Abstract Detail



Bryology and Lichenology

Keuler , Rachel A [1], Jensen, Jacob [2], Leavitt, Steve [2].

Hybridization in the diversification processes in the most speciose genus of lichen-forming fungi, Xanthoparmelia.

Hybridization has been detected increasingly in genomes across kingdoms, likely playing an important role in evolution. While its impacts on evolutionary processes has been well-documented with pathogenic fungi, the study of hybridization among lichen-forming fungi is in its infancy, and the question remains of how involved it might be in the diversification of symbiotic fungi. Xanthoparmelia is the most diverse genus of lichen-forming fungi, with a pattern of diversification that coincides with global aridification. The monophyletic Holarctic clade in Xanthoparmelia is comprised of Asian, European, and North American species that diverged roughly 7 million years ago. Because hybridization can facilitate rapid adaptive radiations, providing standing variation for later speciation events to act on, we investigated whether hybridization played a role in the diversification within the Holarctic clade. We used nuclear phylogenomic data to reconstruct species trees and infer reticulate relationships. While putative species-level lineages were well-supported, there was rampant discordance among the 962 sampled gene trees. A reticulate evolutionary history among these taxa was detected using three independent tests of hybridization (PhyloNet, ABBA-BABA, and QuIBL), suggesting deeper-level reticulation among ancestral members of the Holarctic clade. More research needs to be done to investigate potential patterns of hybridization and its possible relationship to the diverse morphology within Xanthoparmelia. Our results support the need to consider the role of hybridization might be in the diversification of lichen-forming fungi.


1 - Brigham Young University, Biology, 4102 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
2 - Brigham Young University, 4102 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT, 84602, United States

Keywords:
hybridization
phylogenomics
lichen
evolution.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: BL1, Bryology/Lichenology AJ Sharp Session
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: BL1005
Abstract ID:173
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award


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