DNA barcoding and morphological observationsof three lichenized fungal species from James Ross Island(Antarctic Peninsula)

Ukrainian Antarctic Journal, cilt.1, ss.123-148, 2021 (Scopus)

Antarctica seems to many people to be a very remote, isolated, and mysterious place at the end of the world, and its

name is hardly mentioned in normal life and conversation. However, considering that it plays a key role in the rapidly warming

global climate system and its contribution to the continuing sea-level rise, its importance today is increasing day by day and it

can be seen that it is of vital importance for humanity. There is increasing interest in the distribution of terrestrial organisms in

Antarctica because of the potential use of biodiversity as a predictor or indicator of climate change. Lichenized fungi cover large

areas of Antarctica that are not covered by ice and form precursor organisms that thrive in harsh environments. They are the

largest contributors to biomass and diversity. The characteristic features of these organisms can be counted as developing cert

ain

protective mechanisms, adapting to temperature and radiation, and surviving even when the amount of water in their body is

minimized. On the other hand, lichenized fungi are the most dominant components of Antarctic terrestrial vegetation, and their

adaptation to extreme conditions; growth forms, reproduction, adaptation to environmental conditions can also be explained

through mechanisms. Because of the lichens, dominant organisms of Antarctica, studying lichen biodiversity is very important.

Although around 500 species of lichens were reported from Antarctica, the lichen biodiversity of the continent is far from bein

fully known; as in the last 5 years of our studies on Antarctic lichens, we and other scientists reported a significant number

undescribed or unreported species. So the lichen biodiversity of Antarctica is not fully known as there are still many undescri

bed

or unreported species on the continent. In this paper, we deal with three lichenized fungal species:

Arthonia glebosa

Tuck.,

Lecanora atromarginata

(H. Magn.) Hertel & Rambold and

Lecidea tessellata

rke which are common in James Ross Island,

using nrITS, mtSSU, and RPB1 sequences. The lichen samples are studied by morphological and anatomical characters. In

addition, to determine the phylogenetic positions of the species, we provide nrITS and mtSSU of these 3 species from Antarctica

and additionally RPB1 sequences of

Lecidea tessellata