Arthonia isidiata

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Arthonia isidiata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Arthoniaceae
Genus: Arthonia
Species:
A. isidiata
Binomial name
Arthonia isidiata
Grube, Lücking & L.Umaña (2004)

Arthonia isidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. [1] Found in Central America, it is characterized by its thin, shiny thallus, and isidia (reproductive propagules) that emerge from the surface. Discovered in Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park, and later recorded from Panama, this species thrives in lowland tropical coastal rainforests on smooth bark of smaller, often young trees.

Contents

Taxonomy

Arthonia isidiata was first formally described by lichenologists Martin Grube, Robert Lücking, and Loengrin Umaña-Tenorio as a new species of lichen in 2004. The type specimen was collected in 2003, in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. The lichen is named for the presence of isidia, which is a rare occurrence in the family Graphidaceae; [2] Arthothelium isidiatum is the only other member of the family to have this reproductive propagule. [3]

Arthonia isidiata does not belong to the genus Arthonia in the strict sense but seems to be related to a group of chiefly foliicolous taxa that are assigned to Arthonia sensu lato and Eremothecella . The authors suggest that molecular phylogenetic studies are needed to clarify natural relationships in this complex group of mostly tropical taxa. [2]

Description

Arthonia isidiata has a pale greenish to green, continuous, smooth, and shiny thallus, with isidia emerging from the surface. Isidia are cylindrical to knotted, simple to coralloid , and can grow up to 0.4 mm tall and 20–30 μm in diameter. The lichen's ascomata are black and irregularly rounded, with a diameter of up to 2.5 mm. [2]

One unique feature of this species is its thin and shiny thallus, which contrasts with many other corticolous Arthonia species. Moreover, the isidia of Arthonia isidiata closely resemble the isidiate protuberances of certain Porina species, which are common in the same habitat. [2]

Habitat and distribution

Arthonia isidiata occurs in lowland tropical coastal rainforests, specifically in Parque Nacional Corcovado in Costa Rica. It grows frequently on trees with smooth bark in the area, but has not been found in the apparently drier forests south of the field station. The forest where the type locality of Arthonia isidiata thrives consists of a mixture of sandy and alluvial soils, with a sparse understory and light conditions ranging from moderately exposed to rather shaded. [2] In 2017, it was reported to occur in Panama. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthoniaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Arthoniaceae are a family of lichenized, lichenicolous and saprobic fungi in the order Arthoniales. The Arthoniaceae is the largest family of Arthoniales, with around 800 species. Most species in Arthoniaceae belong in Arthonia which is the largest genus with 500 species. The second and third largest genus is Arthothelium with 80 species, and Cryptothecia with 60 species.

<i>Acanthotrema</i> Genus of lichen

Acanthotrema is a genus of lichens in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by German lichenologist Andreas Frisch in 2006, with Acanthotrema brasilianum assigned as the type species. Acanthotrema species are commonly found in rainforests ranging from lowland to montane environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trypetheliaceae</span> Family of mainly lichen-forming fungi

The Trypetheliaceae are a family of mainly lichen-forming fungi in the order Trypetheliales. The family consists almost exclusively of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with an almost strictly tropical distribution.

Hypotrachyna lueckingii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is only known to occur at high elevations on the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica.

Sagenidiopsis isidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) byssoid lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. Found in tropical montane rainforests throughout Central America, South America, and the Antilles, it was described as new to science in 2011. The lichen is characterised by its cream-coloured to greyish thallus and numerous pseudoisidia, which are small, cylindrical outgrowths on its surface.

Ampliotrema cocosense is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Cocos Island, Costa Rica, it was described as new to science in 2011. Its distinctive features include its large, muriform ascospores and a notable chemical composition.

Anomomorpha tuberculata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in rare cerrado vegetation in southern Costa Rica, it was described as new to science in 2011. It is characterised by its conspicuous tubercles on the thallus and sessile lirellae.

<i>Coenogonium</i> Genus of lichen

Coenogonium is a genus of filamentous lichens in the monotypic family Coenogoniaceae. It has about 90 species. Most species are leaf-dwelling or grow on bark, although a few are known to grow on rocks under certain conditions, and some are restricted to growth on termite nests. The genus was circumscribed in 1820 by German naturalist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Tapellaria isidiata is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Lecanoraceae. Found in Cameroon, it was described as a new species in 2021 by lichenologists Klaus Kalb and André Aptroot. The type was collected from Campo, where it was found growing on tree bark on a beach. The lichen has a glossy, mineral-grey thallus with whitish patches, and is bordered by a black hypothallus measuring 0.2–0.6 mm wide. The specific epithet isidiata refers to the presence of isidia, a characteristic of this species: it is the first in genus Tapellaria to have vegetative propagules. The lichen is unreactive to standard chemical spot tests.

