Differential selection of photobionts and ecophysiological acclimation by the bipolar lichen Cetraria aculeata

As highly specialized symbiotic systems lichens are able to colonize extreme habitats. The fruticose lichen Cetraria aculeata is widely distributed and occurs in polar habitats of both hemispheres as well as in boreal and mediterranean-type climates. In recent years population genetics, phylogeography and species delimination of the photobiont and mycobiont of Cetraria aculeata were studied. The results show that C. aculeate associates with genetically different haplotypes of Trebouxia jamesii in polar and temperate parts of its range. This indicates that differential selection of adapted photobionts may enable the mycobiont to adapt to extreme climatic conditions.

In December 2009, 200 thalli of Cetraria aculeata were collected around Jubany station, King George Island. In addition to that about 100 individuals of C.aculeata from arctic (Svalbard ,Norway) and two temperate (Spain,Germany) populations will be sampled. For these individuals photobionts and mycobionts will be genotyped. About 30 thalli of each population will be transplanted to experimental plots near Madrid (Spain), Finse (Norway) and Frankfurt (Germany) in a common garden design. Over two years the growth rate of thalli will be monitored by weighing the samples.

In cooperation with Siglinde Ott (Universität Düsseldorf), photobionts of 5 individuals per population will be cultivated. Photosynthetic parameters (maximum photosynthetic rate, photosynthesis irradiance curves) of these photobiont cultures will be measured in cooperation with Prof. Ulf Karsten (Universität Rostock) and that of whole lichen thalli together with Prof. Leopoldo Sancho (Universidad Complutense de Madrid).

Scientists

Dr. Christian Printzen (PI)
Dipl.-Biol. Stephanie Domaschke (Ph.D. student)
Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg
Frankfurt am Main

Prof. Dr. Sieglinde Ott (Universität Düsseldorf, cooperation partner)

Prof. Dr. Ulf Karsten (Universität Rostock, cooperation partner)

Prof. Dr. Leopoldo Sancho (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, cooperation partner)

Prof. Dr. Tor Tønsberg (Universitetet i Bergen, cooperation partner)

Research areas

King George Island (Dallmann Laboratory, Jubany Station)

Svalbard, Norway, Spain, Germany

Publications

Fernández Mendoza F, Domaschke S, García MA, Jordan P, Martín MP, Printzen C, 2011. Population structure of mycobionts and photobionts of the widespread lichen Cetraria aculeata. Molecular Ecology 20: 1208-1232.

Domaschke S, Fernandez Mendoza F, García MA, Martín MP, Printzen C, 2011. Low genetic diversity in Antarctic populations of the lichen Cetraria aculeata and its photobiont. Polar Research (in press)

Domaschke S, Printzen C, Fernandez-Mendoza F, 2010. Photobiont selection under extreme environmental conditions. Poster, IMC9, 1.-6. August 2010, Edinburgh.

Printzen C, Domaschke S, Fernandez-Mendoza F, 2010. Photobiont selection as a way of ecotypical differentiation in widespread lichens? A case study on Cetraria aculeata. Vortrag, 24. Internationale Polartagung, 6.-10. September 2010, Obergurgl.

Jordan P, Printzen C, Spribille T, 2008. Genetic variability of the bipolar lichen Cetraria aculeata. Poster, IAL6, 13.-19. July 2008, Monterey, Abstracts: 34.

Talks

Fernández Mendoza F, Domaschke S, Printzen C, 2011. Does a switch in photobiont shape the evolution of the lichen Cetraria aculeata? Vortrag, Biosystematics, 21.-27. February 2011, Berlin, Abstracts: 120-121.

Domaschke S, Martínez MP, Garcia MA, Printzen C, 2008. Genetic variability in photobiont populations of the bipolar lichen Cetraria aculeata. Poster, IAL6, 13.-19. July 2008, Monterey, Abstracts: 15.

Homepage

Find more about my work on Antarctic lichens at my homepage

Research funding organisation

German Research Foundation

Project number: PR-567/13
Funding period: 1 December 2009 - 30 November 2012