(P.M. Jørg. & Goward) Otálora, P.M. Jørg. & Wedin
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.125330
Element CodeNLLEC98440
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomFungi
PhylumAscomycota
ClassLecanoromycetes
OrderPeltigerales
FamilyCollemataceae
GenusScytinium
SynonymsLeptogium polycarpumP.M. Jorg. & Goward
Other Common NamesLeptoge à quatre spores (FR)
Concept ReferenceEsslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4): 467-549.
Taxonomic CommentsEsslinger (2018) transfers Leptogium polycarpum to Scytinium polycarpum; these represent the same concept for the element.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-03-29
Change Date2024-03-29
Edition Date2024-03-29
Edition AuthorsEberly (2024)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsScytinium polycarpum is an epiphytic jellyskin lichen of western North America, occurring throughout the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. While rare at the northern edge of its range in British Columbia, it can be common in some habitats in the core of its range. There are concerns of decline in this species, as exhibited in British Columbia, which is possibly due to air pollutants. Other threats to this species include drought, forestry practices, and development.
Range Extent CommentsScytinium polycarpum occurs in western North American from northern California (USA) to southern British Columbia (Canada), west of the Cascade Range, and in the Queen Charlotte Islands (British Columbia) (COSEWIC 2011, CLH 2024). It is reported from Alaska, but the identification of the specimen attributing it to the southeastern Alaska in the Alexander Archipelago needs to be confirmed (CLH 2024). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (CLH 2024, NatureServe 2024) with uncertainty incorporated for consideration of misidentified specimens at the edge of the species range and lack of recent observation date for northernmost occurrences.
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are at least 180 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). This species can be common in the right habitat, like oak savannas and ash swamps of valleys (McCune and Yang 2021), probably largely in the southern portion of its range . This species is not considered rare in British Columbia and is limited to deciduous coastal forests with base-rich substrates (COSEWIC 2011).
Threat Impact CommentsThis species is threatened by air pollutants, habitat destruction due to development, and habitat loss/degradation due to the removal of trees and alterations to microhabitat (COSEWIC 2011). An increasing incident of drought due to climate change is also concerning for this species which is reliant on a cyanobacterium photo partner that requires water, through dew or rain, for photosynthesis (COSEWIC 2011).