Key Ecological Roles for Zoosporic True Fungi in Aquatic Habitats
- Authors: Frank H. Gleason1, Bettina Scholz2,3, Thomas G. Jephcott4, Floris F. van Ogtrop5, Linda Henderson6, Osu Lilje7, Sandra Kittelmann8, Deborah J. Macarthur9
- Editors: Joseph Heitman10, Pedro W. Crous11
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VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONSAffiliations: 1: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; 2: Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Akureyri, Borgir v. Nordurslod, IS 600 Akureyri, Iceland; 3: BioPol ehf., Einbúastig 2, 545 Skagaströnd, Iceland; 4: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; 5: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; 6: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; 7: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; 8: AgResearch Ltd., Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand; 9: School of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, NSW 2059, Australia; 10: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; 11: CBS-KNAW Fungal Diversity Centre, Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Received 11 December 2016 Accepted 07 February 2017 Published 31 March 2017
- Correspondence: Deborah J. Macarthur, [email protected]
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Abstract:
The diversity and abundance of zoosporic true fungi have been analyzed recently using fungal sequence libraries and advances in molecular methods, such as high-throughput sequencing. This review focuses on four evolutionary primitive true fungal phyla: the Aphelidea, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, and Rosellida (Cryptomycota), most species of which are not polycentric or mycelial (filamentous), rather they tend to be primarily monocentric (unicellular). Zoosporic fungi appear to be both abundant and diverse in many aquatic habitats around the world, with abundance often exceeding other fungal phyla in these habitats, and numerous novel genetic sequences identified. Zoosporic fungi are able to survive extreme conditions, such as high and extremely low pH; however, more work remains to be done. They appear to have important ecological roles as saprobes in decomposition of particulate organic substrates, pollen, plant litter, and dead animals; as parasites of zooplankton and algae; as parasites of vertebrate animals (such as frogs); and as symbionts in the digestive tracts of mammals. Some chytrids cause economically important diseases of plants and animals. They regulate sizes of phytoplankton populations. Further metagenomics surveys of aquatic ecosystems are expected to enlarge our knowledge of the diversity of true zoosporic fungi. Coupled with studies on their functional ecology, we are moving closer to unraveling the role of zoosporic fungi in carbon cycling and the impact of climate change on zoosporic fungal populations.
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Citation: Gleason F, Scholz B, Jephcott T, van Ogtrop F, Henderson L, Lilje O, Kittelmann S, Macarthur D. 2017. Key Ecological Roles for Zoosporic True Fungi in Aquatic Habitats. Microbiol Spectrum 5(2):FUNK-0038-2016. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0038-2016.




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Abstract:
The diversity and abundance of zoosporic true fungi have been analyzed recently using fungal sequence libraries and advances in molecular methods, such as high-throughput sequencing. This review focuses on four evolutionary primitive true fungal phyla: the Aphelidea, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, and Rosellida (Cryptomycota), most species of which are not polycentric or mycelial (filamentous), rather they tend to be primarily monocentric (unicellular). Zoosporic fungi appear to be both abundant and diverse in many aquatic habitats around the world, with abundance often exceeding other fungal phyla in these habitats, and numerous novel genetic sequences identified. Zoosporic fungi are able to survive extreme conditions, such as high and extremely low pH; however, more work remains to be done. They appear to have important ecological roles as saprobes in decomposition of particulate organic substrates, pollen, plant litter, and dead animals; as parasites of zooplankton and algae; as parasites of vertebrate animals (such as frogs); and as symbionts in the digestive tracts of mammals. Some chytrids cause economically important diseases of plants and animals. They regulate sizes of phytoplankton populations. Further metagenomics surveys of aquatic ecosystems are expected to enlarge our knowledge of the diversity of true zoosporic fungi. Coupled with studies on their functional ecology, we are moving closer to unraveling the role of zoosporic fungi in carbon cycling and the impact of climate change on zoosporic fungal populations.

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Figures

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FIGURE 1
Schematic life cycle of endo- and epibiotic zoosporic parasites infecting marine diatoms. Besides the main cycle (solid black arrows), ecological effects on the marine planktonic and benthic community compositions, as well as interactions, are also depicted (unfilled outlined arrows).

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FIGURE 2
Representatives of the chytridiomycota infecting marine diatoms in phytoplankton net samples collected from the Skagaströnd area (northwest Iceland). Odontella (A) and Thalassiosira (B) single cell with multiple chytrid sporangia and colony with multiple infections (C). Pathogens were visualized by using calcofluor white stain in combination with transmission light and fluorescence excitation (UV light, 330 to 380 nm). Image by B. Scholz. Bar, 100 μm.

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FIGURE 3
Chytrid parasites infecting a freshwater diatom (Pinnularia sp.) collected from a freshwater pond in Centennial Park, Sydney, Australia. Image by D.J. Macarthur. Bar, 50 μm.
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