Surviving climate changes: high genetic diversity and transoceanic gene flow in two arcticalpine lichens, Flavocetraria cucullata and F. nivalis (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota)

The arctic tundra is on the brink of significant changes and there are serious concerns among researchers and the public alike over the future of arctic biodiversity. The most serious threats are accelerating climate change and human impact. In addition to the scientific and economic importance of its unique biota, nutrient cycling in the Arctic has major National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden University, PO Box 9514, Einsteinweg 2, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, Institute of Arctic Biology, PO Box 757000, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, USA, Department of Molecular Phylogenetics, University of Kaiserslautern, PO Box 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany, National Centre for Biosystematics, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, PO Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway