The lichen genera Cryptothecia, Herpothallon and Helminthocarpon (Arthoniales) in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Abstract

As part of a comprehensive biodiversity inventory of Galapagos lichens, all species in two closely related genera, Cryptothecia and Herpothallon, are reviewed. Both genera are superficially similar, ecorticate, cottony-byssoid crusts and are unusual insofar as their asci do not develop in distinct ascomata, but instead within ascigerous areas or even solitary inside pseudisidia. Species of Herpothallon typically have an I--medulla and are covered in ecorticate pseudisidia; only a single species is known fertile. Cryptothecia is characterized by ascigerous areas with loosely aggregated asci. In some species the asci are isolated, but others have closely aggregated asci embedded in a hyphal matrix with some carbonization, perhaps indicating preliminary stages towards a development of true ascomata. Lirellate ascomata of the enigmatic, monotypic Helminthocarpon leprevostii show similarity with these ascigerous areas, especially of C. darwiniana and C. galapagoana, two species newly described here. Both also have similar asci and ascospores. As previously suggested, Helminthocarpon should thus not be included in Graphidaceae, but it belongs in Arthoniales, possibly in Arthoniaceae or Opegraphaceae. A key to all species and brief descriptions are provided. Two of the three Cryptothecia species and two of the seven Herpothallon species reported here are new to science. All records apart from Herpothallon rubrocinctum are new to Galapagos and Ecuador.

Pilot study of air quality index assessment of nitrogen pollutant using lichen as bioindicators in Jakarta and Depok, Indonesia

“…Cryptothecia sp. has crustoseshaped thallus morphology, has a green and white coloration, and belongs to the N-tolerant lichen group [26].…”

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“…Kedua spesies ini ditemukan di setiap substrat pohon. Cryptothecia striata merupakan lichen dengan tipe thallus crustose, berbentuk bulat tipis, berwarna hijau hingga keabuan, bagian tepi thallus berwarna putih, memiliki bentuk thallus yang membulat dan melekat pada substrat (Ramadhanti et al, 2021 ;Bungartz et al, 2013). Cryptotechia striata dan Phlyctis argena di stasiun ini banyak menempel di berbagai macam pohon inang di antaranya pohon rasamala (Altingia excelsa), pohon afrika (Vernonia amygdalina), pohon mahoni (Swietenia mahagoni), pohon kisireum (Decaspermum paniculatum) dan pohon kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus).…”

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“…The ongoing inventory resulted in a series of visits by international lichenologists, with publications on many different taxonomic groups (Aptroot & Bungartz 2007; Tehler 2007; Aptroot & Sparrius 2008; Aptroot et al 2008; Bungartz 2008; Tehler et al . 2009; Bungartz et al 2009, 2013 a , b , c , 2015, 2016 a , b , 2018, 2020 a , b ; Yánez-Ayabaca et al 2012, 2013).…”

“…Most recently, the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (CDF) launched a comprehensive inventory of lichenized fungi in the archipelago, hiring German lichenologist Frank Bungartz as staff scientist and his Dutch colleague André Aptroot as consultant. The ongoing inventory resulted in a series of visits by international lichenologists, with publications on many different taxonomic groups (Aptroot & Bungartz 2007;Tehler 2007;Aptroot & Sparrius 2008;Aptroot et al 2008;Bungartz 2008;Tehler et al 2009;Bungartz et al 2009Bungartz et al , 2013aBungartz et al , b, c, 2015Bungartz et al , 2016aBungartz et al , b, 2018Bungartz et al , 2020aYánez-Ayabaca et al 2012, 2013.…”