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28-609: Caraiba is a monotypic genus of snakes in the family Colubridae . The genus contains the sole species Caraiba andreae , also known commonly as the black and white racer or the Cuban lesser racer , which is endemic to Cuba. There are six recognized subspecies . The genus name, Caraiba , is a reference to the Caribbean . The specific name , andreae , is in honor of a Danish ship's master, "Captain Andrea", who collected

56-602: A common ancestor ) or paraphyletic (excluding some descendants), these concepts do not apply to monotypic taxa because they contain only a single member. Monotypic taxa are part of a broader challenge in biological classification known as aphyly – situations where evolutionary relationships are poorly supported by evidence. This includes both monotypic groups and cases where traditional groupings are found to be artificial. Understanding how monotypic taxa fit into this bigger picture helps identify areas needing further research. The German lichenologist Robert Lücking suggests that

84-482: A hierarchical system. When taxonomists identify a monotypic taxon, this often reflects uncertainty about its relationships rather than true evolutionary isolation . This uncertainty is evident in many cases across different species. For instance, the diatom Licmophora juergensii is placed in a monotypic genus because scientists have not yet found clear evidence of its relationships to other species. Some taxonomists argue against monotypic taxa because they reduce

112-539: A family. Some examples of monotypic groups are: Robert L%C3%BCcking Robert Lücking (born 1964) is a German lichenologist , known for his extensive research on foliicolous lichens (lichens that live on leaves) and his significant contributions to the taxonomy , ecology, and biodiversity of fungi and lichens. He earned his master's and PhD from the University of Ulm , focusing on foliicolous lichens. He has received numerous awards for his work, including

140-553: A natural classification. From a cladistic perspective, which focuses on shared derived characteristics to determine evolutionary relationships, the theoretical status of monotypic taxa is complex. Some argue they can only be justified when relationships cannot be resolved through synapomorphies (shared derived characteristics); otherwise, they would necessarily exclude related species and thus be paraphyletic. However, others contend that while most taxonomic groups can be classified as either monophyletic (containing all descendants of

168-534: A new species of lichen, Cora timucua , identified through DNA analysis of museum specimens collected in Florida between 1885 and 1985. The research highlighted the critical endangerment of C. timucua , possibly extinct due to habitat loss , with its native pine scrub habitat largely replaced by urbanisation and agriculture. The study demonstrated the significance of digitised museum collections in uncovering previously misidentified species and emphasises

196-573: A tropical rainforest in Costa Rica"). In this work, Lücking recorded 177 foliicolous lichen species from the shrub layer in a Costa Rican tropical forest . Lücking later won the 2008 Augustin Pyramus de Candolle prize for a monograph he published based on this work; this award is given every four years by the Société de Physique et d'Histoire naturelle de Genève  [ fr ] to "reward

224-525: A worthy successor of the seminal 1952 work on these lichens by Rolf Santesson . Following the publication of this monograph, he was described by the Austrian lichenologist Martin Grube as "today's leading expert on foliicolous lichens". Around this time in his career, Lücking was noted to have spent more than six years studying in the field, on all five continents and in over 20 countries. He had supervised or

252-428: Is a prolific author (or coauthor) of new fungal and lichen species, having formally described about 1000 of them as of December 2017. Early in his career, from 1993 to 2000, Lücking compiled 250 issues of an exsiccata series (sets of dried and labelled herbarium specimens) titled Lichenes foliicoli exsiccati . Lücking was the lead author of a 2020 study that documented the discovery and potential extinction of

280-425: Is black, with a dorso-lateral series of yellow spots on each side. The upper labials are white. Ventrally it is white, with black markings. Adults may attain a total length of 65.5 cm (25.8 in), which includes a tail 21.5 cm (8.5 in) long. C. andreae is oviparous . Monotypic Monotypic taxa present several important theoretical challenges in biological classification . One key issue

