| Atrophysma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Peltigerales |
| Family: | Pannariaceae |
| Genus: | Atrophysma T.Sprib. (2020) |
| Species: | A. cyanomelanos |
| Binomial name | |
| Atrophysma cyanomelanos T.Sprib. (2020) | |
Atrophysma is a fungal genus in the family Pannariaceae. It contains the single species Atrophysma cyanomelanos, a crustose lichen found only in Alaska.
Both the genus and species were described as new to science in 2020 by lichenologist Toby Spribille. The type specimen was discovered in Glacier Bay National Park, where it was found growing on argillite rock on the top of an alpine ridge; this location is typically covered by snow for most of the year. The generic name Atrophysma combines atra ("black") and physma ("to blow up or distend"); the specific epithet, which combines kyanos ("blue") and melas ("black"), alludes to the typical colors of the thallus and ascomata. [1]
The lichen had been discovered previously in a nearby location, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, as part of a similar lichen research survey in that area. It had been tentatively assigned to the genus Santessoniella , but not formally described as a new species. [2] The material found at Glacier Bay National Park was more substantive, allowing for a fuller characterization of the species, as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis. This showed that the lichen belonged to a distinct clade among other members of the Pannariaceae, and so Atrophysma was proposed to contain it. [1]
Atrophysma cyanomelanos is a cyanolichen, meaning that it has cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) as a photobiont partner. The lichen thallus is an olivaceous-brown crust up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter, although neighbouring thalli can coalesce to form larger entities. The thallus resembles a flattened coral with tiny finger-like lobes (measuring 70–150 μm in diameter) protruding through a black hypothallus. It has rounded, black apothecia (sexual reproductive organs), and simple ascospores that measure 11.0–16.0 by 7.1–8.1 μm. [1]
The Pannariaceae are a family of lichens in the order Peltigerales. Species from this family have a widespread distribution, but are especially prevalent in southern temperate regions.
Corticifraga is a genus of lichenicolous fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. The genus was circumscribed by David Leslie Hawksworth and Rolf Santesson in 1990, with Corticifraga peltigerae assigned as the type species.
Toensbergia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Sporastatiaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Mika Bendiksby and Einar Timdal in 2013. The genus name honours Norwegian lichenologist Tor Tønsberg, "in appreciation of his important work on sorediate, corticolous lichens". The type species is Toensbergia leucococca, which was formerly classified in genus Hypocenomyce, presumably due to its resemblance to Hypocenomyce xanthococca.
Steineropsis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Pannariaceae. It has two species. The genus was circumscribed by Toby Spribille and Lucia Muggia in 2010, with Steineropsis alaskana assigned as the type species. The type specimen of this lichen was found in Skagway, Alaska, where it was growing on a rock in a snowbed at an altitude of 1,051 m (3,448 ft). The generic name alludes to a resemblance to the genus Steinera. A second species, Steineropsis laceratula, also found in Alaska, was added to the genus in 2020. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that Steineropsis has a sister taxon relationship to genus Protopannaria.
Xenonectriella nephromatis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Nectriaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a species new to science in 2020 by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was discovered in the Hoonah–Angoon Census Area in Glacier Bay National Park, where it was growing on a Nephroma lichen. The specific epithet alludes to this host lichen.
Corticifraga nephromatis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Gomphillaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type was found in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the east arm of Glacier Bay, where it was growing on the thallus of the foliose lichen Nephroma bellum. The specific epithet refers to the host lichen.
Halecania athallina is a species of lichen in the family Leprocaulaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as new to science in 2020 by British lichenologist Alan Fryday. The type specimen was discovered in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in Glacier Bay National Park. There it was found growing on argillite rock on an alpine heath with rock outcrops.
Porpidia seakensis is a species of crustose lichen in the family Lecideaceae. It is an endolithic species, meaning it grows inside the rocks, between the grains. Found only in Alaska, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by British lichenologist Alan Fryday. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, in Glacier Bay National Park. Here it was discovered growing on granitic rock in a woodland. The lichen is only known from this area, although it is locally common. Its preferred habitat is siliceous rocks and boulders in wooded areas that are open and well lit. The specific epithet seakensis uses the letters "seak" to refer to a standard abbreviation for southeast Alaska.
