High photobiont diversity in the common European soil crust lichen Psora decipiens

• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-014-0662-1
• Publication Date: 2014-03-07T09:55:11Z
• Authors: Ulrike Ruprecht; Georg Brunauer; Roman Türk
• Keywords: Endemism

The genetic diversity of green algal photobionts (chlorobionts) in soil crust forming lichens was studied as part the SCIN-project (Soil Crust InterNational). A total 64 lichen samples were collected from four different sites along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients Europe (Tabernas/Spain; Hochtor-Großglockner/Austria; Gynge Alvar/Sweden; Ruine Homburg/Germany). dominant species at all Psora decipiens, often occurring with Buellia elegans, Fulgensia bracteata, F. fulgens Peltigera rufescens. Genetic identification chlorobionts carried out using nuclear marker (nrITS) a chloroplast (psbL-J). We found P. decipiens to be associated several Trebouxia Asterochloris, although previously described only have Asterochloris sp. phylogenetic analyses revealed high chlorobiont 12 well supported clades, including asymmetrica, T. jamesii, impressa other, yet taxonomically unidentified clades (Trebouxia URa1-4, URa6, URa7-13). Additionally, five identified (A. magna, A. URa14 -17). Most appeared cosmopolitan, but unevenly distributed between sampling being warm dry Spanish habitats combinations cooler more humid habitats. wide range might contribute observed domination research SCIN project which desert Spain an alpine site Alps Austria.