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PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY OF TRENTEPOHLIALEAN ALGAE ASSOCIATED WITH LICHEN‐FORMING FUNGI 1
Author(s) -
Nelsen Matthew P.,
Plata Eimy Rivas,
Andrew Carrie J.,
Lücking Robert,
Lumbsch H. Thorsten
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.00962.x
Subject(s) - crustose , lichen , algae , biology , context (archaeology) , botany , green algae , phylogenetic tree , clade , ecology , phylogenetic diversity , cyanobacteria , range (aeronautics) , paleontology , biochemistry , materials science , gene , bacteria , composite material
Nearly one‐fourth of the lichen‐forming fungi associate with trentepohlialean algae, yet their genetic diversity remains unknown. Recent work focusing on free‐living trentepohlialean algae has provided a phylogenetic context within which questions regarding the lichenization of these algae can be asked. Here, we concentrated our sampling on trentepohlialean algae from lichens producing a diversity of growth forms (fruticose and crustose) over a broad geographic substratum, ecological, and phylogenetic range. We have demonstrated that there is no evidence for a single clade of strictly lichenized algae; rather, a wide range demonstrated the ability to associate with lichenized fungi. Variation was also observed among trentepohlialean algae in lichens from a single geographic area and tree, suggesting that fungi in close proximity can associate with different trentepohlialean algae, consistent with the findings of trebouxiophycean algae and cyanobacteria.