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Towards a DNA Barcode for the British Lichenized Fungi (Lichens)

The grey-green Lecanora muralis, a crustose species common on stone and wooden surfaces, accompanied by the equally common yellow, foliose species Xanthoria parietina.

Lichenised fungi in the British Isles comprise c. 1,700 species. Many of them are used as indicators (e.g. for ancient woodlands) or for monitoring environmental conditions (air quality). Characterisation of lichenised fungi, however, is often hampered when they lack fruit bodies or when the lichen thalli are not well developed. Assessing biodiversity by investigating genetic diversity with well identified voucher specimens linked to DNA sequence data (DNA barcodes) will result in molecular identification tools.

Molecular studies of lichenized fungi using PCR approaches are constrained by the necessity of fungal-specific primers. Therefore, our knowledge of genetic markers suitable as DNA barcodes in lichens is very limited. An evaluation of potentially suitable genes is a pre-requisite for extensive barcoding. Usually for molecular systematics of lichenized fungi parts of the ribosomal genes are utilized, however, only a limited number of studies have so far dealt with infraspecific genetic diversity in lichens.

Here we aim at a molecular characterization of the British lichens with the initial emphasis on groups used for monitoring and conservation work. These are the epiphytic (corticolous) lichen communities. We will study the ribosomal ITS region for c. five samples per species for an assessment of species divergence within and between British lichen species.

This project will provide molecular identification aids for lichens used in conservation work and with the evaluation of genetic markers will be the basis for a DNA barcoding approach for all British lichenized fungi, which may well be extended to all British fungi.

This project is at the planning stage led by the Natural History Museum and will link to the Barcoding of the British Flora project.

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