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    Published: January 14, 2011

    Resolving Species Delimitations in Lichens

    Stephanie Ware, Manager, Morphology Labs, SEM

    WARREN CHATWIN

    Sophomore Genetics and Biotechnology major at Brigham Young University

    REU Mentor: Dr. Thorsten Lumbsch (Curator, Botany)

    Symposium Presentation Title: Resolving Species Limitations Among the Lichen Genus Melanohalea

    Symposium Presentation Abstract: Lichens are known for being difficult to identify morphologically, so with the decreasing costs of DNA sequencing lichen classifications are being revised. In 2004 the lichen genus Melanohalea was created from the genus Melanelia after a study of morphological and molecular characteristics. In this study we are using two ribosomal markers, one mitochondrial marker, and three protein coding markers to determine the molecular phylogeny of 13 of the 22 recognized species of Melanohalea. Our findings indicate that the classification of Melanohalea is overall mostly correct with each lineage forming monophyletic groups, but those groups often have different sister taxa from gene to gene therefore each gene tree is not congruent with the others. There are also cryptic lineages present among a few species. The trees were created using total data as well as a coalescence approach. Further studies will be needed to completely resolve the relationships among these groups.

    Original Project Description: Up to 1.5M species of fungi are estimated to exist in nature. With approximately 100K described species, only a small fraction is currently known. A large group of fungi forms associations with algae and cyanobacteria, so-called lichens. The circumscription of species in lichen fungi has been based on morphological characters. There is a growing body of evidence from DNA studies that these concepts underestimate the number of existing species. However, understanding the species circumscription in lichens is pivotal for our understanding of biodiversity. Lichens are important indicators for climate change, air pollution, forest health and potential sources of antibiotics and biocontrol agents. DNA sequence data will be used to address the species delimitations. The objective of the research is to address the species circumscription in two groups of parmelioid lichens, focusing on North American species of the Melanelixia fuliginosa and Melanohalea elegantula groups.

    Research methods and techniques:  REU participants in this project will receive training in molecular and organismal research methods. They will learn how important a combination of both methods is for an understanding of the evolution of the diversity of life. The training will include introduction to the literature, handling of herbarium specimens. Chemical examination will include chromatographic methods, such as HPTLC and HPLC. Molecular methods will include DNA isolation, PCR and subsequent direct sequencing of certain gene regions. Subsequently, the analysis of DNA sequence data will be performed.

    Stephanie Ware
    Manager, Morphology Labs

    Stephanie started volunteering at the Field Museum in 1998, working with Curator John Bates in the Bird Division. In 1999, John Bates hired her as a research assistant. After that project finished in 2007, she went to work for Carl Dick in the Division of Insects helping him to complete his work on the museum's Bat Fly collection. She spent a great deal of time generating images for the Bat Fly portion of theDiptera Taxonomy Database. When Carl left for University of Kentucky in 2009, she continued her imaging work in the Insect Division. In the intervening years, she has imaged hundreds specimens, mostly types, from the rove beetle (Staphylinidae), ant and myriapoda collections.

    Stephanie began working with the Chicago Peregrine Program in 2006.  Initially, she monitored the Metropolitan Correctional Center nest in downtown Chicago.  Over time, her duties have expanded to include other nests in the metro region, emphasizing the identification of nesting adults.  In March of 2007, Stephanie created a group called Midwest Peregrine Falcons on the photo sharing website Flickr with the goal of providing a place for photographers across the country to submit their photographs of peregrine sightings in the Midwestern United States. She also has many of her own peregrine photos on Flickr as well.