Extended phylogeny and a revised generic classification of thePannariaceae(Peltigerales, Ascomycota)

Abstract

We estimated phylogeny in the lichen-forming ascomycete family Pannariaceae. We specifically modelled spatial (across-site) heterogeneity in nucleotide frequencies, as models not incorporating this heterogeneity were found to be inadequate for our data. Model adequacy was measured here as the ability of the model to reconstruct nucleotide diversity per site in the original sequence data. A potential non-orthologue in the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of Degelia plumbea was observed. We propose a revised generic classification for the Pannariaceae, accepting 30 genera, based on our phylogeny, previously published phylogenies, as well as available morphological and chemical data. Four genera are established as new: Austroparmeliella (for the 'Parmeliella' lacerata group), Nebularia (for the 'Parmeliella' incrassata group), Nevesia (for 'Fuscopannaria' sampaiana), and Pectenia (for the 'Degelia' plumbea group). Two genera are reduced to synonymy, Moelleropsis (included in Fuscopannaria) and Santessoniella (non-monophyletic; type included in Psoroma). Lepidocollema, described as monotypic, is expanded to include 23 species, most of which have been treated in the 'Parmeliella' mariana group. Homothecium and Leightoniella, previously treated in the Collemataceae, are here referred to the Pannariaceae. We propose 41 new species-level combinations in the newly described and re-circumscribed genera mentioned above, as well as in Leciophysma and Psoroma.

The lichen genusKroswiais a synonym ofFuscopannaria(Pannariaceae)

“…As in earlier studies (Ekman et al 2014;Magain & Sérusiaux 2014), the genus Fuscopannaria is retrieved as a monophyletic group, divided into two strongly supported clades, accepting that F. sampaiana (Tav.) P. M. Jørg.…”

“…P. M. Jørg. is assigned to a different genus (Nevesia: Ekman et al 2014) and with the exception of F. laceratula (Hue) P. M. Jørg. which is resolved within a strongly supported and related lineage comprising Protopannaria pezizoides P. M. Jørg.…”

Cyanobacteria in Terrestrial Symbiotic Systems

“…Species that form bipartite symbioses with cyanobacteria are largely restricted to the Peltigerales, while cephalodiate taxa occur more sporadically among different lecanoromycete orders (Miadlikowska et al 2014). Most fungi in the Peltigerales (e.g., Collemataceae, Nephromataceae, Pannariaceae, and Peltigeraceae) associate with symbiotic Nostoc, while others (e.g., Coccocarpiaceae) associate with other nostocalean and/or stigonematalean cyanobionts (Lücking et al , 2013bEkman et al 2014;Spirbille et al 2014;Zúñiga et al 2015, see Rikkinen 2013 for more detailed review).…”

Leightoniella zeylanensis belongs to the Pannariaceae

“…Based on phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data, Physma, Ramalodium and Leciophysma were assigned to the Pannariaceae by Wedin et al (2009) and Otálora et al (2010), who found evidence that the Collemataceae proper does not include any members with single-celled ascospores. Extrapolating from these results, Ekman et al (2014) provisionally treated also Leightoniella and Homothecium as members of the Pannariaceae. This treatment, however, remained unconfirmed as long as DNA sequence data were unavailable.…”