Biogeography and ecology of Cetraria aculeata, a widely distributed lichen with a bipolar distribution

Abstract

Citation: Printzen C, Domaschke S, Fernández-Mendoza F, Pérez-Ortega S (2013) Biogeography and ecology of Cetraria aculeata, a widely distributed lichen with a bipolar distribution. In: Boonpragob K, Crittenden P, Lumbsch HT (Eds) Lichens: from genome to ecosystems in a changing world. MycoKeys 6: 33-53. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.6.3185 AbstractEcological and historical biogeography of lichens have rarely been studied in a concerted effort, but both aspects have to be taken into consideration when explaining the distributional patterns of species. This review summarizes, partly preliminary, results from a series of studies on phylogeography, ecophysiology and symbiotic interactions of the lichen Cetraria aculeata. This species is not only widespread but also occupies a very wide ecological niche. Evidence suggests that Cetraria aculeata has evolved and diversified in the Northern Hemisphere and colonised the Southern Hemisphere during the Pleistocene. Genetic isolation of populations indicates the absence of ongoing long range dispersal and genetic exchange between geographically isolated populations. We observe a hitherto unrecognized genetic diversity that may indicate ecotypic differentiation and speciation processes. Mediterranean and Polar populations differ not only genetically, but also in ecophysiological properties. Ongoing common garden experiments will have to show whether genetically fixed adaptation or acclimation is responsible for these differences. The genetic structure of the photobiont is best explained by climatic differences between localities, but codispersal with the mycobiont plays an important role as well. Taken together, these results indicate that a photobiont switch in the past enabled C. aculeata to widen its ecological niche, with subsequent genetic isolation of populations. Photobiont switches may play a crucial role in speciation processes of lichens. A combination of ecophysiological and phylogeographic studies with experimental approaches is necessary to better understand the reaction of lichens to changing environmental conditions.

Lichen acclimation to changing environments: Photobiont switching vs. climate‐specific uniqueness in Psora decipiens

“…A closely related topic discusses phenotypic plasticity in lichens: the ability of a genotype to develop various phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions (Vallardes, Gianoli, & Gómez, ). Many lichen species have been shown to have differing ecophysiological and morphological traits dependent on the ecological niche inhabited (e.g., Muggia, Pérez‐Ortega, Fryday, Spribille, & Grube, ; Pérez‐Ortega et al., ; Pintado, Valladares, & Sancho, ; Printzen, Domaschke, Fernández‐Mendoza, & Pérez‐Ortega, ; Tretiach & Brown, ). Phenotypic plasticity and the ability to actively acclimate to environmental conditions would allow species to withstand pressure from climate change, human disturbance, and habitat loss.…”

Phylotypic Characterization of Mycobionts and Photobionts of Rock Tripe Lichen in East Antarctica

“…As lichens have been broadly termed as mutualistic, they are successful colonizers in dominating the vegetation of over 6% of the land surface of the Earth [14]. The wide distribution and dominance of lichens is owed to its high adaptability and acclimatization to the different environmental conditions as a result of the phenotypic plasticity in thalli structure, respiration, photosynthesis, and tolerance to dryness [15,16,17,18]. Additionally, selection and switching of photobionts contribute to an increased adaptability [5,19,20,21,22] that would eventually allow the lichens to survive and thrive in the harshest of environments such as Antarctica.…”

New records of lichen species from Magadan region

“…Общее распространение: Арктика, Евро-па, Америка, Африка, Автралазия, Антарктика (Printzen et al, 2013). Вид распространен по всей России (Urbanavihus, 2010).…”