Cryptic species in lichen-forming fungi.
This contribution provides a synopsis of the presentations and discussions during the SIG session on cryptic speciation in lichen-forming fungi held during IMC9. In several cases, a re-examination of morphology against the background of molecular phylogenetic evidence revealed, sometimes subtle, morphological and/or chemical characters, supporting the distinction of particular clades at species level. However, there are also examples of cryptic species in which no morphological characters could be identified to distinguish between lineages. Several cases were presented in which distinct lineages are correlated with biogeographical patterns. When and how to name cryptic species was debated, and the use of terms such as "complex" or "aggregate" commended where the taxa formed part of a single lineage.
Departamento de Biología Vegetal II,Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain;
Ana
A
Crespo
H Thorsten
HT
Lumbsch