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Moncada, B./ Lücking, R. 2014: [Abstract:] Rewriting the evolutionary history of Hawaiian lichens. - In: : Livro de Resumos do Sétimo Encontro do Grupo Brasileiro de Liquenólogos. 1. Grupo Brasileiro de Liquenólogos pp. 62. [RLL List # 248 / Rec.# 39030]
Abstract: The concept of evolution of life is tightly linked to Darwin's visit to the Galapagos Islands. However, the true laboratory of evolution is found in the Hawaiian archipelago, arguably the most remote place on earth, with over 4,000 km to the closest continental land mass. This notion was anticipated by Darwin, who wrote in a letter to Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1850: "Of all places in the world I would like to see a good flora of the Sandwich Islands. I would subscribe 50 pounds to any collector to go there and work at these islands." Hawaii is home to some of the most striking evolutionary radiations in vascular plants, the Hawaiian lobeliads and the Silversword alliance, and 80% of the plant species are endemic. In contrast, lichens are believed to include many widespread species, and the level of endemism is substantially lower. Of the 880 lichens currently listed, less than 25% are considered endemic. Therefore, the evolution and biogeography of lichens in the archipelago has received little attention. Yet, based on new evidence from molecular phylogenetic studies in the families Graphidaceae, Lobariaceae and Physciaceae, that the notion of Hawaiian lichens being widespread is far from the truth. In the genera Crocodia, Fissurina, Heterodermia, Lobariella, Podostictina, Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta, we found that instead of 33 reported species, with only two endemics (6%), the actual number of species is more than twice as high, with approximately 75% endemic. Not only does the level of endemism reach the same proportion as in vascular plants, but these data also suggest that the number of lichens in the archipelago might be far higher than that of native vascular plants. Thus, it appears that the evolutionary history of Hawaiian lichens will have to be rewritten.
Countries/Continents: North America/U.S.A.
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