- Scientific name
- Umbilicaria phaea var. coccinea
- Author
- Llano
- Common names
-
- IUCN Specialist Group
Lichens
- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Ascomycota
- Class
- Lecanoromycetes
- Order
- Umbilicariales
- Family
- Umbilicariaceae
- Assessment status
-
Published
- Assessment date
- 2021-05-12
- IUCN Red List Category
-
VU
- IUCN Red List Criteria
-
C2a(i)
- Assessors
- McMullin, T., Calabria, L., Glew, K., Villella, J., Sheehy, S., Peterson, E. & Allen, J.
- Reviewers
- Lendemer, J.
Assessment Notes
Justification
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea is endemic to northwestern continental United States. It is a distinctive and conspicuous taxon due to its bright red thallus. Therefore, it is unlikely to have been overlooked in areas that have been explored by lichenologists or by general botanists. It is only known to be locally common in the arid portions of a single watershed. There are approximately six sites outside of this watershed with very low numbers of individuals (one to a few small thalli). The largest subpopulation is comprised of roughly 200 functional individuals, and the total population size is estimated to be between 8,500-9,500 extant functional individuals. There is a continuing decline in the habitat quality and extent where
U. phaea var.
coccinea occurs due to housing and infrastructure development, along with off-road vehicle recreation. This is inferred to be causing a continuing decline in the population. Therefore, it is Vulnerable (C2a(i)).
Taxonomic notes
Chemical and ecological data support the circumscription of this variety. Current molecular data do not support the monophyly of
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea as a distinct lineage from
Umbilicaria phaea var.
phaea (Allen
et al. 2022).
Geographic range
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea is endemic to northwestern North America and has been reported from northern California, Oregon, and Washington (Allen
et al. 2022). Most individuals have been reported from the Klamath Canyon and the Shasta River.
Population and Trends
Umbilicaria phaea var. coccinea is locally somewhat common in arid portions of the Klamath River watershed on both sides of the California/Oregon border. Outside of the Klamath River watershed there are approximately six known sites with low numbers of individuals (one to a few small thalli) in central Oregon and two sites in Washington along the Columbia River.
Population Trend: decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
Umblicaria phaea var.
coccinea only occurs in arid environments on exposed basalt and ultramafic rock.
Threats
Development of commercial areas and roads, and habitat loss are the primary threats to this taxon. Off-road vehicle recreation is the second most serious threat to
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea. Dam removal activities along the Klamath River could disturb or extirpate occurrences. Increased fire activity within its range and collection may also pose a threat to this visually striking taxon.
Conservation Actions
In Washington, the Northwest Lichenologists conducted a review and recommended a state conservation rank of S1 (critically imperiled). This is currently under review by the Washington Natural Heritage Program. In California, this variety is considered rare (Sharnoff 2014). A bid for conservation sponsorship is currently being prepared for the Conservation Committee of the California Lichen Society by J. Villella and E. Peterson. In Oregon,
U. phaea var.
coccinea has a Natural Heritage state rank of S2 (imperiled).
The much more common brown variety,
Umbilicaria phaea var.
phaea, almost always occurs adjacent to the red variety. It is uncertain if the two varieties are interbreeding. Further research is required to better understand their relationship, which may be important for conservation planning.
Climatic models show potential habitat in eastern Washington and eastern Oregon that may not have been explored (Allen
et al. 2022), and continued research on the taxonomic status, population sizes, and distribution of this taxon is needed. Monitoring population trends and developing a long-term management plant would aid substantively in the conservation of
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea.
Use and Trade
Umbilicaria phaea var.
coccinea is collected for scientific research.
Source and Citation
McMullin, T., Calabria, L., Glew, K., Villella, J., Sheehy, S., Peterson, E. & Allen, J. 2022. Umbilicaria phaea var. coccinea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T80703145A80703148.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T80703145A80703148.en .Accessed on 1 August 2024