Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii
Fungal species identities are often based on morphological features, but current molecular phylogenetic and other approaches almost always lead to the discovery of multiple species in single morpho-species. According to the morphological species concept, the ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii (As...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2019-01-01
|
| Series: | Parasite |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190013/parasite190013.html |
| _version_ | 1827613764107632640 |
|---|---|
| author | Haelewaters Danny Boer Peter Báthori Ferenc Rádai Zoltán Reboleira Ana Sofia P.S. Tartally András Pfliegler Walter P. De Kesel André Nedvěd Oldřich |
| author_facet | Haelewaters Danny Boer Peter Báthori Ferenc Rádai Zoltán Reboleira Ana Sofia P.S. Tartally András Pfliegler Walter P. De Kesel André Nedvěd Oldřich |
| author_sort | Haelewaters Danny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fungal species identities are often based on morphological features, but current molecular phylogenetic and other approaches almost always lead to the discovery of multiple species in single morpho-species. According to the morphological species concept, the ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a single species with pan-European distribution and a wide host range. Since its description, it has been reported from ten species of Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), of which two belong to the rubra-group and the other eight to the phylogenetically distinct scabrinodis-group. We found evidence for R. wasmannii being a single phylogenetic species using sequence data from two loci. Apparently, the original morphological description (dating back to 1899) represents a single phylogenetic species. Furthermore, the biology and host-parasite interactions of R. wasmannii are not likely to be affected by genetic divergence among different populations of the fungus, implying comparability among studies conducted on members of different ant populations. We found no differences in total thallus number on workers between Myrmica species, but we did observe differences in the pattern of thallus distribution over the body. The locus of infection is the frontal side of the head in Myrmica rubra and M. sabuleti whereas in M. scabrinodis the locus of infection differs between worker ants from Hungary (gaster tergites) and the Netherlands (frontal head). Possible explanations for these observations are differences among host species and among populations of the same species in (i) how ant workers come into contact with the fungus, (ii) grooming efficacy, and (iii) cuticle surface characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:44:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd3b1570914044eb9126561f2ee29530 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1776-1042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:44:20Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd3b1570914044eb9126561f2ee295302023-12-02T15:53:25ZengEDP SciencesParasite1776-10422019-01-01262910.1051/parasite/2019028parasite190013Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmanniiHaelewaters DannyBoer PeterBáthori FerencRádai ZoltánReboleira Ana Sofia P.S.Tartally AndrásPfliegler Walter P.De Kesel AndréNedvěd OldřichFungal species identities are often based on morphological features, but current molecular phylogenetic and other approaches almost always lead to the discovery of multiple species in single morpho-species. According to the morphological species concept, the ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a single species with pan-European distribution and a wide host range. Since its description, it has been reported from ten species of Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), of which two belong to the rubra-group and the other eight to the phylogenetically distinct scabrinodis-group. We found evidence for R. wasmannii being a single phylogenetic species using sequence data from two loci. Apparently, the original morphological description (dating back to 1899) represents a single phylogenetic species. Furthermore, the biology and host-parasite interactions of R. wasmannii are not likely to be affected by genetic divergence among different populations of the fungus, implying comparability among studies conducted on members of different ant populations. We found no differences in total thallus number on workers between Myrmica species, but we did observe differences in the pattern of thallus distribution over the body. The locus of infection is the frontal side of the head in Myrmica rubra and M. sabuleti whereas in M. scabrinodis the locus of infection differs between worker ants from Hungary (gaster tergites) and the Netherlands (frontal head). Possible explanations for these observations are differences among host species and among populations of the same species in (i) how ant workers come into contact with the fungus, (ii) grooming efficacy, and (iii) cuticle surface characteristics.https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190013/parasite190013.htmlAnt-associated fungiLaboulbeniomycetesMolecular evolutionRibosomal DNAThallus density |
| spellingShingle | Haelewaters Danny Boer Peter Báthori Ferenc Rádai Zoltán Reboleira Ana Sofia P.S. Tartally András Pfliegler Walter P. De Kesel André Nedvěd Oldřich Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii Parasite Ant-associated fungi Laboulbeniomycetes Molecular evolution Ribosomal DNA Thallus density |
| title | Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii |
| title_full | Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii |
| title_fullStr | Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii |
| title_full_unstemmed | Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii |
| title_short | Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii |
| title_sort | studies of laboulbeniales on myrmica ants iv host related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of rickia wasmannii |
| topic | Ant-associated fungi Laboulbeniomycetes Molecular evolution Ribosomal DNA Thallus density |
| url | https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190013/parasite190013.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haelewatersdanny studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT boerpeter studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT bathoriferenc studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT radaizoltan studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT reboleiraanasofiaps studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT tartallyandras studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT pflieglerwalterp studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT dekeselandre studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii AT nedvedoldrich studiesoflaboulbenialesonmyrmicaantsivhostrelateddiversityandthallusdistributionpatternsofrickiawasmannii |