1
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Stephens RB, Willems JS, Yamasaki M, Costello CA, Rowe RJ. Resource availability alters breeding strategies in a small mammal community. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 39073110 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Following a resource pulse, animals may finance reproduction by consuming concurrently available resources (income breeding) or by storing resources for future reproduction (capital breeding). Understanding how these reproductive strategies are used is important for determining the ecological mechanisms that structure timing of reproduction and that drive interannual population fluctuations in animals. We gathered a reproductive dataset for five small mammal species over a 12-year period in Northeastern USA during which six masting events of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) occurred. Masting created alternate years where seeds were either available late (masting year) or early (cached from the previous year) in the breeding season. The small mammal species differed in reliance on seeds and overwintering strategies. We quantified the diet using stable isotopes and recorded reproduction timing, proportion breeding and litter size in females and testes size in males. Timing of seed availability minimally affected litter size but strongly affected proportion breeding and timing of reproduction. During masting years (late seed availability), a higher proportion of females reproduced, with breeding taking place later in the season (lactation timed with peak seed availability), although the delay was restricted in Napaeozapus insignis, an obligate hibernator. After a fall mast, cached seeds were used as capital in the following spring (early seed availability) to support a litter that, depending on the species, occurred 24-79 days sooner than a mast year. No late-season reproduction occurred in years with early seed availability except for Myodes gapperi which produced a second litter, likely financed by fungal consumption. Males also showed strong responses to seed availability, mirroring female reproduction with testes size staying constant in years with late seed availability and sharply decreasing over the breeding season in years with early seed availability. Our results highlight that although photoperiod and temperature broadly set bounds of the breeding season in temperate environments, resource availability influences the reproductive strategies that species use, which in turn alters reproductive timing and can drive large inter-annual population fluctuations. Differences in overwintering strategies and diet may further modulate reproductive timing and output relative to resource pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan B Stephens
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Joshua S Willems
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Mariko Yamasaki
- Forest Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Christine A Costello
- Forest Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Rebecca J Rowe
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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2
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Mujic AB, Elliott TF, Stephens RB, Trappe JM, Kristol R, Sublett D, Smith ME. Rare but widespread: A systematic revision of the truffle-forming genera Destuntzia and Kjeldsenia and the formation of a new genus, Hosakaea. Mycologia 2024; 116:148-169. [PMID: 38064355 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2259786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Here we present the results of taxonomic and systematic study of the rare truffle-forming genera Destuntzia and Kjeldsenia. Truffle-forming fungi are difficult to study due to their reduced morphological features and their cryptic, hypogeous fruiting habits. The rare occurrence of Destuntzia and Kjeldsenia further compounds these difficulties due to the lack of adequate material for study. Recent forays in North Carolina and Tennessee recovered new specimens of another rarely collected fungus, Octaviania purpurea. Morphological and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Octaviania purpurea is a member of the genus Destuntzia, and this led us to reevaluate the taxonomic status and systematic relationships of other Destuntzia species. We performed a multilocus phylogenetic analysis of Destuntzia specimens deposited in public fungaria, including all available type material, and environmental sequences from animal scat and soil. Our analyses indicate that Destuntzia is a member of the family Claustulaceae within the order Phallales and is a close relative of Kjeldsenia. Results of our phylogenetic analysis infer that three species originally described in the genus Destuntzia are members of the genus Kjeldsenia. We propose three new combinations in Kjeldsenia to accommodate these species as well as a new combination in Destuntzia to accommodate Octaviania purpurea. We also describe a new genus in Claustulaceae, Hosakaea, to accommodate a closely affiliated species, Octaviania violascens. Finally, we transfer the genus Destunzia into the family Claustulaceae and emend the description of the family. The newly proposed combinations in Destuntzia and Kjeldsenia significantly expand the known geographic ranges of both genera. The data from metabarcode analysis of scat and soil also reveal several additional undescribed species that expand these ranges well beyond those suggested by basidiomata collections. Systematic placement of Destuntzia in the saprotrophic order Phallales suggests that this genus is not ectomycorrhizal, and the ecological implications of this systematic revision are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alija B Mujic
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, California 93740