308-402: Is known as "Gregg's Paradox": if a single species is the only member of multiple hierarchical levels (for example, being the only species in its genus, which is the only genus in its family), then each level needs a distinct definition to maintain logical structure. Otherwise, the different taxonomic ranks become effectively identical, which creates problems for organizing biological diversity in

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336-407: Is particularly associated with island species. Among 25 documented extinct monotypic genera studied, 22 occurred on islands, with flightless animals being particularly vulnerable to human impacts. Just as the term monotypic is used to describe a taxon including only one subdivision, the contained taxon can also be referred to as monotypic within the higher-level taxon, e.g. a genus monotypic within

364-780: The Mason E. Hale Award for his doctoral thesis, the Augustin Pyramus de Candolle prize for his monograph , and the Tuckerman Award twice for his publications in the scientific journal The Bryologist . Since 2015, Lücking has been serving as the curator of lichens , fungi , and bryophytes at the Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum , overseeing a vast scientific collection and contributing to major advancements in molecular phylogenetics in lichenology. Lücking has authored or co-authored

392-589: The University of Bayreuth , under the supervision of Gerhard Rambold. In 2001, he was hired as adjunct curator at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History , and was later promoted to research collections manager for mycology. Lücking and co-authors have twice been bestowed with the Tuckerman Award from the American Bryological and Lichenological Society ; this award is given to the most outstanding lichenological paper published each year in

420-582: The holotype . The following six subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies . Nota bene : A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Caraiba . C. andreae is found throughout Cuba. It is also found on Isla de la Juventud (formerly called Isle of Pines), and on other smaller offshore islands. The preferred natural habitats of C. andreae are shrubland and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,100 m (3,600 ft). Dorsally , C. andreae

448-556: The University of Ulm, with both degrees focusing on the taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity of foliicolous lichens. In 1996, Lücking was awarded the Mason E. Hale award for an "outstanding doctoral thesis presented by a candidate on a lichenological theme". His thesis was titled Foliikole Flechten und ihre Mikrohabitatpraferenzen in einem tropischen Regenwald in Costa Rica ("Foliicolous lichens and their microhabitat preferences in

476-412: The author or -authors of the best monograph of a genus or family of plants". In this 866-page work, Lücking compiled the revised nomenclature, description, ecology and distribution, and specimen information for 616 species and 15 infrageneric taxa. The monograph, estimated to cover descriptions of approximately 70% of the world's known foliicolous lichens at that time, was favourably compared to and deemed

504-745: The common application of the term monotypic is frequently misleading, "since each taxon by definition contains exactly one type and is hence "monotypic", regardless of the total number of units", and suggests using "monospecific" for a genus with a single species, and "monotaxonomic" for a taxon containing only one unit. Species in monotypic genera tend to be more threatened with extinction than average species. Studies have found this pattern particularly pronounced in amphibians , where about 6.56% of monotypic genera are critically endangered , compared to birds and mammals where around 4.54% and 4.02% of monotypic genera face critical endangerment respectively. Studies have found that extinction of monotypic genera

532-492: The description of more than 1000 taxa , making him one of the most prolific modern lichenologists. His role extends beyond research as he is actively involved in editorial duties for key lichenological journals and has played a critical role in advising on conservation and biodiversity projects globally. Several lichen species and a genus have been named in his honour. Robert Lücking was born in 1964 in Ulm , southern Germany. He

560-410: The discovery of over a hundred new species. Since 1 July 2015, Lücking has been the curator of lichens, fungi, and bryophytes at the Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum , overseeing the management, curation, and digitisation of a collection that encompasses approximately one million species. Other research interests of his include fungal evolution , systematics , and nomenclature . He

