Psora altotibetica

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Psora altotibetica
Psora altotibetica (10.3897-mycokeys.13.8824) Figure 2.jpg
part of holotype specimen
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Psoraceae
Genus: Psora
Species:
P. altotibetica
Binomial name
Psora altotibetica
Timdal, Obermayer & Bendiksby (2016)

Psora altotibetica is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), squamulose lichen in the family Psoraceae. [1] It occurs in the Tibetan region of China and in Nepal. The species bears a resemblance to Psora indigirkae but is genetically closer to Psora tenuifolia and Psora vallesiaca . It differs from the rest in certain features such as the colour of its apothecia , size of ascospores , and secondary chemical composition. The lichen's habitat is in the alpine zones of the Great Himalayas at altitudes between 4,230 and 5,000 m (13,880 and 16,400 ft).

Contents

Taxonomy

Psora altotibetica was first discovered by one of the researchers during a visit to the herbarium of Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften ("Institute of Plant Sciences"), University of Graz in 1992. Further specimens collected from the Tibetan region supported the identification of this new species. After detailed study and DNA analysis, it was officially described as Psora altotibetica in 2016 by lichenologists Einar Timdal, Walter Obermayer, and Mika Bendiksby. The species was named after the region in which it was predominantly found, with altotibetica referring to 'high Tibet'. [2]

The type specimen was collected from a small village in the Himalayan range, Xizang, China. [2]

Phylogeny

Phylogenetically, Psora altotibetica is closely related to Psora tenuifolia and Psora vallesiaca, even though it more closely resembles Psora indigirkae in its morphology. Psora tenuifolia and Psora vallesiaca were previously unknown in China and the Himalayas, but are now recognised as new to these regions. [2]

The species' relationship with Psora tenuifolia and Psora vallesiaca, as well as its distinction from other Psora species, has been determined through the analysis of DNA sequences, morphological attributes, and secondary chemistry. [2]

Description

Psora altotibetica is squamulose (bearing small, scale-like projections). It shares several characteristics with other species within the Psora genus, such as an upper cortex containing remnants of algae, and a hypothecium with calcium oxalate crystals. However, Psora altotibetica is distinguished by several unique traits. It has a black apothecia, ascospores measuring 9–14 by 5–7  μm, and a secondary chemistry that lacks bourgeanic acid—a feature that sets it apart from Psora indigirkae . [2]

A key chemical characteristic of Psora altotibetica is the presence of gyrophoric acid, with all tested specimens showing this compound. [2]

Habitat and distribution

The species thrives on soil in the alpine zone of the Great Himalayas, specifically between the altitudes of 4,230 and 5,000 m (13,880 and 16,400 ft). Psora altotibetica was identified in nine different localities across China (Tibetan area) and Nepal. [2]

Similar species

While Psora altotibetica is most similar to Psora indigirkae in appearance, it has a few critical distinctions. Psora indigirkae has brown apothecia, often with a reddish hue, larger ascospores, and its secondary chemistry includes both gyrophoric and bourgeanic acid. [2]

The other Psora species known from the Himalayas, Psora decipiens , differs by having more regularly rounded squamules, strictly marginal apothecia, and a chemistry usually devoid of lichen substances or, in rare cases, containing norstictic acid. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Psora</i> Genus of lichens

Psora is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Psoraceae. Members of the genus are commonly called fishscale lichens. Lichens in the genus Psora generally have a squamulose thallus and anthraquinones in the hymenium. Photobiont partners of Psora lichens include members of the green algal genera Asterochloris, Chloroidium, Myrmecia, and Trebouxia.

Crustospathula is a genus of five species of crustose lichens in the family Malmideaceae. They are characterized by their stalked and sometimes branched cartilaginous soredia and Bacidia-like apothecia.

<i>Toniniopsis</i> Genus of lichens

Toniniopsis is a genus of crustose and squamulose lichens in the family Ramalinaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Swiss lichenologist Eduard Frey in 1926, with Toniniopsis obscura designated the type and only species. The genus name of Toniniopsis is in honour of Carlo Tonini (1803–1877), who was an Italian chemist and botanist (Lichenology), who worked in Verona and was a member and President of the Academy of Agriculture. As a result of molecular phylogenetic studies, several species, formerly classified in genus Bacidia, have been transferred to Toniniopsis.

<i>Calvitimela</i> Genus of lichen

Calvitimela is a lichen genus in the family Tephromelataceae. Members of the family Tephromelataceae are crustose lichens with green photobionts and lecideine or lecanorine apothecia. The species in Calvitimela have lecideine apothecia, are saxicolous and are primarily found in alpine to arctic regions.

