Sphaerophorus fragilis

(Fragile Ball Lichen)

Conservation Status

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Population Analysis

For the 31,840 species in the Class Lecanoromycetes, we average 8.62 observations each in our database; for the Fragile Ball Lichen, we have 272 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is moderately common.
A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Fragile Ball Lichen is the same as the trend in observations of Lecanoromycetes. Is this species just as common, as a proportion of all observations, as it once was? The answer is no, changes in observation rate of this species significantly differ from changes in observation rate of its Class. (t=12.105, p<0.001)
How do observation rates of the Fragile Ball Lichen differ from those of Lecanoromycetes? To answer this, we examined the percentage of observerations for Lecanoromycetes that were observations of the Fragile Ball Lichen each year. We then correlated this percentage with observation year. If observations of the Fragile Ball Lichen are becoming more common relative to other species of Lecanoromycetes, the correlation should be positive, but if it is becoming less common, the correlation should be negative. In fact, the correlation is negative (r=-.61), with a negative slope (m = -.064), suggesting that the Fragile Ball Lichen may be in decline relative to other species of Lecanoromycetes. This correlation is statistically significant. (F = 25.14, p<.05)
The scatter chart to the right shows the percentage of all observations for Lecanoromycetes each year that were observations of the Fragile Ball Lichen.

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Fungi T.L. Jahn & F.F. Jahn, 1949 ex R.T. Moore, 1980 - Fungi
  - Subkingdom: Dikarya D.S. Hibbett et al., in D.S. Hibbett et al., 2007
    - Phylum: Ascomycota H.C. Bold, 1957 ex T. Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - Sac Fungi
      - Subphylum: Pezizomycotina Eriksson & Winka, 1997
        Class: Ascomycetes O.E. Eriksson & K. Winka, 1997
        Subclass: Lecanoromycetidae P.M. Kirk et al., 2001 ex J. Miadlikowska et al., in D.S. Hibbett et a
        Order: Lecanorales Nannf., 1932
        Family: Sphaerophoraceae Fr., 1831
        Genus: Sphaerophorus (FlÃ¼gge, 1886) PrÃ©vot, 1938 - Ball Lichen
        Specific descriptor: fragilis (L.) Pers. 1794
        Scientific name: Sphaerophorus fragilis (L.) Pers. 1794

Unambiguous Synonyms:

Cladonia fragilis (L.) F.H. Wigg. 1780
Coralloides fragilis (L.) Hoffm. 1794
Lecanora fragilis (Scop.) Zahlbr. 1928
Lichen caespitosus Roth 1788
Lichen fragilis L. 1753
Sphaerophorus caespitosus (Roth) DC. 1805
Sphaerophorus coralloides var. caespitosus (Roth) Turner & Borrer 1839
Sphaerophorus coralloides var. fragilis Taylor
Stereocaulon fragile (L.) Hoffm. 1796
Verrucaria fragilis (L.) Humb. 1796

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Kirk P.M., 14-Sep-2005

Physical Description

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Habit: Lichenous

Distribution

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Similar Species

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Members of the genus Sphaerophorus:

More Info

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Notes

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Contributors:

Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 19, 2007.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 03, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 8 providers.
Species Fungorum 2006.
USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 03, 2008:

Arizona State University, International Institute for Species Exploration: Arizona State University Lichen Herbarium
Australian National Herbarium (CANB)
Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem: Lichen Herbarium Berlin
Canadian Museum of Nature: Canadian Museum of Nature Herbarium
GBIF-Spain: Real Jardin Botanico, Madrid: MA-Lichen
GBIF-Sweden: Botany (UPS)
GBIF-Sweden: Fungi (S)
GBIF-Sweden: Herbarium of Oskarshamn (OHN)
GBIF-Sweden: Lund Botanical Museum (LD)
Icelandic Institute of Natural History: Herbarium (AMNH)
Icelandic Institute of Natural History: Herbarium (ICEL)
Icelandic Institute of Natural History: Observational database of Icelandic plants
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo: Lichen field notes, Oslo (O)
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo: Lichen herbarium, Bergen (BG)
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo: Lichen herbarium, Oslo (O)
The Danish Biodiversity Information Facility: Botanical Museum, Copenhagen, the Phycology Herbarium
University Museums of Norway (MUSIT)

Identifiers:

Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 1021760
Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:indexfungorum.org:names:121720
U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: SPFR60
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 62478

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Last Revised: June 10, 2008