Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nr4z6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-05T20:12:58.036Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The genus Melanophloea, an example of convergent evolution towards polyspory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2012

André APTROOT  and
Felix SCHUMM
André APTROOT
Affiliation:
ABL Herbarium, G.v.d.Veenstraat 107, NL-3762 XK Soest, The Netherlands. Email: andreaptroot@gmail.com
Felix SCHUMM
Affiliation:
Mozartstr. 9, D-73117 Wangen, Germany
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The species described in or referred to the genus Melanophloea, traditionally referred to the Thelocarpaceae, are discussed. Detailed observations on two species, including the type species, show that they have not much more in common than their polysporous ascus. Melanophloea is reduced to the type species, M. pacifica. It shows a close resemblance to Aptrootia in the Trypetheliaceae, and it is therefore tentatively referred to this family. Melanophloea americana is shown to be close to Thelenella in the Thelenellaceae. The latter species and the related M. montana are newly combined into this genus as Thelenella americana and T. montana. Thelocarpon nigrum, which was recently compared to Melanophloea, is retained in Thelocarpon in the Thelocarpaceae. Polyspory is suggested to facilitate dispersion, especially when compared to parent taxa that produce large muriform ascospores. Based on the current classification, polyspory originated at least 57 times within the lichenized ascomycetes, a clear example of convergent evolution.

Keywords

AptrootialichenrainforesttaxonomyThelenellaThelenellaceaeThelocarpaceaeTrypetheliaceae
Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 501 - 509
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahti, T., Jørgensen, P. M., Kristinsson, H., Moberg, R., Søchting, U. & Thor, G. (eds) (2007) Nordic Lichen Flora Vol. 3. Uddevalla: Nordic Lichen Society.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A. (1998) New lichens and lichen records from Papua New Guinea, with the description of Crustospathula, a new genus in the Bacidiaceae. Tropical Bryology 14: 25–34.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A. (1999) Thelenella terricola, a new saprobic ascomycete from upland Papua New Guinea. Fungal Diversity 2: 43–46.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A. (2009) Trypetheliaceae. Flora of Australia 57: 534–552.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A. & Lücking, R. (2003) Phenotype-based phylogenetic analysis does not support generic separation of Gyalidea and Solorinella (Ostropales: Asterothyriaceae). Bibliotheca Lichenologica 86: 53–78.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A. & Tibell, L. (1997) Wegea, a new genus of non-lichenized, calicioid ascomycetes in the Arthoniales. Mycotaxon 65: 339–351.Google Scholar
Aptroot, A., Diederich, P., Sérusiaux, E. & Sipman, H. J. M. (1997) Lichens and lichenicolous fungi from New Guinea. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 64: 1–220.Google Scholar
Hafellner, J. & Bellemère, A. (1981) Elektronenoptische Untersuchungen an Arten der Flechtengattung Brigantiaea. Nova Hedwigia 35: 237–261.Google Scholar
Hafellner, J. & Türk, R. (2001) Die lichenisierten Pilze Österreichs – eine Checkliste der bisher nachgewiesenen Arten mit Verbreitungsangaben. Stapfia 76: 1–167.Google Scholar
James, P. W. & Vězda, A. (1971) Melanophloea P. James & Vězda, a new lichen genus. Lichenologist 5: 89–91.Google Scholar
Knudsen, K., Lendemer, J. C. & Harris, R. C. (2011) Lichens and lichenicolous fungi – no. 15: miscellaneous notes on species from eastern North America. Opuscula Philolichenum 9: 45–75.Google Scholar
Lücking, R. (2008) Foliicolous lichenized fungi. Flora Neotropica Monograph 103: 1–866.Google Scholar
Lücking, R., Sipman, H. J. M., Umaña, L., Chaves, J. L. & Lumbsch, H. T. (2007) Aptrootia (Dothideomycetes: Trypetheliaceae), a new genus of pyrenocarpous lichens for Thelenella terricola. Lichenologist 39: 187–193.Google Scholar
Martens, P. (1937) Les Ascomycètes à asques polyspores. Bulletin Trimestriel de la Societé Mycologique de France 52: 379–407.Google Scholar
Mayrhofer, H. (1987) Monographie der Flechtengattung Thelenella. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 26: 1–106.Google Scholar
McCarthy, P. M. (2008) A new species of Melanophloea (Thelocarpaceae) from north-eastern Queensland. Australasian Lichenology 62: 26–28.Google Scholar
McCarthy, P. M. & Kantvilas, G. (2009) Thelocarpaceae. Flora of Australia 57: 563–569.Google Scholar
Moon, K. H. & Aptroot, A. (2009) Pyrenocarpous lichens in Korea. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 99: 297–314.Google Scholar
Papong, K., Kantvilas, G. & Lumbsch, H. T. (2011) Morphological and molecular evidence places Maronina into synonymy with Protoparmelia (Ascomycota: Lecanorales). Lichenologist 43: 561–567.Google Scholar
Reeb, V., Lutzoni, F. & Roux, C. (2004) Contribution of RPB2 to multilocus phylogenetic studies of the euascomycetes (Pezizomycotina, Fungi) with special emphasis on the lichen-forming Acarosporaceae and evolution of polyspory. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32: 1036–1060.Google Scholar
Smith, C. W., Aptroot, A., Coppins, B. J., Fletcher, A., Gilbert, O. L., James, P. W. & Wolseley, P. A. (eds) (2009) The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland. London: British Lichen Society.Google Scholar
Sweetwood, G., Lücking, R., Nelsen, M. P. & Aptroot, A. (2012) Ascospore ontogeny in megalosporous Trypetheliaceae and Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes and Lecanoromycetes) suggests phylogenetic relationships and ecological constraints. Lichenologist 44: 277–296.Google Scholar