Looking for Manna, Dung, and Craters - Uncovering Hidden Diversity in Circinaria Lichens

Authors

Lizzie Perry, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
Ginny Basset, Brigham Young University - Provo
Steve Leavitt, Brigham Young UniversityFollow

Files

Keywords

Lichen, Circinaria, Integrative Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Circinaria pakistanica

Abstract

• Lichens, symbiotic partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic organisms, are often overlooked in biodiversity studies due to their cryptic nature. The lichen genus, Circinaria —historically, described as “Manna Lichens”, “crater lichens”, “pigeon dung lichens”, and “excrement of the earth”¹ —remains understudied.
• This genus includes approximately 40 formally described species worldwide, however, only 13 have been documented in North America³.
• To better understand species-level diversity of Circinaria in Western North America, we used an integrated data set – DNA, morphology, and ecology – to characterize diversity and delimit potential candidate species.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Perry, Lizzie; Basset, Ginny; and Leavitt, Steve, "Looking for Manna, Dung, and Craters - Uncovering Hidden Diversity in Circinaria Lichens" (2025). Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025. 30.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/library_studentposters_2025/30

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2025

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Sophomore

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/