Origin of Cave Fungi
Karst caves are obviously characterized by darkness, constantly low temperature, high humidity, and oligotrophy. Previous studies revealed that Karst caves have a high and specific bio-diversity. A large number of troglobiont animals had been discovered and their evolution and speciation have been w...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-06-01
|
Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01407/full |
id |
doaj-2ca72ab363b44d51864a4f6b26c492b9 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-2ca72ab363b44d51864a4f6b26c492b92020-11-25T00:54:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2018-06-01910.3389/fmicb.2018.01407373231Origin of Cave FungiZhi-Feng Zhang0Zhi-Feng Zhang1Peng Zhao2Lei Cai3Lei Cai4State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKarst caves are obviously characterized by darkness, constantly low temperature, high humidity, and oligotrophy. Previous studies revealed that Karst caves have a high and specific bio-diversity. A large number of troglobiont animals had been discovered and their evolution and speciation have been well investigated. However, the origin and evolution of cave fungi remain unknown. In a previous study, we have identified 20 new species, which accounted for 49% of the total number of new species of fungi ever described from caves. In this study, we inferred the divergence times of these 20 new species and compared to the cave formation geologic age. The fossil-calibrated molecular clock showed that the divergence times of these 20 suspected troglobitic fungi are between late Miocene (7.2 Mya for Metapochonia variabilis) and late Jurassic (158 Mya for Gymnoascus exasperates). While based on the historical geological movement and the paleoclimate of Guizhou, it has been estimated that the development of caves in this area was later than middle Pliocene (3.5–4 Mya). It is therefore concluded that the new species described from these caves are unlikely troglobitic fungi but travelers from other environments. The geographic history of caves appeared to be too short for fungal speciation.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01407/fullBEASTgeologic agemolecular clockobligate troglobitic fungispeciation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zhi-Feng Zhang Zhi-Feng Zhang Peng Zhao Lei Cai Lei Cai |
spellingShingle |
Zhi-Feng Zhang Zhi-Feng Zhang Peng Zhao Lei Cai Lei Cai Origin of Cave Fungi Frontiers in Microbiology BEAST geologic age molecular clock obligate troglobitic fungi speciation |
author_facet |
Zhi-Feng Zhang Zhi-Feng Zhang Peng Zhao Lei Cai Lei Cai |
author_sort |
Zhi-Feng Zhang |
title |
Origin of Cave Fungi |
title_short |
Origin of Cave Fungi |
title_full |
Origin of Cave Fungi |
title_fullStr |
Origin of Cave Fungi |
title_full_unstemmed |
Origin of Cave Fungi |
title_sort |
origin of cave fungi |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
issn |
1664-302X |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Karst caves are obviously characterized by darkness, constantly low temperature, high humidity, and oligotrophy. Previous studies revealed that Karst caves have a high and specific bio-diversity. A large number of troglobiont animals had been discovered and their evolution and speciation have been well investigated. However, the origin and evolution of cave fungi remain unknown. In a previous study, we have identified 20 new species, which accounted for 49% of the total number of new species of fungi ever described from caves. In this study, we inferred the divergence times of these 20 new species and compared to the cave formation geologic age. The fossil-calibrated molecular clock showed that the divergence times of these 20 suspected troglobitic fungi are between late Miocene (7.2 Mya for Metapochonia variabilis) and late Jurassic (158 Mya for Gymnoascus exasperates). While based on the historical geological movement and the paleoclimate of Guizhou, it has been estimated that the development of caves in this area was later than middle Pliocene (3.5–4 Mya). It is therefore concluded that the new species described from these caves are unlikely troglobitic fungi but travelers from other environments. The geographic history of caves appeared to be too short for fungal speciation. |
topic |
BEAST geologic age molecular clock obligate troglobitic fungi speciation |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01407/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT zhifengzhang originofcavefungi AT zhifengzhang originofcavefungi AT pengzhao originofcavefungi AT leicai originofcavefungi AT leicai originofcavefungi |
_version_ |
1725235488625786880 |