‘Missing links’ alive? Novel taxa represent morphological transitions between distinctive phenotypes among extant Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales)

Abstract

We provide an updated account on the species of the Cruentotrema-Dyplolabia clade in Graphidaceae subfamily Fissurinoideae, describing three new species: Cruentotrema lirelliforme J. Kalb, Polyiam & K. Kalb, differing from Cruentotrema thailandicum in the lirelliform ascomata; Dyplolabia chumphonensis J. Kalb & K. Kalb, differing from Dyplolabia oryzoides by smaller ascospores; and Dyplolabia dalywaiana Rivas Plata, Bawingan & Lücking, differing from other Dyplolabia species in the angular, erumpent asomata with broadly exposed disc and irregular pseudocolumella. In addition, two further species are recognized as new combinations: Cruentotrema puniceum (Müll. Arg.) J. Kalb & K. Kalb (Bas.: Arthothelium puniceum Müll. Arg.; syn.: Thelotrema rhododiscum Homchant. & Coppins) and Dyplolabia ochrocheila (Vain.) Rivas Plata & Lücking (Bas.: Graphis ochrocheila Vain.). Cruentotrema kurandense is reported as new to Thailand. Altogether, 11 species are now recognized in the two genera, six in Cruentotrema and five in Dyplolabia. In view of the disparate morphology of the two genera, the discovery of two of the three new species is highlighted as phenotypically transitional taxa, so-called ‘missing links’, and the phylogeny of this clade is revised.

Kalbionora palaeotropica, a new genus and species from coastal forests in Southeast Asia and Australia (Malmideaceae, Ascomycota)

“…Recent studies on the diversity of lichen-forming fungi in Thailand have dramatically increased our knowledge of these organisms in Southeast Asia, with numerous new records and new species discovered in a number of different habitats, including coastal forests (Aptroot et al 2007;Kalb et al 2012Kalb et al , 2016aKalb et al , 2016bKantvilas et al 2010;Luangsuphabool et al 2016aLuangsuphabool et al , 2016bNaksuwankul et al 2016;Neuwirth et al 2014Neuwirth et al , 2016Papong and Lumbsch 2011;Papong et al 2014;Pitakpong et al 2015;Rangsiruji et al 2016;Sutjaritturakan and Kalb 2015;Buaruang et al 2017).…”

Taxonomy and new records of Graphidaceae lichens in Western Pangasinan, Northern Philippines

“…Using the morpho-anatomic features and chemistry of the lichens, the collected specimens were identified using various taxonomic keys (Staiger 2002;Archer 2006Archer , 2009Sipman 2005Sipman , 2008aSipman , 2008bRivas-Plata et al 2008;Lücking et al 2009, Rivas-Plata et al 2010Joshi et al 2013;Lücking et al 2014;Lücking et al 2016). A key for the identification of the lichens in the Graphidaceae from western Pangasinan was prepared.…”

“…This genus, initially placed under Graphis is distinguished by the erumpent to prominent ascomata forming labia, with thick carbonization and thick white cover containing lecanoric acid (Kalb et al 2016). Ascospores are hyaline and nonamyloid (I-) with 3-septate lenticular lumina (Sipman 2008a).…”

“…Of these four, the Philippines has contributed one new species, Dyplolabia dalywaiana described in 2016 with the type specimen coming from Mt. Palali, Nueva Vizcaya (Kalb et al 2016).…”

Mission grüne Vielfalt. BGBM Jahresbericht 2015-2016

“…& Ventura n. 2016: a phylogenetic frame-work for reassessing generic concepts and species delimitation in the lichenized family Trypetheliaceae (Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes). 10,14,15,34,78,101,106,126,146,158,165,194,232,242,261,263 …”