Investigating potential factors influencing shifting lichen distributions—a case study of the maritime sunburst lichen (Xanthoria parietina) on a university campus in the Great Basin
- Author:
- Baugh M & Leavitt S.
- Year:
- 2022
- Journal:
- Evansia
- Pages:
- 39(3): 115–122
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.1639/0747-9859-39.3.115
There are growing numbers of lichens observed outside their expected distributions.
A recent discovery of Xanthoria parietina in Provo, Utah, USA is added to that list. Other
individuals of this species have been noted in inland western United States, but this specimen
was believed to be the first sighting of X. parietina in the Great Basin. Herbaria records were
investigated for distribution data for other collections of X. parietina outside of their typical
habitat. The identity of this unexpected lichen occurring in Provo was confirmed via DNA
sequencing, and based on herbarium records, was found to be the second known occurrence
in the Great Basin. This discovery raises questions regarding human facilitated dispersal and
establishment of lichens.
Key words. Conservation, Great Basin, lichenized fungi.
- Id:
- 34745
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Tuesday, 08 November 2022 21:41