Ocellularia albobullata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was described as new to science in 2011 by lichenologists Robert Lücking, Harrie Sipman, and Martin Grube. The type specimen was collected by Grube in Corcovado National Park at sea level. The lichen is known to occur in several locations in the coastal rainforest of southern Costa Rica. The specific epithet albobullata refers to the colour and form of the thallus, which is both white (albo-) and bullate. Ocellularia albobullata contains several secondary chemicals, including psoromic acid, subpsoromic acid, and 2'-O-demethylpsoromic acid.

Haematomma nicoyense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Haematommataceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2006 by Matthew Nelsen, Robert Lücking, and José Luis Chaves. The type specimen was collected from the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in the Nicoya Peninsula at an elevation between 750 and 900 m. Here, in lowland to lower montane moist forests, the species was found growing on the lower trunks of exposed trees and on fence posts. The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Haematomma staigeriae is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Haematommataceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2006 by Matthew Nelsen, Robert Lücking, and Loengrin Umaña. The type specimen was collected by the second author from the Talamanca Ridge in the Pacific La Amistad Conservation Area (Puntarenas) at an elevation between 1,600 and 1,800 m. Here, in a montane rainforest area with secondary vegetation dominated by Cecropia, the species was found growing on the lower trunks of trees. It is only known from the type locality. The specific epithet honours German lichenologist Bettina Staiger "for her contribution to the taxonomy and understanding of this genus".

<i>Acanthotrema alboisidiatum</i> Species of lichen

Acanthotrema alboisidiatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Described as a new species in 2014, it is primarily distinguished by its striking white isidia that contrast with its light olive-green thallus. The lichen was recognized as a new species despite the absence of ascomata and ascospores, usually crucial for taxonomic identification. Its DNA sequence data confirms its place in the Acanthotrema genus but distinguishes it from other known members of this genus. The species grows up to a diameter of 5 cm (2 in) and bears short, white isidiate outgrowths that resemble insect eggs. The lichen appears to favour the shaded understory of Tabonuco forests in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, particularly towards the base of Dacryodes excelsa trees.

Acanthotrema kalbii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. First classified as a new species in 2012, the lichen is found in Costa Rica, where it grows in partially shaded areas of disturbed primary forest within the montane rainforest zone. This lichen stands out from its close relative, A. brasilianum, primarily due to the internal structure of its larger ascospores. The inaugural specimen of A. kalbii used for the species' formal description, was located on tree bark in a montane rainforest in the Las Tablas Protected Zone. The lichen is recognisable by its grey-green thallus, which varies from smooth to uneven and produces slender isidia, tiny outgrowths, up to 2 mm in length.

Coenogonium kalbii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Coenogoniaceae. It has been found in variety of locations in the southern region of Costa Rica, primarily in humid, shaded microsites within low-mountain rainforest environments.

Compositrema isidiofarinosum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. This lichen was discovered in Puerto Rico. It flourishes in the shaded understory of the palo Colorado forest in El Yunque National Forest, clinging to the trunks of unidentified trees.

Porina monilisidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trichotheliaceae, first described in 2016. This species is characterised by its shiny, olive-green thallus with numerous isidia and low conical ascomata.

Myriotrema frondosolucens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in Costa Rica.

<i>Diorygma antillarum</i> Species of lichen

Diorygma antillarum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is common and widespread in the Neotropical realm, primarily found on trees in the shady understory and in slightly illuminated habitats of lowland to montane rainforests. It produces norstictic acid and salazinic acid.

References

  1. "Arthonia isidiata Grube, Lücking & L. Umaña". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Grube, Martin; Lücking, Robert; Umaña-Tenorio, Loengrin (2004). "A new isidiate species of Arthonia (Ascomycota: Arthoniaceae) from Costa Rica". Mycologia. 96 (5): 1159–1162. doi:10.1080/15572536.2005.11832915.
  3. 1 2 Etayo, Javier; Aptroot, André (2017). "New and interesting lichens from Panama". The Bryologist. 120 (4): 501–510. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-120.4.501.