Abstract Detail

Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS

Weerakoon, Gothamie [1], Wolseley, Patricia [2], Aptroot, André [3], Lucking, Robert [4], Lumbsch, Thorsten [5].

Sri Lanka; Hotspot for the lichen family Graphidaceae.

Molecular phylogeny has changed the understanding of the evolution and the classification of the family Graphidaceae. Currently around 2500 species are known in over 100 accepted genera . The Graphidaceae is one of the most diverse families of lichenized fungi, and has its center of distribution in the wet tropics. However, recent studies of the global diversity of the family Graphidaceae suggest that there is an even large number of species remaining to be discovered. A parametric method to predict global species richness of Graphidaceae using a GIS-based grid map approach showed that Sri Lanka is one of "the hotspots" for Graphidaceae in the world, with (together with the southern tip of India)500 species already recorded. Recent discoveries from a field project in Sri Lanka yielded c. 45 records of additional species of Graphidaceae among the c. 400 lichen species in c. 60 genera. Within the Graphidaceae, the highest number of new species was found in the genus Graphis. These results suggest that many more species are still awaiting to be discovered from the unexplored areas of the island. An indicator species analysis (ISA) of epiphytic Graphidaceae in 25 plots from wet tropical forests identified indicator species for wet tropical forests in Sri Lanka. These species can be effectively used to monitor the vegetation status of the island. Parataxonomists could be trained to identify them in the field; these will be the most useful indicators for land managers.

1 - The Field Museum, Botany, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
2 - The Natural History Museum, Department of Botany, Cromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD, UK
3 - Abl herbarium, G v d veenstraat 107, 3762 xk , Soest, The Netherlands
4 - Field Museum Of Natural History, Department Of Botany, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605-2496, USA
5 - The Field Museum, Science & Education, South Lakeshore drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA

Keywords:
Sri Lanka
Graphidaceae
Hotspot
lichens.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 70
Location: Salon 10/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Time: 4:30 PM
Number: 70012
Abstract ID:660
Candidate for Awards:A. J. Sharp Award