Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal
As a valuable entomophagus fungus species, caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is endemic to the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining Himalayas. However, little is known about its ecological niche and habitat. We investigated its associated plant species and habitat across di...
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International Mountain Society
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doaj-bedeff751aa3409880fe43b01d096ede2020-11-25T02:19:43ZengInternational Mountain SocietyMountain Research and Development0276-47411994-71512017-05-0137221622310.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00075.1Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western NepalShalik R. Sigdel0Maan B. Rokaya1Zuzana Münzbergová2Eryuan Liang3Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China; srsigdel@itpcas.ac.cnInstitute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zamek 1, 252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic; rokayamaan@gmail.comDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benatska 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech RepublicKey Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, ChinaAs a valuable entomophagus fungus species, caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is endemic to the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining Himalayas. However, little is known about its ecological niche and habitat. We investigated its associated plant species and habitat across different sites in Dolpa, west Nepal, and explored how associated plant species and soil characteristics affect its density and growth during the months of June and July in 2 consecutive years. Detrended correspondence analysis was used to capture the distribution pattern of plant species. Principal component analysis was applied to visualize the gradients of the soil data, and generalized linear models were employed to test the effects of nutrients and vegetation on the availability and size of caterpillar fungus. A total of 33 plant species were frequently associated with caterpillar fungus across the investigated sites. The abundance of the fungus was significantly affected by vegetation composition, whereas the individual fungal traits were independent of soil nutrients or vegetation composition. Therefore, it is essential to protect associated plant species to better conserve caterpillar fungus at high elevations.http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00075.1alpine regionplant speciessoilcaterpillar fungusdetrended correspondence analysisNepal |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Shalik R. Sigdel Maan B. Rokaya Zuzana Münzbergová Eryuan Liang |
spellingShingle |
Shalik R. Sigdel Maan B. Rokaya Zuzana Münzbergová Eryuan Liang Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal Mountain Research and Development alpine region plant species soil caterpillar fungus detrended correspondence analysis Nepal |
author_facet |
Shalik R. Sigdel Maan B. Rokaya Zuzana Münzbergová Eryuan Liang |
author_sort |
Shalik R. Sigdel |
title |
Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal |
title_short |
Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal |
title_full |
Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal |
title_fullStr |
Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Habitat Ecology of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Western Nepal |
title_sort |
habitat ecology of ophiocordyceps sinensis in western nepal |
publisher |
International Mountain Society |
series |
Mountain Research and Development |
issn |
0276-4741 1994-7151 |
publishDate |
2017-05-01 |
description |
As a valuable entomophagus fungus species, caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is endemic to the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining Himalayas. However, little is known about its ecological niche and habitat. We investigated its associated plant species and habitat across different sites in Dolpa, west Nepal, and explored how associated plant species and soil characteristics affect its density and growth during the months of June and July in 2 consecutive years. Detrended correspondence analysis was used to capture the distribution pattern of plant species. Principal component analysis was applied to visualize the gradients of the soil data, and generalized linear models were employed to test the effects of nutrients and vegetation on the availability and size of caterpillar fungus. A total of 33 plant species were frequently associated with caterpillar fungus across the investigated sites. The abundance of the fungus was significantly affected by vegetation composition, whereas the individual fungal traits were independent of soil nutrients or vegetation composition. Therefore, it is essential to protect associated plant species to better conserve caterpillar fungus at high elevations. |
topic |
alpine region plant species soil caterpillar fungus detrended correspondence analysis Nepal |
url |
http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00075.1 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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1724874761606004736 |