Molecular studies on cyanobacterial diversity in lichen symbioses

By

Rikkinen, Jouko

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2013

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

6

Pages

3-32

Subjects

16S rDNA , coevolution , Collema , Cyanolichens , Nephroma , Nostoc , Pannaria , Peltigera , Phylogeny , Pseudocyphellaria , rbcLX , specificity , Symbiosis , tRNALeuUAA intron , trnL

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.6.3869

 

Abstract

Symbioses between cyanobacteria and lichen-forming fungi occur worldwide in a wide range of terrestrial environments, ranging from tropical rainforests to hot and cold deserts. The evolutionary success of these symbioses is evident from the wide range of fungal groups that have established associations with cyanobacteria. The diversity of symbiotic cyanobacteria is also high, and it is obvious that symbioses between different cyanobacteria and different lichen-forming fungi have evolved on multiple occasions. From the late 1990s cyanobacterial lichens have been the subject of a steadily increasing number of molecular investigations. This chronological review examines how these studies have contributed to present knowledge and highlights some conceptual developments that have been instrumental in the process.