(Table 2) Collection sites and number of specimens of Usnea subgenus Neuropogon species ...

• Main Authors: Seymour, Fabian A, Crittenden, Peter D, Wirtz, Nora, Øvstedal, Dag O, Dyer, Paul S, Lumbsch, H Thorsten
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2007
• Subjects: Event label; Latitude of event; Longitude of event; Area/locality; Sampling date; Usnea acromelana; Usnea antarctica; Usnea aurantiacoatra; Usnea sphacelata; Usnea subantarctica; Usnea trachycarpa; Usnea spp.; Research station; Biological sample; Multiple investigations; Jubany; Carlini/Jubany Station; Priority Programme 1158 Antarctic Research with Comparable Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas SPP1158; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctica; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.858324; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.858324

Usnea species of the Neuropogon group are amongst the most widespread and abundant macrolichens in Antarctic regions. Four principal species, U. antarctica, U. aurantiaco-atra, U. sphacelata and U. subantarctica, have been described on morphological grounds. However, identification to species level is often difficult and atypical morphologies frequently arise. Over 400 specimens were collected on the Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland Islands. Both morphological and molecular characters (ITS and RPB1) were used to compare samples to clarify taxonomic relationships. Morphological characteristics used included presence of apothecia, apothecial rays, soredia, papillae, fibrils, pigmentation and the diameter of the central axis as a proportion of branch diameter. Results revealed a very close relationship between U. antarctica and U. aurantiaco-atra, suggesting that they might constitute a species pair or be conspecific. Usnea sphacelata was comprised of at least two genetically distinct groups with no clear ... : Species identifications were based on morphological characters according to Walker (1985) and Øvstedal & Smith (2001). ...