Alpine lichen diversity in an isolated sky island in the Colorado Plateau, USA-Insight from an integrative biodiversity inventory.

ABSTRACT: Lichens are major components of high altitude/latitude ecosystems. However, accurately characterizing their biodiversity is challenging because these regions and habitats are often underexplored, there are numerous poorly known taxonomic groups, and morphological variation in extreme environments can yield conflicting interpretations. Using an iterative taxonomic approach based on over 800 specimens and incorporating both traditional morphology-based identifications and information from the standard fungal DNA barcoding marker, we compiled a voucher-based inventory of biodiversity of lichen-forming fungi in a geographically limited and vulnerable alpine community in an isolated sky island in the Colorado Plateau, USA-the La Sal Mountains. We used the newly proposed Assemble Species by Auto

SUBMITTER: Leavitt SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8366874 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature