Sphaerophorus globosus

(Globe 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 Globe Ball Lichen, we have 1,389 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is extremely common.
A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Globe 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=3.796, p<0.001)
How do observation rates of the Globe Ball Lichen differ from those of Lecanoromycetes? To answer this, we examined the percentage of observerations for Lecanoromycetes that were observations of the Globe Ball Lichen each year. We then correlated this percentage with observation year. If observations of the Globe 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=-.42), with a negative slope (m = -.016), suggesting that the Globe Ball Lichen may be in decline relative to other species of Lecanoromycetes. This correlation is statistically significant. (F = 68.36, p<.05)
The scatter chart to the right shows the percentage of all observations for Lecanoromycetes each year that were observations of the Globe 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: globosus (Huds.) Vain. 1903
        Scientific name: Sphaerophorus globosus (Huds.) Vain. 1903

Unambiguous Synonyms:

Coralloides globiferum (L.) Hoffm. 1794
Lichen globiferus L. 1767
Lichen globosus Huds. 1762
Sphaerophorus coralloides Pers. 1794
Sphaerophorus coralloides var. laxus Turner & Borrer
Sphaerophorus globiferus (L.) DC. 1805
Sphaerophorus globosus forma congestus H. Magn. 1929
Stereocaulon globiferum (L.) Hoffm. 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 05, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 11 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 05, 2008:

Arizona State University, International Institute for Species Exploration: Arizona State University Lichen Herbarium
Australian Antarctic Data Centre: Australian Antarctic Division 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: Departamento de Biolog. Veg. II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid: MAF-Lich
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)
Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns: Epiphytic Lichens of G. Lettau at the Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem
The Danish Biodiversity Information Facility: Botanical Museum, Copenhagen, the Phycology Herbarium
University Museums of Norway (MUSIT)

Identifiers:

Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 1017082
Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:indexfungorum.org:names:405438
U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: SPGL60
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 62480

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Last Revised: June 10, 2008