Paula T. DePriest

Associate Curator, Botany

National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012
MRC 166
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

depriest.paula@simnh.si.edu

Research Interests

My research focuses on the systematics and evolution of fungi that form symbiotic lichen associations with algae. In particular, I study lichen-forming fungi in the Cladoniaceae, which includes taxa such as the British soldier lichen (Cladonia cristatella Tuck.), the pyxie cup lichen (Cladonia pyxidata (L.) Hoffm.), and the reindeer lichen (Cladina rangiferina (L.) Nyl.). Most of my work uses molecular-genetic data to examine either the independent origins of the lichen habit in the fungi, the phylogenetic relationships among and within lichen-forming fungi, or the variation within species and natural populations. Through comparison of the phylogenetic relationships of lichen-forming fungi with those of their algal partners, my laboratory group examines cospeciation and algal switching among lichen assocations.  I am also interested in the molecular evolution of genes and genetic elements, especially optional group I introns.

Current Research Projects

Monographic Studies in the Cladoniaceae (Lichen-forming Ascomycetes),  National Science Foundation, PEET Program, 1997-2002, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Award to Teuvo Ahti, Scholarly Studies Award, Smithsonian Institution, 1997-2000. 

Phylogenetic analyses of lichenocolous fungi (fungal parasites of lichens).

Algal switching and cospeciation among lichen associations.

Recent Publications

DePriest, P. T.  1993.  Molecular innovations in lichen systematics:  The use of ribosomal and intron nucleotide sequences in the Cladonia chlorophaea complex.  Bryologist 96:  314-325.

DePriest, P. T.  1993.  Small subunit rDNA variation in a population of lichen fungi due to optional group I introns.  Gene 134:  67-74.

DePriest, P. T.  1995.  Phylogenetic analyses of the variable ribosomal DNA of the Cladonia chlorophaea complex.  Crypt. Biol. 5:  60-70.

DePriest, P. T.  1999.  Development of Mason E. Hale’s list of epithets in the parmelioid genera (lichen-forming ascomycotina):  A bibliographic review. Bryologist 102:  442-461. 

DePriest, P. T.  & M. Been.  1992.  Numerous group I introns with variable distribution in the ribosomal DNA of a lichen fungus.  J. Mol. Biol. 228: 315-321.

DePriest, P. T., Ivanova, N., Fahselt, D., Alstrup, V., and Gargas, A.  2000.  Psychrophilic fungal sequences associated with subfossil ascolichens.  Manuscript submitted.

Gargas, A., P. T. DePriest, M. Grube, & A. Tehler.  1995.  Multiple origins of lichen symbioses in fungi suggested by SSU rDNA phylogenies.  Science 268: 1492-1495.

Gargas, A., P. T. DePriest, & J. W. Taylor.  1995  Positions of multiple insertions in SSU rDNA of lichen-forming fungi.  Mol. Biol. Evol. 12:  208-218..

 Piercey-Normore, M. and DePriest, P. T.  2000.  Algal switching among lichen associations.  Manuscript in preparation.

Sikaroodi, M., Lawrey, J. D., and DePriest, P. T. 2000.  Phylogenetic analyses of lichenocolous fungi. Manuscript submitted.

Stenroos, S. and DePriest, P. T.  1998.  SSU phylogeny of the cladoniiform lichens.  American Journal of Botany 85:  1548-1559.