It is raining species in a new scholarly paper. 102 lichenologists from 37 countries took part in the venture that has no parallels.
All the new species are lichens. Molecular data analyzed by the team show that some characteristics biologists once regarded as minor really carry more importance. Every newly found species got its own Web site, part of the Encyclopedia of Life project.
100,000 fungal species, including 17,500 lichens, have been discovered and named so far. According to scientists there may be a million more species waiting to be noticed by science.
The whole project was coordinated by Field Museum scientist Dr Lumbsch and his colleague Dr Robert Lücking . The scientists hope to form more collaborative ventures in future.
Details appear in the Feb. 18 issue of the journal Phytotaxa.
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