| | - Todd F Elliott
- Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
| | - Ryan B Stephens
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
| | - James M Trappe
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Rebecca Kristol
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Danielle Sublett
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, California 93740
| | - Matthew E Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611
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3
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Manlick PJ, Cook JA, Newsome SD. The coupling of green and brown food webs regulates trophic position in a montane mammal guild. Ecology 2023; 104:e3949. [PMID: 36495220 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Food web ecology has revolutionized our understanding of ecological processes, but the drivers of food web properties like trophic position (TP) and food chain length are notoriously enigmatic. In terrestrial ecosystems, above- and belowground systems were historically compartmentalized into "green" and "brown" food webs, but the coupling of these systems by animal consumers is increasingly recognized, with potential consequences for trophic structure. We used stable isotope analysis (δ13 C, δ15 N) of individual amino acids to trace the flow of essential biomolecules and jointly measure multichannel feeding, food web coupling, and TP in a guild of small mammals. We then tested the hypothesis that brown energy fluxes to aboveground consumers increase terrestrial food chain length via cryptic trophic transfers during microbial decomposition. We found that the average small mammal consumer acquired nearly 70% of their essential amino acids (69.0% ± 7.6%) from brown food webs, leading to significant increases in TP across species and functional groups. Fungi were the primary conduit of brown energy to aboveground consumers, providing nearly half the amino acid budget for small mammals on average (44.3% ± 12.0%). These findings illustrate the tightly coupled nature of green and brown food webs and show that microbially mediated energy flow ultimately regulates food web structure in aboveground consumers. Consequently, we propose that the integration of green and brown energy channels is a cryptic driver of food chain length in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Manlick
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska, USA
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Seth D Newsome
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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4
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Suetsugu K, Hashiwaki H. A non-photosynthetic plant provides the endangered Amami rabbit with vegetative tissues as a reward for seed dispersal. Ecology 2023; 104:e3972. [PMID: 36691102 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Suetsugu
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,The Institute for Advanced Research, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiromu Hashiwaki
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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5
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Faggioli VS, Covacevich F, Grilli G, Lorenzon C, Aimetta B, Sagadin M, Langarica-Fuentes A, Cabello MN. Environmental response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under soybean cultivation at a regional scale. MYCORRHIZA 2022; 32:425-438. [PMID: 36207539 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-022-01093-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, the shortage of fertilizers and reduced land for cultivation have drawn attention to the potential aid provided by soil-borne organisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offer a wide range of ecosystem benefits and hence, understanding the mechanisms that control AMF occurrence and maintenance is essential for resilient crop production. We conducted a survey of 123 soybean fields located across a 75,000-km2 area of Argentina to explore AMF community composition and to quantify the impact of soil, climate, and geographical distance on these key soil organisms. First, based upon morphological identification of spores, we compiled a list of the AMF species found in the studied area and identified Acaulospora scrobiculata and Glomus fuegianum as the most frequent species. G. fuegianum abundance was negatively correlated with precipitation seasonality and positively correlated with mean annual precipitation as well as mycorrhizal colonisation of soybean roots. Second, we observed that species richness was negatively correlated with soil P availability (Bray I), clay content and mean annual precipitation. Finally, based on partitioning variation analysis, we found that AMF exhibited spatial patterning at a broad scale. Therefore, we infer that geographical distance was positively associated with spore community composition heterogeneity across the region. Nevertheless, we highlight the importance of precipitation sensitivity of frequent species, overall AMF richness and community composition, revealing a crucial challenge to forthcoming agriculture considering an expected change in global climate patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Soledad Faggioli
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, EEA Marcos Juárez, Ruta 12 km 36, 2580, Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Fernanda Covacevich
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad Y Biotecnología (CONICET)-Fundación Para Las Investigaciones Biológicas Aplicadas, Ruta 226 km 73.5, 7620, Balcarce, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Grilli
- FCEFyN (CONICET, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Vélez Sarsfield 1611, CC 495, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Claudio Lorenzon
