Scientific Area
Abstract Detail
Nº613/1472 - UNRAVELING THE PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND PHYCOBIONT DIVERSITY OF Ramalina farinacea (lichenized fungi, Ascomycota)
Format: ORAL
Authors
Tamara Pazos1, Patricia Moya1, Isaac Garrido-Benavent2, Salvador Chiva1,3, Sergio Prez-Ortega4, Miguel Blzquez4, Pedro Carrasco5and Eva Barreno1
Affiliations
1. Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
2. Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
3. University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
4. Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), E-28014 Madrid, Spain
5. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECHMED), Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Abstract
Ramalina farinacea is an epiphytic lichen-forming fungus with a broad geographic distribution, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. To explore the phylogeography of this model lichen and its associated phycobionts (microalgae) diversity, we analyzed over 400 thalli of R. farinacea collected in the Atlantic archipelagos of Macaronesia, the Mediterranean Basin, and Temperate/central and Boreal/northern Europe. Data from two nuclear markers (nrITS and uid70) of the mycobiont were obtained to calculate genetic diversity indices, infer phylogenies, haplotype networks, and explore populations structure. Additionally, dating analysis was conducted to provide a valuable hypothesis of the timing of the origin and diversification of R. farinacea and its closest allies. Regarding the phycobiont diversity, we studied the climatic niche and bioclimatic distribution of Trebouxia jamesii and T. lynnae, the predominant symbiotic microalgae in the analyzed populations of R. farinacea. Our results highlight that phylogenetic species circumscription in the Ramalina farinacea group is complex and suggests that incomplete lineage sorting is at the base of conflicting phylogenetic signals. Moreover, T. jamesii and T. lynnae climatic niches overlapped in a particular zone, but also exhibited restricted zones for each taxon. T. jamesii emerged as the most abundant and widespread microalga, which is present in all the bioclimatic belts and biogeographical areas, but T. lynnae was identified as the main symbiotic microalga in the thallifrom Western Mediterranean Basin and Canary Islands.