Caloplaca obamae
| Caloplaca obamae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Teloschistales |
| Family: | Teloschistaceae |
| Genus: | Caloplaca |
| Species: | C. obamae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caloplaca obamae Knudsen (2009)
| |
Caloplaca obamae is a species of
Santa Rosa Island in California and published in March 2009. Knudsen stated that he chose to honor Obama for "his support of science and scientific education" and wrote the manuscript for publication of the species in the time between Obama's election and his inauguration.[1][2]
Description
Caloplaca obamae produces a thin
apothecia that were present in specimens may belong to an associated species, Caloplaca ludificans.[2]
Caloplaca obamae is similar in appearance to Caloplaca xanthostigmoidea.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Caloplaca obamae is endemic to the northern side of Santa Rosa Island on clay soils of the Pleistocene marine terraces. It has not yet been discovered on mainland California, San Miguel Island, or Sandy Point on Santa Rosa Island. It occurs from Bechers Bay to Soledad Canyon on Santa Rosa in grasslands that have been heavily grazed for over a hundred years. Introduced animal populations are being removed from the island and it has been suggested that C. obamae, which had nearly gone extinct when cattle ranches were active, will make a comeback on the island. It is commonly found growing with other terricolous lichen species and bryophytes.[1][2]
See also
- List of Caloplaca species
- List of things named after Barack Obama
- List of organisms named after famous people (born 1950–present)
References
- ^ a b ScienceDaily. 16 April 2009. New Species Of Lichen Named After President Barack Obama. Accessed online 16 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d Knudsen, K. 2009. Caloplaca obamae, a new species from Santa Rosa Island, California. Opuscula Philolichenum, 6: 37–40.