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, EEA Marcos Juárez, Ruta 12 km 36, 2580, Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Bethania Aimetta
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, EEA Marcos Juárez, Ruta 12 km 36, 2580, Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Monica Sagadin
- Centro de Investigación Agropecuaria (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Instituto de Fisiología Y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales (IFRGV), CONICET, Camino 60 Cuadras km, 51/2 C.P. 5119, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adrián Langarica-Fuentes
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marta Noemí Cabello
- Instituto Spegazzini (Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Y Museo, UNLP), Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de La Prov. de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), Av 53 # 477, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
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6
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Scott AM, Gilbert JH, Pauli JN. Population and Community Responses of Small Mammals to Single-tree Selection Harvest in Laurentian Hardwood Forests. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-188.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Allison M. Scott
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706
| | - Jonathan H. Gilbert
- Biological Services Division, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, Wisconsin 54861
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706
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7
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Weinstein SB, Stephens WZ, Greenhalgh R, Round JL, Dearing MD. Wild herbivorous mammals (genus Neotoma) host a diverse but transient assemblage of fungi. Symbiosis 2022; 87:45-58. [PMID: 37915425 PMCID: PMC10619970 DOI: 10.1007/s13199-022-00853-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are often overlooked in microbiome research and, as a result, little is known about the mammalian mycobiome. Although frequently detected in vertebrate guts and known to contribute to digestion in some herbivores, whether these eukaryotes are a persistent part of the mammalian gut microbiome remains contentious. To address this question, we sampled fungi from wild woodrats (Neotoma spp.) collected from 25 populations across the southwestern United States. For each animal, we collected a fecal sample in the wild, and then re-sampled the same individual after a month in captivity on a controlled diet. We characterized and quantified fungi using three techniques: ITS metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomics and qPCR. Wild individuals contained diverse fungal assemblages dominated by plant pathogens, widespread molds, and coprophilous taxa primarily in Ascomycota and Mucoromycota. Fungal abundance, diversity and composition differed between individuals, and was primarily influenced by animal geographic origin. Fungal abundance and diversity significantly declined in captivity, indicating that most fungi in wild hosts came from diet and environmental exposure. While this suggests that these mammals lack a persistent gut mycobiome, natural fungal exposure may still impact fungal dispersal and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B. Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - W. Zac Stephens
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Robert Greenhalgh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - June L. Round
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M. Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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8
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Moore NB, Stephens RB, Rowe RJ. Nutritional and environmental factors influence small mammal seed selection in a northern temperate forest. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B. Moore
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
| | - Ryan B. Stephens
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
| | - Rebecca J. Rowe
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
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9
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Reevaluating trophic discrimination factors (
Δδ
13
C
and
Δδ
15
N
) for diet reconstruction. ECOL MONOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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10
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Grupstra CGB, Lemoine NP, Cook C, Correa AMS. Thank you for biting: dispersal of beneficial microbiota through 'antagonistic' interactions. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:930-939. [PMID: 35393166 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Multicellular organisms harbor populations of microbial symbionts; some of these symbionts can be dispersed through the feeding activities of consumers. Studies of consumer-mediated microbiota dispersal generally focus on pathogenic microorganisms; the dispersal of beneficial microorganisms has received less attention, especially in the context of 'antagonistic' trophic interactions (e.g., herbivory, parasitism, predation). Yet, this 'trophic transmission' of beneficial symbionts has significant implications for microbiota assembly and resource species (e.g., prey) health. For example, trophic transmission of microorganisms could assist with environmental acclimatization and help resource species to suppress other consumers or competitors. Here, we highlight model systems and approaches that have revealed these potential 'silver-linings' of antagonism as well as opportunities and challenges for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- C G B Grupstra
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77098, USA.