Bacidina circumpulla is a species of crustose lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. Found in Alaska and British Columbia, it was described as a new species in 2020 by Stefan Ekman.
Fuscidea muskeg is a species of crustose lichen in the family Fuscideaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species in 2020 by Tor Tønsberg and Martina Zahradníková. The type species was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of Glacier Bay National Park. Here it was found growing on a branch of the tree Pinus contorta in muskeg. The specific epithet muskeg is an Algonquin word for a blanket bog.
Fuscopannaria dillmaniae is a species of lichen in the family Pannariaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologist Toby Spribille.
Lambiella aliphatica is a species of crustose lichen in the family Xylographaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species in 2020 by Toby Spribille and Philipp Resl. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of Glacier Bay National Park. Here it was found at an altitude of 907 m (2,976 ft) growing on an argillite rock in alpine scree. The specific epithet aliphatica refers to the unidentified fatty acids that are present in the thallus. It is the first member of genus Lambiella to contain primarily fatty acids in the thallus. Lambiella globulosa is similar in morphology, but this species contains stictic acid rather than fatty acids as the primary secondary metabolite.
Sclerococcum fissurinae is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Dactylosporaceae. Found in Alaska, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, just outside of Glacier Bay National Park. Here it was found growing on the script lichen species Fissurina insidiosa, which itself was growing on the bark of an alder tree. The specific epithet refers to its host.
Spilonema maritimum is a species of lichen in the family Coccocarpiaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologists Toby Spribille and Alan Fryday. The type specimen was collected in Juneau Borough, on the west side of Douglas Island. Here it was found growing on exposed seashore rocks roughly 2 m (6.6 ft) above the high tide line. Its specific epithet maritimum alludes to its close association with maritime rocks.
Miriquidica gyrizans is a species of lichen-forming fungus in the family Lecanoraceae. It is found in Alaska and the Yukon, where it grows on granitic boulders.
Sagiolechia phaeospora is a species of crustose lichen in the family Sagiolechiaceae. It is found in the alpine tundra of Alaska.
Niesslia peltigerae is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Niessliaceae. It was described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologist Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of Glacier Bay National Park, in muskeg and forest. The fungus was growing parasitically on the lichen Peltigera kristinssonii, which itself was growing on mountain hemlock. The specific epithet peltigerae alludes to the genus of its host. Infection by the fungus bleaches the thallus of the host lichen.
Ochrolechia cooperi is a species of crustose lichen in the family Ochrolechiaceae. Occurring only in southern Alaska, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologist Toby Spribille. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of Glacier Bay National Park, northeast of Gustavus. Here the lichen was found in muskeg growing on a conifer log that still had its bark. The specific epithet honors American ecologist William Skinner Cooper, "whose studies on plant succession in Glacier Bay and subsequent political lobbying efforts were influential in the establishment of Glacier Bay as a National Monument in 1925".
Toensbergia blastidiata is a species of crustose lichen in the family Sporastatiaceae. Found in northwestern North America, it was described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologists Toby Spribille and Tor Tønsberg. The type specimen was collected in Glacier Bay National Park at the base of Marble Mountain (Alaska). Here the lichen was found growing on the bark of Alnus viridis subsp. crispa. The specific epithet blastidiata refers to the "blastidiate thallus surface"; blastidia are vegetative propagules containing both mycobiont and photobiont, which are produced by yeast-like "budding".
Steineropsis laceratula is a species of crustose placodioid lichen in the family Pannariaceae. It was first formally described in 1902 by French lichenologist Auguste-Marie Hue as Pannaria laceratula. Per Magnus Jørgensen proposed a transfer to Fuscopannaria in 1994. The taxon shuffled genera again in 2020 by Toby Spribille and Stefan Ekman after molecular phylogenetic analysis of the DNA from specimens collected in Alaska revealed its correct classification in the genus Steineropsis. The type specimen was collected in 1904 from Hakkoda, Japan, at an elevation of 1,200 m (3,900 ft); here the lichen was found growing on the bark of birch, but the species also grows on rock.