An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity?
With rare exceptions, the shape and appearance of lichen thalli are determined by the fungal partner; thus, mycobiont identity is normally used for lichen identification. However, it has repeatedly been shown in recent decades that phenotypic data often does not correspond with fungal gene evolution...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/3/275 |
| _version_ | 1827628940316901376 |
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| author | Jana Steinová Håkon Holien Alica Košuthová Pavel Škaloud |
| author_facet | Jana Steinová Håkon Holien Alica Košuthová Pavel Škaloud |
| author_sort | Jana Steinová |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With rare exceptions, the shape and appearance of lichen thalli are determined by the fungal partner; thus, mycobiont identity is normally used for lichen identification. However, it has repeatedly been shown in recent decades that phenotypic data often does not correspond with fungal gene evolution. Here, we report such a case in a three-species complex of red-fruited <i>Cladonia</i> lichens, two of which clearly differ morphologically, chemically, ecologically and in distribution range. We analysed 64 specimens of <i>C. bellidiflora</i>, <i>C. polydactyla</i> and <i>C. umbricola</i>, mainly collected in Europe, using five variable mycobiont-specific and two photobiont-specific molecular markers. All mycobiont markers exhibited very low variability and failed to separate the species. In comparison, photobiont identity corresponded better with lichen phenotype and separated esorediate <i>C. bellidiflora</i> from the two sorediate taxa. These results can be interpreted either as an unusual case of lichen photomorphs or as an example of recent speciation, in which phenotypic differentiation precedes the separation of the molecular markers. We hypothesise that association with different photobionts, which is probably related to habitat differentiation, may have triggered speciation in the mycobiont species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:42:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df6e0474f16b4588aa54d76f12e8fea6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:42:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-df6e0474f16b4588aa54d76f12e8fea62023-11-30T21:05:08ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2022-03-018327510.3390/jof8030275An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity?Jana Steinová0Håkon Holien1Alica Košuthová2Pavel Škaloud3Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech RepublicFaculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Pb 2501, NO-7729 Steinkjer, NorwayDepartment of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech RepublicWith rare exceptions, the shape and appearance of lichen thalli are determined by the fungal partner; thus, mycobiont identity is normally used for lichen identification. However, it has repeatedly been shown in recent decades that phenotypic data often does not correspond with fungal gene evolution. Here, we report such a case in a three-species complex of red-fruited <i>Cladonia</i> lichens, two of which clearly differ morphologically, chemically, ecologically and in distribution range. We analysed 64 specimens of <i>C. bellidiflora</i>, <i>C. polydactyla</i> and <i>C. umbricola</i>, mainly collected in Europe, using five variable mycobiont-specific and two photobiont-specific molecular markers. All mycobiont markers exhibited very low variability and failed to separate the species. In comparison, photobiont identity corresponded better with lichen phenotype and separated esorediate <i>C. bellidiflora</i> from the two sorediate taxa. These results can be interpreted either as an unusual case of lichen photomorphs or as an example of recent speciation, in which phenotypic differentiation precedes the separation of the molecular markers. We hypothesise that association with different photobionts, which is probably related to habitat differentiation, may have triggered speciation in the mycobiont species.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/3/275<i>Asterochloris</i>barcoding<i>Cladonia</i>lichensspeciationspecies delimitation |
| spellingShingle | Jana Steinová Håkon Holien Alica Košuthová Pavel Škaloud An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? Journal of Fungi <i>Asterochloris</i> barcoding <i>Cladonia</i> lichens speciation species delimitation |
| title | An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? |
| title_full | An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? |
| title_fullStr | An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? |
| title_short | An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? |
| title_sort | exception to the rule could photobiont identity be a better predictor of lichen phenotype than mycobiont identity |
| topic | <i>Asterochloris</i> barcoding <i>Cladonia</i> lichens speciation species delimitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/3/275 |
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