| | - N P Lemoine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA; Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - C Cook
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - A M S Correa
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77098, USA
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11
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Kitabayashi K, Kitamura S, Tuno N. Fungal spore transport by omnivorous mycophagous slug in temperate forest. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8565. [PMID: 35222952 PMCID: PMC8855016 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Slugs are important consumers of fungal fruiting bodies and expected to carry their spores. In this study, we examined whether slugs (Meghimatium fruhstorferi) can act as effective dispersers of spores of basidiomycetes. The microscopic observation confirmed the presence of basidiospores in feces of field-collected slugs, and the DNA metabarcoding study revealed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were major fungal taxa found in the feces. In Basidiomycota, the dominant order was Agaricales followed by Trichosporonales and Hymenochaetales. The laboratory experiments using Tylopilus vinosobrunneus showed that slugs carried a large number of spores in their digestive tracts. It was also observed that Pleurotus, Armillaria, and Gymnopilus spores excreted by slugs had a higher germination capacity than control spores collected from spore prints. The field experiments showed that slugs traveled 10.3 m in 5 h at most by wandering on the ground, litter layers, wood debris, and tree trunks. These results suggest that slugs could carry spores of ectomycorrhizal, saprophytic, and wood-decaying fungi to appropriate sites for these fungi to establish colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Kitabayashi
- Laboratory of EcologyGraduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | | | - Nobuko Tuno
- Laboratory of EcologyGraduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
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12
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Gill NS, Turner MG, Brown CD, Glassman SI, Haire SL, Hansen WD, Pansing ER, St Clair SB, Tomback DF. Limitations to Propagule Dispersal Will Constrain Postfire Recovery of Plants and Fungi in Western Coniferous Forests. Bioscience 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Many forest species are adapted to long-interval, high-severity fires, but the intervals between severe fires are decreasing with changes in climate, land use, and biological invasions. Although the effects of changing fire regimes on some important recovery processes have previously been considered, the consequences for the dispersal of propagules (plant seeds and fungal spores) in forest communities have not. We characterize three mechanisms by which changing fire regimes disrupt propagule dispersal in mesic temperate, boreal, and high-elevation forests: reduced abundance and altered spatial distributions of propagule source populations, less effective dispersal of propagules by wind, and altered behavior of animal dispersers and propagule predators. We consider how disruptions to propagule dispersal may interact with other factors that are also influenced by fire regime change, potentially increasing risk of forest conversion. Finally, we highlight urgent research topics regarding how dispersal limitation may shape twenty-first century forest recovery after stand-replacing fire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan S Gill
- Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States
| | - Monica G Turner
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Carissa D Brown
- Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | | | - Sandra L Haire
- Haire Laboratory for Landscape Ecology, Tucson, Arizona, United States
| | | | | | | | - Diana F Tomback
- University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States
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13
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14
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Okada KH, Matsuda Y. Soil spore bank communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi in Pseudotsuga japonica forests and neighboring plantations. MYCORRHIZA 2022; 32:83-93. [PMID: 34989868 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-021-01065-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal spores play an important role in seedling establishment and forest regeneration, especially in areas where compatible host tree species are absent. However, compared to other Pinaceae trees with a wide distribution, limited information is available for the interaction between the endangered Pseudotsuga trees and EcM fungi, especially the spore bank. The aim of this study was to investigate EcM fungal spore bank communities in soil in remnant patches of Japanese Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga japonica) forest. We conducted a bioassay of 178 soil samples collected from three P. japonica forests and their neighboring arbuscular mycorrhizal artificial plantations, using the more readily available North American Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) as bait seedlings. EcM fungal species were identified by a combination of morphotyping and DNA sequencing of the ITS region. We found that EcM fungal spore banks were present not only in P. japonica forests but also in neighboring plantations. Among the 13 EcM fungal species detected, Rhizopogon togasawarius had the second highest frequency and was found in all plots, regardless of forest type. Species richness estimators differed significantly among forest types. The community structure of EcM fungal spore banks differed significantly between study sites but not between forest types. These results indicate that EcM fungal spore banks are not restricted to EcM forests and extend to surrounding forest dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal trees, likely owing to the durability of EcM fungal spores in soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Henry Okada
