Caloplaca cupulifera

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Caloplaca cupulifera
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Caloplaca
Species:
C. cupulifera
Binomial name
Caloplaca cupulifera
(Vain.) Zahlbr. (1931)
Synonyms [1]
  • Placodium cupuliferumVain. (1915)

Caloplaca cupulifera is a widely distributed species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. [2] It has a chrome-yellow thallus with bright yellow cup-shaped soredia (powdery vegetative propagules). Although originally described as a new species in 1915 and placed in the large genus Caloplaca in 1931, modern molecular phylogenetics suggests that its classification requires an update.

Contents

Taxonomy

The lichen was first formally described as a new species in 1915 by Finnish lichenologist Edvard August Vainio as a member of the genus Placodium. The type specimen was collected by Frederik Børgesen from Saint John, one of the Virgin Islands. Alexander Zahlbruckner transferred it to the Caloplaca in 1931. [3]

Modern molecular phylogenetic studies have affirmed the placement of this species in this subfamily Teloschistoideae in the family Teloschistaceae. These results demonstrate that its genetic lineage is distinct from the Caloplaca (in the strict sense), a genus that is part of the subfamily Caloplacoideae. [4]

Description

Caloplaca cupulifera is distinguished by its rimose -areolate to areolate thallus, with marginal areoles that are irregularly lobate but not distinctly effigurate or placodioid . The thallus has a deep chrome-yellow colour, with a smooth yet dull and non-shiny surface. This species is characterised by its unique crateriform (or 'cupuliform') soralia , measuring 0.2–0.4 mm in diameter. These soralia are often deeply abraded , showing excavate features with granular , bright yellow soredia (15–34  μm in diameter). Apothecia have not been observed to occur in this species. [4]

The secondary chemical makeup of Caloplaca cupulifera includes fragilin, a lichen product that contributes to the thallus's chrome-yellow colour and the soredia's bright yellow hue. Other compounds such as 7-chloroemodinal, 7-chloroemodic acid, 7-chloroemodin, and norcaloploicin are occasionally present in smaller amounts. [4]

Habitat and distribution

Caloplaca cupulifera is believed to have a potentially global distribution in dry (sub-)tropical regions. Originally reported from the New World, including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the Galapagos, it has also been recorded from Australia. In the Galapagos, it is quite common, especially along the coast and in the dry zone, where it typically grows beneath shaded and sheltered rock overhangs. The species has uniform internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequence data in specimens from the Galapagos, while those from Australia have slightly different ITS sequences, suggesting the presence of various genotypes across different global regions. [4] In northern North America, Caloplaca cupulifera grows on acidic rocks on the western coast, with a range extending north to northern Oregon and south to northern Baja California. [5] It is widely distributed in India, where it grows on both calcareous and non-calcareous rocks in moist and dry habitats of temperate to tropical areas. [6] It is one of two saxicolous lichens implicated in the slow degradation of the Konark Sun Temple in India. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The Teloschistaceae are a large family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. Collectively, the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, although members occur predominantly in subtropical and temperate regions. Although most members are lichens that either live on rock or on bark, about 40 species are lichenicolous – meaning they are non-lichenised fungi that live on other lichens. Many members of the Teloschistaceae are readily identifiable by their vibrant orange to yellow hue, a result of their frequent anthraquinone content. The presence of these anthraquinone pigments, which confer protection from ultraviolet light, enabled this group to expand from shaded forest habitats to harsher environmental conditions of sunny and arid ecosystems during the Late Cretaceous.

<i>Ikaeria</i> Genus of fungi

Ikaeria is a genus of two species of crustose lichens in the family Teloschistaceae. Both species grow on twig bark of shrubs and trees. It was circumscribed in 2017 by lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk, Dalip Kumar Upreti, and Jae-Seoun Hur, with Ikaeria aurantiellina assigned as the type species. This lichen was previously placed in the genus Caloplaca, but molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that it belonged in a lineage that was genetically distinct from that genus. Ikaeria serusiauxii was added to the genus in 2020.

Filsoniana is a genus of squamulose lichens in the family Teloschistaceae. It has six species. It was circumscribed in 2013 by Ingvar Kärnefelt, Arne Thell, Jae-Seoun Hur, Sergey Kondratyuk, and John Elix following a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Teloschistaceae. The generic name honours Australian lichenologist Rex Filson, "in recognition of his contribution to lichenology, in particular to the lichen flora of Australia".

Lecanora ussuriensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Lecanoraceae. It is found in single localities in the Primorsky Krai region of the Russian Far East, as well as in Japan.

