T13:49:35ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2024-02-0110316610.3390/jof10030166Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from MacaronesiaIsrael Pérez-Vargas0Javier Tuero-Septién1Nereida M. Rancel-Rodríguez2José Antonio Pérez3Miguel Blázquez4Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, Apdo Postal 456, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainDepartment of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, Apdo Postal 456, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainDepartment of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, Apdo Postal 456, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainInstituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Área de Genética, Universidad de La Laguna, Apdo Postal 456, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, SpainDepartment of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), 28014 Madrid, Madrid, SpainIt has long been assumed that lichen-forming fungi have very large distribution ranges, and that endemic species are rare in this group of organisms. This is likely a consequence of the “everything small is everywhere” paradigm that has been traditionally applied to cryptogams. However, the description of numerous endemic species over the last decades, many of them in oceanic islands, is challenging this view. In this study, we provide another example, <i>Xanthoparmelia ramosae</i>, a species that is described here as new to science on the basis of morphological, chemical, and macroclimatic data, and three molecular markers (<i>ITS</i> rDNA, <i>nuLSU</i> rDNA, and <i>mtSSU</i>). The new species is endemic to the island of Gran Canaria but clusters into a clade composed exclusively of specimens collected in Eastern Africa, a disjunction that is here reported for the first time in lichen-forming fungi. Through the use of dating analysis, we have found that <i>Xanthoparmelia ramosae</i> diverged from its closely related African taxa in the Pliocene. This result, together with the reproductive strategy of the species, points to the Relict theory as a likely mechanism behind the disjunction, although the large gap in lichenological knowledge in Africa makes this possibility hard to explore any further.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/3/166lichensCanary Islandsbiogeographydisjunctionsnew species |
| spellingShingle | Israel Pérez-Vargas Javier Tuero-Septién Nereida M. Rancel-Rodríguez José Antonio Pérez Miguel Blázquez Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia Journal of Fungi lichens Canary Islands biogeography disjunctions new species |
| title | Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia |
| title_full | Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia |
| title_short | Patterns of Endemism in Lichens: Another Paradigm-Shifting Example in the Lichen Genus <i>Xanthoparmelia</i> from Macaronesia |
| title_sort | patterns of endemism in lichens another paradigm shifting example in the lichen genus i xanthoparmelia i from macaronesia |
| topic | lichens Canary Islands biogeography disjunctions new species |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/3/166 |
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