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
| | - Yosuke Matsuda
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
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15
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Rogers HS, Donoso I, Traveset A, Fricke EC. Cascading Impacts of Seed Disperser Loss on Plant Communities and Ecosystems. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012221-111742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Seed dispersal is key to the persistence and spread of plant populations. Because the majority of plant species rely on animals to disperse their seeds, global change drivers that directly affect animals can cause cascading impacts on plant communities. In this review, we synthesize studies assessing how disperser loss alters plant populations, community patterns, multitrophic interactions, and ecosystem functioning. We argue that the magnitude of risk to plants from disperser loss is shaped by the combination of a plant species’ inherent dependence on seed dispersal and the severity of the hazards faced by their dispersers. Because the factors determining a plant species’ risk of decline due to disperser loss can be related to traits of the plants and dispersers, our framework enables a trait-based understanding of change in plant community composition and ecosystem functioning. We discuss how interactions among plants, among dispersers, and across other trophic levels also mediate plant community responses, and we identify areas for future research to understand and mitigate the consequences of disperser loss on plants globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haldre S. Rogers
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Isabel Donoso
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Evan C. Fricke
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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16
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Caiafa MV, Jusino MA, Wilkie AC, Díaz IA, Sieving KE, Smith ME. Discovering the role of Patagonian birds in the dispersal of truffles and other mycorrhizal fungi. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5558-5570.e3. [PMID: 34715015 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a key process that impacts population dynamics and structures biotic communities. Dispersal limitation influences the assembly of plant and microbial communities, including mycorrhizal fungi and their plant hosts. Mycorrhizal fungi play key ecological roles in forests by feeding nutrients to plants in exchange for sugars, so the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi spores actively shapes plant communities. Although many fungi rely on wind for spore dispersal, some fungi have lost the ability to shoot their spores into the air and instead produce enclosed belowground fruiting bodies (truffles) that rely on animals for dispersal. The role of mammals in fungal spore dispersal is well documented, but the relevance of birds as dispersal agents of fungi has been understudied, despite the prominence of birds as seed dispersal vectors. Here, we use metagenomics and epifluorescence microscopy to demonstrate that two common, widespread, and endemic Patagonian birds, chucao tapaculos (Scelorchilus rubecula) and black-throated huet-huets (Pteroptochos tarnii), regularly consume mycorrhizal fungi and disperse viable spores via mycophagy. Our metagenomic analysis indicates that these birds routinely consume diverse mycorrhizal fungi, including many truffles, that are symbiotically associated with Nothofagaceae trees that dominate Patagonian forests. Epifluorescence microscopy of fecal samples confirmed that the birds dispersed copious viable spores from truffles and other mycorrhizal fungi. We show that fungi are a common food for both bird species and that this animal-fungi symbiosis is widespread and ecologically important in Patagonia. Our findings indicate that birds may also act as cryptic but critical fungal dispersal agents in other ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos V Caiafa
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Michelle A Jusino
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Center for Forest Mycology Research, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Ann C Wilkie
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Iván A Díaz
- Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Kathryn E Sieving
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Matthew E Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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17
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Stephens RB, Frey SD, D'Amato AW, Rowe RJ. Functional, temporal and spatial complementarity in mammal‐fungal spore networks enhances mycorrhizal dispersal following forest harvesting. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan B. Stephens
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham NH USA
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Serita D. Frey
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham NH USA
| | - Anthony W. D'Amato
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Rebecca J. Rowe
- Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham NH USA
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18