588-1387: The importance of a solid foundation in taxonomy, proficiency in bioinformatics , and the necessity of a critical and inquisitive mindset. He encouraged young scientists to engage deeply with their research questions and to communicate their findings compellingly, underscoring the value of sharing knowledge and data within the scientific community. Several lichen species have been named to honour Lücking. These include: Aspidothelium lueckingii Flakus (2009) ; Byssoloma lueckingii Sérus. (1995) ; Calenia lueckingii C.Hartmann (1996) ; Chapsa lueckingii Kalb (2009) ; Coenogonium lueckingii Y.Joshi, Gagarina, J.P.Halda & Hur (2015) ; Dictyomeridium lueckingii Flakus & Aptroot (2016) ; Enterographa lueckingii Kalb (2001) ; Graphis lueckingiana S.Joshi, Upreti & Hur (2018) ; Graphis lueckingii Dal-Forno & Eliasaro (2010) ; Hypotrachyna lueckingii Sipman (2011) ; Kalbographa lueckingii Kalb (2009) ; Mazosia lueckingii Kr.P.Singh & Pinokiyo (2008) ; Palicella lueckingii Rodr.Flakus (2018) ; Pertusaria lueckingii Bungartz, A.W.Archer & Elix (2015) ; Phlyctis lueckingii Weerakoon & Aptroot (2016) ; Platygramme lueckingii Z.F.Jia & Kalb (2012) ; and Thelotrema lueckingii Breuss (2013) . The genus Lueckingia Aptroot & Umaña (2008)

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616-427: The information content of biological classifications. As taxonomists Backlund and Bremer explain in their critique, "'Monotypic' taxa do not provide any information about the relationships of the immediately subordinate taxon". When monotypic taxa are sister to a single larger group, they might be merged into that group; however, when they are sister to multiple other groups, they may need to remain separate to maintain

644-458: The need to conserve remaining habitats to protect undiscovered or poorly understood lichen diversity. Lücking is serving or has served on the editorial boards of some scientific journals , including The Bryologist , Mycosphere , and The Lichenologist . Reflecting on the developments in lichenology over the past two decades in a 2021 interview, Lücking highlighted the significant impact of molecular phylogenetics , which has reshaped

672-850: The scientific journal The Bryologist . The first (awarded in 2008) was for their publication about the Gomphillaceae in eastern North America, while the second (awarded in 2017) was the highly cited "2016 classification of lichenized fungi in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota". As the Field Museum's adjunct curator, Lücking led a NSF-funded project that hosted 42 workshops on tropical mycology and lichenology across 16 Latin American countries, engaging 648 participants from 24 countries. This initiative supported over 50 theses and produced more than 50 collaborative scientific papers, including

700-412: The taxonomy and systematics of lichen fungi, paralleled by advances in biomonitoring to assess the impacts of climate change . Lücking expressed hope that new technologies would integrate herbarium collections more fully into phylogenetic and genomic studies, potentially unlocking historical ecological data stored in these collections. Lücking also offered advice to emerging lichenologists, emphasising

728-454: The understanding of evolutionary relationships and species boundaries within the field. He noted the importance of collaborative, cross-disciplinary research and praised the increasing involvement of scientists from biodiversity-rich countries. Looking forward, Lücking anticipates that genomic studies will play a crucial role in uncovering the specifics of lichen symbiosis and their ecological functions. He also foresees continued growth in

756-454: Was introduced to lichenology through his interest in photography, a hobby that led him to explore tropical foliicolous lichens during his study year abroad in Costa Rica. Inspired by his supervisor, the late bryologist Sieghard Winkler, Lücking chose to study these leaf-dwelling lichens. This marked the beginning of his exploration into lichens, paving the way for his future career. He completed his master's degree in 1990 and his PhD in 1994 at

784-722: Was supervising about fifteen diploma projects and a dozen theses dedicated to the study of foliicolous lichens and related topics. With financial backing from the National Science Foundation (NSF), he initiated TICOLICHEN, the first major modern inventory of lichen biodiversity in a tropical country. After a short-term assignment as a visiting professor in Recife , Brazil, he undertook a two-year post-doctoral stint in Ulm to further study foliicolous lichens. Lücking earned his habilitation from his studies (1998–2001) at

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