Lecanomics: New ways of species detection and recognition in a ubiquitous group of lichens

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(1) Lichens are an inconspicuous but important component of terrestrial ecosystems, but their diversity is not nearly known at present. Many regions of the world are poorly explored and species delimitations are often unclear. The biggest impediment to a better account of lichen diversity is the lack of access to genomic tools for the few people that can spot microlichens in the field. New databases or sequencing initiatives alone are unlikely to accelerate species recognition in lichens.(2) Instead, it is necessary to better connect both ends of the taxonomic work-flow: field exploration and verification of potential new species by genomic methods. Based on reference genomes from axenic lichen cultures, we want to develop genomic and genetic markers for species identification and delimitation that will be tested on large samples from underexplored regions of the world. Worldwide sampling and feedback to collectors will be organized by an international team of specialists (regional hubs). Our project will use an established open-source IT solution to merge integrative taxonomy with crowd science by creating a platform for work-flow management in cooperative working groups consisting of collectors, taxonomists, lab staff and phylogeneticists. Insights from this project will help to streamline the taxonomic work-flow also for other inconspicuous organisms. (3) The crustose lichen genus Lecanora with nearly 1000 described species in all terrestrial ecosystems will be the model for our study. More than 250 species have been newly described over the last 50 years. Outside Europe and North America, very few specialists are able to detect and identify species and descriptions of new species are still mostly not backed by molecular data.