Gallowayella aphrodites is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), foliose (leafy) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in the Mediterranean countries Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. Characteristics of the lichen include its small thallus, the disposition of the rhizines on the thallus undersurface, and the lack of vegetative propagules.

Wilketalia is a fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single species Wilketalia citrinoides, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen found in the Bolivian Andes.

Neobrownliella is a genus of crustose lichens in the subfamily Teloschistoideae of the family Teloschistaceae. It has five species. The genus was circumscribed in 2015 by lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk, Jack Elix, Ingvar Kärnefelt, and Arne Thell, with Neobrownliella brownlieae assigned as the type species. It is a segregate of the large genus Caloplaca. Characteristics of Neobrownliella include a thallus that is continuous or areolate, the presence of anthraquinones as lichen products, a cortical layer with a palisade paraplectenchyma, and the lack of a thick palisade cortical layer on the underside of the thalline exciple. Two species were included in the original circumscription of the genus; an additional three species were added in 2020.

<i>Wetmoreana</i> Genus of lichens

Wetmoreana is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has two crustose, saxicolous (rock-dwelling) species.

Cinnabaria is a monospecific fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae, represented by its sole species, Cinnabaria boliviana. This lichen, found only in Bolivia, is distinguished by its unique genetic signature, as well as morphological characteristics like ascospore size and other traits. Despite its resemblance to certain species from the Caloplaca cinnabarina species complex, Cinnabaria boliviana belongs to a distinct genetic lineage.

<i>Fulgogasparrea appressa</i> Species of lichen

Fulgogasparrea appressa is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It has a widespread distribution in western Mexico, including Baja California. It is characterized by its vibrant colors, unique shape, and specific habitat preferences.

Caloplaca nigra is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found on rocks predominantly in the Galápagos Islands, it is characterised by its dark reproductive structures.

Elixjohnia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has four species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichens that occur in Australasia.

<i>Obscuroplaca</i> Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Obscuroplaca is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It contains three species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens.

<i>Opeltia</i> Genus of lichens

Opeltia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has four species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens.

Solitaria is a fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It contains a single species, the corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen Solitaria chrysophthalma.

<i>Wetmoreana brouardii</i> Species of lichen

Wetmoreana brouardii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae.

Caloplaca bartlettii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Tasmania and New Zealand, where it grows on coastal rock outcrops.

Olegblumia is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It contains the single species Olegblumia demissa, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen.

Upretia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has three species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichens. Upretia is characterised by its small ascospores and narrow, rod-shaped conidia. The distribution of the genus ranges from mid-altitude rocky terrains in India to both arid and higher altitudinal environments in China.

References

  1. ↑ "Synonymy. Current Name: Caloplaca cupulifera (Vain.) Zahlbr., Cat. Lich. Univers. 7: 226 (1931)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Caloplaca cupulifera (Vain.) Zahlbr". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Zahlbruckner, A. (1931). Catalogus Lichenum Universalis (in Latin). Vol. 7. Leipzig: Borntraeger. p. 226.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bungartz, Frank; Søchting, Ulrik; Arup, Ulf (2020). "Teloschistaceae (lichenized Ascomycota) from the Galapagos Islands: a phylogenetic revision based on morphological, anatomical, chemical, and molecular data". Plant and Fungal Systematics. 65 (2): 515–576. doi: 10.35535/pfsyst-2020-0030 .
  5. ↑ Wetmore, Clifford M.; Kärnefelt, Einar I. (1998). "The lobate and subfruticose species of Caloplaca in North and Central America". The Bryologist. 101 (2): 230–255. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(1998)101[230:tlasso]2.0.co;2.
  6. ↑ Mishra, G.K.; Upreti, D.K.; Nayaka, S.; Thell, A.; Kärnefelt, I.; Lőkös, L.; Hur, J.-S.; Sinha, G.P.; Kondratyuk, S.Y. (2020). "Current taxonomy of the lichen family Teloschistaceae from India with descriptions of new species". Acta Botanica Hungarica. 62 (3–4): 309–391. doi: 10.1556/034.62.2020.3-4.5 .
  7. ↑ Nayak, Sandeep Kumar; Behera, Prashant Kumar; Bajpai, Rajesh; Upreti, Dalip Kumar; Satapathy, Kunja Bihari (2017). "Lichens growth on Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha, India- A curse or blessing". Cryptogam Biodiversity and Assessment. 2 (02): 48–52. doi: 10.21756/cab.v2i02.11119 .
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