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Effects of management outweigh effects of plant diversity on restored animal communities in tallgrass prairies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015421118. [PMID: 33495327 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015421118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A primary goal of ecological restoration is to increase biodiversity in degraded ecosystems. However, the success of restoration ecology is often assessed by measuring the response of a single functional group or trophic level to restoration, without considering how restoration affects multitrophic interactions that shape biodiversity. An ecosystem-wide approach to restoration is therefore necessary to understand whether animal responses to restoration, such as changes in biodiversity, are facilitated by changes in plant communities (plant-driven effects) or disturbance and succession resulting from restoration activities (management-driven effects). Furthermore, most restoration ecology studies focus on how restoration alters taxonomic diversity, while less attention is paid to the response of functional and phylogenetic diversity in restored ecosystems. Here, we compared the strength of plant-driven and management-driven effects of restoration on four animal communities (ground beetles, dung beetles, snakes, and small mammals) in a chronosequence of restored tallgrass prairie, where sites varied in management history (prescribed fire and bison reintroduction). Our analyses indicate that management-driven effects on animal communities were six-times stronger than effects mediated through changes in plant biodiversity. Additionally, we demonstrate that restoration can simultaneously have positive and negative effects on biodiversity through different pathways, which may help reconcile variation in restoration outcomes. Furthermore, animal taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity responded differently to restoration, suggesting that restoration plans might benefit from considering multiple dimensions of animal biodiversity. We conclude that metrics of plant diversity alone may not be adequate to assess the success of restoration in reassembling functional ecosystems.
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19
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Benedek AM, Sîrbu I, Lazăr A. Responses of small mammals to habitat characteristics in Southern Carpathian forests. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12031. [PMID: 34103594 PMCID: PMC8187625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91488-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to Northern Carpathians, the small mammal fauna of Southern Carpathian forests is poorly known, with no data on habitat use; our study seeks to fill this gap. To this end, we conducted a survey in the Southern Carpathians for five years, assessing habitat use by small mammals in forests along an elevational gradient. Trapping was done using live traps set in transects at elevations between 820 and 2040 m. For each transect we evaluated variables related to vegetation structure, habitat complexity, and geographical location. We considered abundance, species composition and species richness as response variables. The rodents Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus and the shrew Sorex araneus were common and dominant. Their abundance were positively correlated with tree cover, the best explanatory variable. Responses to other variables were mixed. The strong divergence in the relative habitat use by the three most abundant species may act as a mechanism that enables their coexistence as dominant species, exploiting the same wide range of habitat resources. Overall, habitat use in our study area was similar to that reported from Northern Carpathians, but we found also important differences probably caused by the differences in latitude and forest management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Benedek
- Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 5-7 Raţiu Street, 550012, Sibiu, Romania.
| | - Ioan Sîrbu
- Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 5-7 Raţiu Street, 550012, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Anamaria Lazăr
- Department of Engineering and Management in Food and Tourism, Faculty of Food and Tourism, Transilvania University of Brașov, 148 Castelului Street, 500036, Braşov, Romania
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20
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Komur P, Chachuła P, Kapusta J, Wierzbowska IA, Rola K, Olejniczak P, Mleczko P. What determines species composition and diversity of hypogeous fungi in the diet of small mammals? A comparison across mammal species, habitat types and seasons in Central European mountains. FUNGAL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2020.101021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Danks MA, Simpson N, Elliott TF, Paine CET, Vernes K. Modeling mycorrhizal fungi dispersal by the mycophagous swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12920-12928. [PMID: 33304504 PMCID: PMC7713961 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of mammal-fungal interactions, tools to estimate the mammal-assisted dispersal distances of fungi are lacking. Many mammals actively consume fungal fruiting bodies, the spores of which remain viable after passage through their digestive tract. Many of these fungi form symbiotic relationships with trees and provide an array of other key ecosystem functions. We present a flexible, general model to predict the distance a mycophagous mammal would disperse fungal spores. We modeled the probability of spore dispersal by combining animal movement data from GPS telemetry with data on spore gut-retention time. We test this model using an exemplar generalist mycophagist, the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). We show that swamp wallabies disperse fungal spores hundreds of meters-and occasionally up to 1,265 m-from the point of consumption, distances that are ecologically significant for many mycorrhizal fungi. In addition to highlighting the ecological importance of swamp wallabies as dispersers of mycorrhizal fungi in eastern Australia, our simple modeling approach provides a novel and effective way of empirically describing spore dispersal by a mycophagous animal. This approach is applicable to the study of other animal-fungi interactions in other ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Danks