<i>Pycnora</i> Genus of lichen

Pycnora is a genus of fungi in the monotypic family Pycnoraceae. It contains three species. The genus was circumscribed by Josef Hafellner in 2001; the family was proposed by Mika Bendiksby and Einar Timdal in 2013.

Bibbya is a genus of fruticose lichens in the family Ramalinaceae.

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

Sporastatiaceae is a small family of crustose lichens in the order Rhizocarpales. It contains two genera, Sporastatia and Toensbergia, with a total of five species. Sporastatiaceae was circumscribed in 2013 by Mika Bendiksby and Ernst Timdal.

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.

<i>Carbonicola</i> (lichen) Genus of lichens

Carbonicola is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi. It is the sole genus in the monogeneric family Carbonicolaceae. The genus, which collectively has an almost cosmopolitan distribution, contains three squamulose lichens that prefer to grow on burned wood in temperate areas of the world.

<i>Hypogymnia flavida</i> Species of lichen

Hypogymnia flavida is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in mountainous locations of east Asia, where it grows on the bark and wood of woody plants. It has a relatively large yellowish thallus.

<i>Psora taurensis</i> Species of lichen

Psora taurensis is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), squamulose lichen in the family Lecanoraceae. It is found in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey.

Biatora oxneri is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. It is found in the Russian Far East and in South Korea.

Phyllopsora amazonica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. It is found in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

Phyllopsora concinna is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), squamulose (scaley) lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. Found in Central and South America, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists Sonja Kistenich and Einar Timdal. The lichen has a scaley, effuse (spread-out) thallus that is pale green with a well-developed, white prothallus. Apothecia occur rarely; they are brownish with a paler margin, measuring up to 1 mm in diameter. Ascospores are simple with a narrow ellipsoid to fusiform shape, and dimensions of 12.5–16·0 by 3.5–4.0 μm. Atranorin and parvifoliellin are major lichen products that occur in this species. The latter compound distinguishes it chemically from the morphologically similar species Phyllopsora cinchonarum, which instead contains lobaric acid. The botanical name concinna, refers to its "beautiful" appearance.

Phyllopsora neotinica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), squamulose (scaley) lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. Found in North, Central, and South America, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists Sonja Kistenich and Einar Timdal. It is similar to Phyllopsora chodatinica, but unlike that species, it contains argopsin and often zeorin, but it lacks chodatin. The species epithet neotinica is a contraction of "neotropical" and Phyllopsora chodatinica.

<i>Krogia macrophylla</i> Species of lichen

Krogia macrophylla is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. Found in New Caledonia, it was formally described as a new species in 2018. It is distinguished from other Krogia species by its relatively larger squamules and the production of a chemical substance similar to boninic acid. The species grows predominantly on tree trunks in moist or wet tropical forests.

Upretia squamulosa is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), squamulose (scaly) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It was identified as a new species in 2019 from specimens collected in the arid valley of the Jinsha River in Yunnan, China.

<i>Porpidinia</i> Genus of lichens

Porpidinia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Lecideaceae. It has two species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichens. The type species of the genus, Porpidinia tumidula, thrives in a variety of settings from coastal to mountainous areas, primarily on lime-rich rocks, and is widely spread across southern to northern Europe, northern Africa, parts of Asia, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Porpidinia brevispora is more regionally confined, found specifically in the Sikhote-Alin range in the Russian Far East, favouring carbonate rocks at lower altitudes.

<i>Xylopsora canopeorum</i> Species of lichen

Xylopsora canopeorum is a squamulose (scaly), corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen species in the family Umbilicariaceae. Discovered in the canopies of Sequoia sempervirens in California, United States, it was formally described as new to science in 2018. It is endemic to the central coastal region of California, living within the unique ecosystems of Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, areas known for their ancient coast redwood forests. The lichen evolves from a crust-like to scale-like form, developing into coral-like crusts as it matures, complemented by distinctive flat, black reproductive discs. This species has varying greyish-green to medium brown coloration and occasionally forms soralia, which release powdery reproductive propagules called soredia. Xylopsora canopeorum is distinguished from closely related species by its smaller, partly coral-like squamules (scales), the occurrence of soralia on its surface, and in some specimens, the presence of both thamnolic and friesiic acids within the thallus.

Fulgidea is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Umbilicariaceae. It has two species of squamulose lichens that grow on bark and on wood.

References

  1. "Psora altotibetica Timdal, Obermayer & Bendiksby". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Timdal, Einar; Obermayer, Walter; Bendiksby, Mika (2016). "Psora altotibetica (Psoraceae, Lecanorales), a new lichen species from the Tibetan part of the Himalayas". MycoKeys. 13: 35–48. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.13.8824 . hdl: 10852/50296 .