| Circinaria mansourii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Pertusariales |
| Family: | Megasporaceae |
| Genus: | Circinaria |
| Species: | C. mansourii |
| Binomial name | |
| Circinaria mansourii (Sohrabi) Sohrabi (2013) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Circinaria mansourii is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Megasporaceae.[2] It is primarily found on soil or plant debris in Iran, particularly in the mountainous steppe-like habitats. It was described as new to science in 2011.
Taxonomy
Circinaria mansourii was first described by lichenologist Mohammad Sohrabi in 2011, as Aspicilia mansourii. The type specimen was discovered in Golestan National Park, in the region between Mirzabaylou and Almeh valley, at an altitude of 1,300 m (4,300 ft). Due to morphological similarities, the author initially suggested a close relationship to the terricolous North American species Aspicilia californica and A. filiformis. This species is named in honour of Reza Mansouri, an Iranian physicist who has made significant contributions to the development of science in Iran.[3] In 2013, Sohrabi transferred the taxon to the genus Circinaria following molecular phylogenetic analysis.[4]
Description
The thallus of Circinaria mansourii is terricolous, growing on soil or plant debris and forming small patches up to 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) wide. The lobes are more or less stringy, continuous, warty, and rimose, with a surface that is white-pruinose and smooth to roughened. The photobiont is green and chlorococcoid, with unicellular cells distributed in a regular to irregular layer. The lower surface of the thallus is white to pale yellow or dark grey to ochraceous. No apothecia or pycnidia have been observed in this species. Secondary chemistry includes aspicilin and an unknown fatty acid, and the thallus displays negative reactions to K, C, and P chemical spot tests in both medulla and cortex.[3]
Habitat and distribution
Circinaria mansourii has been found on calcareous soil and dead plant debris, often growing on dead tufts of Poa bulbosa and other perennial grasses. It is known to inhabit open mountain areas with steppe-like habitats, and has so far only been recorded in Iran. In addition to the type collection from Golestan National Park, it has also been reported to occur in East Azerbaijan province.[3] It is one of the dominant lichen species in the biological soil crust communities of the arid ecosystems of the Iranian Artemisia steppes.[5]
References
- ↑ "Synonymy. Current Name: Circinaria mansourii (Sohrabi) Sohrabi, Lichenologist 45(3): 358 (2013)". Species Fungorum. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ↑ "Circinaria mansourii (Sohrabi) Sohrabi". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- 1 2 3 Lumbsch, H.T.; Ahti, T.; Altermann, S.; De Paz, G.A.; Aptroot, A.; Arup, U.; et al. (2011). "One hundred new species of lichenized fungi: a signature of undiscovered global diversity" (PDF). Phytotaxa. 18 (1): 9–11. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.18.1.1.
- ↑ Sohrabi, Mohammad; Leavitt, Steven D.; Rico, Víctor J.; Halici, Mehmet G.; Shrestha, Gajendra; Stenroos, Soili (2013). "Teuvoa, a new lichen genus in Megasporaceae (Ascomycota: Pertusariales), including Teuvoa junipericola sp. nov". The Lichenologist. 45 (3): 347–360. doi:10.1017/S0024282913000108. S2CID 84530559.
- ↑ Ahmadian, Negar; Abedi, Mehdi; Sohrabi, Mohamad; Rosbakh, Sergey (2021). "Contrasting seed germination response to moss and lichen crusts in Stipa caucasica, a key species of the Irano-Turanian steppe". Folia Geobotanica. 56 (4): 205–213. doi:10.1007/s12224-021-09402-x. S2CID 255565534.