- Centre for Ecosystem ManagementEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
| | - Natalie Simpson
- Environmental and Rural ScienceUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSWAustralia
| | - Todd F. Elliott
- Environmental and Rural ScienceUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSWAustralia
| | - C. E. Timothy Paine
- Environmental and Rural ScienceUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSWAustralia
| | - Karl Vernes
- Environmental and Rural ScienceUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSWAustralia
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22
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Elliott TF, Georgiev AV, Lokasola AL, Smith ME. Hysterangium bonobo: A newly described truffle species that is eaten by bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mycologia 2020; 112:1203-1211. [PMID: 32886571 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Many animals have been shown to eat fungi and most truffle-like fungi depend on animals for spore dispersal via mycophagy. Although these interactions are widespread, they are understudied in many habitats. In this study, we show that bonobos (Pan paniscus) forage and feed on an undescribed truffle species in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on morphological and molecular assessment of collections, we show that the species eaten by bonobos is a previously undescribed taxon described here as Hysterangium bonobo. This species is known in the local Bantu language (Bongando) as simbokilo and is used for baiting traps to catch several species of small mammals. Our findings highlight the need for further research into mycophagy and systematics of sequestrate fungi in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd F Elliott
- Ecosystem Management, University of New England , Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
| | | | - Albert Lotana Lokasola
- Vie Sauvage, Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve, Province Equateur , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Matthew E Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611
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23
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Diggins CA, Castellano MA, Ford WM. Hypogeous, Sequestrate Fungi (Genus Elaphomyces) Found at Small-Mammal Foraging Sites in High-Elevation Conifer Forests of West Virginia. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2020. [DOI: 10.1656/045.027.0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corinne A. Diggins
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Michael A. Castellano
- US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Corvallis, OR 97331
| | - W. Mark Ford
- US Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Blacksburg VA 24061
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24
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Chaudhary VB, Nolimal S, Sosa-Hernández MA, Egan C, Kastens J. Trait-based aerial dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 228:238-252. [PMID: 32421866 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2040] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a key process driving local-scale community assembly and global-scale biogeography of plant symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities. A trait-based approach could improve predictions regarding how AM fungal aerial dispersal varies by species. We conducted month-long collections of aerial AM fungi for 12 consecutive months in an urban mesic environment at heights of 20 m. We measured morphological functional traits of collected spores and assessed aerial AM fungal community structure both morphologically and with high-throughput sequencing. Large numbers of AM fungal spores were present in the air over the course of one year and these spores exhibited traits that facilitate aerial dispersal. Measured aerial spores were smaller than average for Glomeromycotinan fungi. Trait-based predictions indicate that nearly 1/3 of described species from diverse genera demonstrate the potential for aerial dispersal. Diversity of aerial AM fungi was relatively high (20 spore species and 17 virtual taxa) and both spore abundance and community structure shifted temporally. The prevalence of aerial dispersal in AM fungi is perhaps greater than previously indicated and a hypothesized model of AM fungal aerial dispersal mechanisms is presented. Anthropogenic soil impacts may liberate AM fungal propagules initiating the dispersal of ruderal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Bala Chaudhary
- Department of Environmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
| | - Sarah Nolimal
- Department of Environmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
| | - Moisés A Sosa-Hernández
- Plant Ecology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Cameron Egan
- Department of Biology, Okanagan College, Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1Y 4X8
| | - Jude Kastens
- Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program, Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66047, United States
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