| Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Zemp, Nicholas [1], Holt, Emily [2], Nelson, Peter [3]. Secondary Metabolite Trait Matrices for Lichen Community Modeling. Lichens produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, some of which have well-known ecological functions (e.g., anti-herbivore, sunscreen, bio-weathering), yet little work has integrated the full spectrum of compounds within a lichen community to elucidate the complex relationship between lichen chemistry and landscape patterns. Currently, there is not a comprehensive database of lichen secondary compounds that is easily searchable by various criteria. In the absence of such a list, most ecological studies of lichens do not include chemical data; however, these secondary metabolites, representing over 600 known compounds of which 90% are exclusive to the lichen symbiosis, likely contribute to species patterning and biotic interactions. The aim of this study was to build a relational database of North American lichens and their secondary metabolites. This relational trait database aggregates data collected from extensive queries of the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria, the North American Lichen Checklist, and a meta-analysis of relevant peer-reviewed literature (queried from five online databases: Google Scholar, JSTOR, Recent Lichen Literature, Science Direct, BioOne) describing the ecological functions of secondary lichen metabolites. Our database includes more than 2,600 North American lichen species and over 300 secondary compounds. Coupled with community datasets, this dynamic tool will allow for compelling manipulation of the user’s data through an easily queried cross-reference of scientific name, secondary metabolites, and metabolite function in unique ways currently unavailable to the scientific community.
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1 - Utah Valley University, Biology, 800 West University Parkway, Orem, Utah, 84058, USA
2 - Utah Valley University, Biology Department, 800 W University Parkway, Orem, UT, 84058, USA
3 - University of Maine - Fort Kent, Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, 23 University Dr, Fort Kent, ME, 04743, United States
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 16
Location: Salon 11/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 2:15 PM
Number: 16004
Abstract ID:575
Candidate for Awards:None |
