A New Method For Identifying Lichens

Shenade Annie Kerketta, Amity University Kolkata

A Lichen is an organism made up of two other organisms – fungus and alga/cyanobacterium. The fungus lacks chlorophyll meaning it cannot produce its food. So, it consumes organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins). Alga/cyanobacterium, on the other hand, does include chlorophyll thereby, producing its food. Now, some species of the fungus collaborate symbiotically with the alga, generating a single unit called the lichen. In this relationship, the fungus provides protection, and alga/cyanobacterium provides the food it makes. In lichens, the fungal portion is called the “mycobiont“, and the algal portion is called the “photobiont“. The scientific name for a lichen follows the same naming norm as that of the mycobiont. But the problem arises in the nomenclature of lichens. This article will highlight the problem as well as explain the latest (2021) devised solution.

The Problems From The Existing Nomenclature

Lichen in itself is a species which were being categorized under the fungal species. And the nomenclature system named a lichen after its fungal component. But then implementing this norm shadows the lichen’s overall identity. Because a lichen has its own set of unique properties due to the presence of both fungal and algal portions equally. 

It is rather clear that lichens are a different species altogether. Each fungus which associates with a particular alga gives rise to yet another species having different properties. The lichens were being characterized using only their fungal component because the fungal portion plays a dominant role. And this could be understood as lichens having their very own “patriarchal system”, ultimately causing identity problems. 

A lichen is composed of different components, all having their ancestry and properties. All of which come together to form a rather different set of properties, ones that are distinct from the individual characteristics. This rightfully identifies the lichen to be categorized as a separate species that should not be grouped under another species. This generalization caused confusion in determining lichens from fungi for many years straight, now leading to the new method of identifying lichens. And the new species is called “Lichen Forming Fungi”.

Latest Development in this Topic

Nowadays, the following steps are performed to correctly identify and name a lichen:

1. Check for phenotypically and phylogenetically non-identifiable characteristics.
2. Using a quantitative approach measures the degree of difference (how many factors are non-identifiable?).
3. The qualitative analysis must be performed for phenotypic characters (only in the presence of molecular data).
4. When there is a sufficient amount of difference present, the possibilities of generalizing will be ruled out.
5. If there are no qualitative variations, it will be deemed, a separate entity (new species).
6. The identified new species will then be named according to (Lendemer 2021; Aime et al. 2021).

Significance and Conclusion

Lichens can produce antibiotics and they are also used as a source of food. They can even be used as indicators of air pollution as they are sensitive towards Sulphur dioxide. This article talks about a study that developed a method to recognize new lichen species and correctly name them. Earlier on, many fungi associations would be incorrectly termed lichens. But this major milestone will help to rule out a lot of confusion and greatly benefit ecologists. This new development will help organize new findings and we all can agree that this better-organized system will work efficiently.

Also read: 28,000 years old preserved lion cub found in the Siberian cave

References:

1. Lendemer, J. C. (2021). Proposed best practices for taxonomic innovations in lichen and allied Fungi: A framework derived from analysis of more than 1,000 new taxa and new combinations. The Bryologist, 124(1). https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-124.1.090
2. Lücking, R., Leavitt, S. D., & Hawksworth, D. L. (2021). Species in lichen-forming fungi: Balancing between conceptual and practical considerations, and between phenotype and phylogenomics. Fungal Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-021-00477-7
3. Aime, M. C., Miller, A. N., Aoki, T., Bensch, K., Cai, L., Crous, P. W., Hawksworth, D. L., Hyde, K. D., Kirk, P. M., Lücking, R., May, T. W., Malosso, E., Redhead, S. A., Rossman, A. Y., Stadler, M., Thines, M., Yurkov, A. M., Zhang, N., & Schoch, C. L. (2021). How to publish a new fungal species, or name, version 3.0. IMA Fungus, 12(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-021-00063-1
4. Image: File:Caloplaca thallincola.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

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