1
|
Pino-Bodas R, Blázquez M, de los Ríos A, Pérez-Ortega S. Myrmecia, Not Asterochloris, Is the Main Photobiont of Cladonia subturgida ( Cladoniaceae, Lecanoromycetes). J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1160. [PMID: 38132761 PMCID: PMC10744234 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121160] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores the diversity of photobionts associated with the Mediterranean lichen-forming fungus Cladonia subturgida. For this purpose, we sequenced the whole ITS rDNA region by Sanger using a metabarcoding method for ITS2. A total of 41 specimens from Greece, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain were studied. Additionally, two specimens from Spain were used to generate four cultures. Our molecular studies showed that the genus Myrmecia is the main photobiont of C. subturgida throughout its geographic distribution. This result contrasts with previous studies, which indicated that the main photobiont for most Cladonia species is Asterochloris. The identity of Myrmecia was also confirmed by ultrastructural studies of photobionts within the lichen thalli and cultures. Photobiont cells showed a parietal chloroplast lacking a pyrenoid, which characterizes the species in this genus. Phylogenetic analyses indicate hidden diversity within this genus. The results of amplicon sequencing showed the presence of multiple ASVs in 58.3% of the specimens studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Pino-Bodas
- Biodiversity and Conservation Area, Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Miguel Blázquez
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), 28014 Madrid, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-O.)
| | | | - Sergio Pérez-Ortega
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), 28014 Madrid, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-O.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Touchette D, Gostinčar C, Whyte LG, Altshuler I. Lichen-associated microbial members are prevalent in the snow microbiome of a sub-arctic alpine tundra. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad151. [PMID: 37977855 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Snow is the largest component of the cryosphere, with its cover and distribution rapidly decreasing over the last decade due to climate warming. It is imperative to characterize the snow (nival) microbial communities to better understand the role of microorganisms inhabiting these rapidly changing environments. Here, we investigated the core nival microbiome, the cultivable microbial members, and the microbial functional diversity of the remote Uapishka mountain range, a massif of alpine sub-arctic tundra and boreal forest. Snow samples were taken over a two-month interval along an altitude gradient with varying degree of anthropogenic traffic and vegetation cover. The core snow alpine tundra/boreal microbiome, which was present across all samples, constituted of Acetobacterales, Rhizobiales and Acidobacteriales bacterial orders, and of Mycosphaerellales and Lecanorales fungal orders, with the dominant fungal taxa being associated with lichens. The snow samples had low active functional diversity, with Richness values ranging from 0 to 19.5. The culture-based viable microbial enumeration ranged from 0 to 8.05 × 103 CFUs/mL. We isolated and whole-genome sequenced five microorganisms which included three fungi, one alga, and one potentially novel bacterium of the Lichenihabitans genus; all of which appear to be part of lichen-associated taxonomic clades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Touchette
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, ALPOLE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950, Sion, Switzerland
| | - C Gostinčar
- University of Ljubljana, Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - L G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - I Altshuler
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
- MACE Laboratory, ALPOLE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950, Sion, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zuo YB, Han DY, Wang YY, Yang QX, Ren Q, Liu XZ, Wei XL. Fungal-Algal Association Drives Lichens' Mutualistic Symbiosis: A Case Study with Trebouxia-Related Lichens. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3172. [PMID: 37687418 PMCID: PMC10490544 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Biotic and abiotic factors influence the formation of fungal-algal pairings in lichen symbiosis. However, the specific determinants of these associations, particularly when distantly related fungi are involved, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of different drivers on the association patterns between taxonomically diverse lichenized fungi and their trebouxioid symbiotic partners. We collected 200 samples from four biomes and identified 41 species of lichenized fungi, associating them with 16 species of trebouxioid green algae, of which 62% were previously unreported. The species identity of both the fungal and algal partners had the most significant effect on the outcome of the symbiosis, compared to abiotic factors like climatic variables and geographic distance. Some obviously specific associations were observed in the temperate zone; however, the nestedness value was lower in arid regions than in cold, polar, and temperate regions according to interaction network analysis. Cophylogenetic analyses revealed congruent phylogenies between trebouxioid algae and associated fungi, indicating a tendency to reject random associations. The main evolutionary mechanisms contributing to the observed phylogenetic patterns were "loss" and "failure to diverge" of the algal partners. This study broadens our knowledge of fungal-algal symbiotic patterns in view of Trebouxia-associated fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xin-Zhan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xin-Li Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Leavitt SD, DeBolt A, McQuhae E, Allen JL. Genomic Resources for the First Federally Endangered Lichen: The Florida Perforate Cladonia ( Cladonia perforata). J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:698. [PMID: 37504687 PMCID: PMC10381751 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Thirty years after its designation as a federally endangered species, the Florida Perforate Cladonia (FPC) remains imperiled in isolated populations in the Florida scrub in the southeastern USA. For threatened and endangered species, such as FPC, reference genomes provide critical insight into genomic diversity, local adaptations, landscape-level genetics, and phylogenomics. Using high-throughput sequencing, we assemble the first draft nuclear and mitochondrial genomes for the FPC mycobiont-Cladonia perforata. We also assess genetic diversity within and among populations in southeastern Florida using genome-scale data and investigate diversity across the entire nuclear ribosomal cistron, including the standard DNA barcoding marker for fungi. The draft nuclear genome spanned 33.6 Mb, and the complete, circular mitochondrial genome was 59 Kb. We also generated the first chloroplast genome, to our knowledge, for the photobiont genus associated with FPC, an undescribed Asterochloris species. We inferred the presence of multiple, distinct mycobiont parental genotypes (genets) occurring at local scales in southeastern Florida, and strikingly, no genets were shared among even the closest sample sites. All sampled thalli shared identical mitochondrial genomes, while the nuclear ribosomal cistron showed limited variability-highlighting the genetic resolution provided by nuclear genome-scale datasets. The genomic resources generated here provide critical resources for informed conservation efforts for the FPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Leavitt
- M.L. Bean Life Science Museum and Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Ann DeBolt
- Department of Biology, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Ethan McQuhae
- Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Jessica L Allen
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fang J, Mamut R, Wang L, Anwar G. De novo mitochondrial genome sequencing of Cladonia subulata and phylogenetic analysis with other dissimilar species. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285818. [PMID: 37220163 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Cladonia subulata (L.) FH Wigg was sequenced and assembled and then compared with those of other Cladonia species. The mitogenome of Cladonia subulata, the type species of Cladonia, consisted of a circular DNA molecule of 58,895 bp 44 genes (15 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 27 tRNA genes). The base composition had shown an obvious AT preference, and all 27 tRNA genes formed a typical clover structure. Comparison with other 7 Cladonia species indicated that the duplication/loss of tRNAs had occurred during evolution, and introns appeared to explain the variation in cox1 genes in Cladonia, the mitochondrial genome tends to be generally conservative and local dynamic changes. Repeat sequences were mainly located in gene intervals, which were mainly distributed among intergenic spacers and may cause rearrangement of the mitogenome. The phylogenetic results showed that Cladonia subulata and C. polycarpoides were assigned to the Cladonia Subclade. The results add to the available mitochondrial genome sequence information of Cladonia subulata, provide basic data for the systematic development, resource protection, and genetic diversity research in Cladonia subulata, and also provide theoretical support for further genomic research of lichens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Fang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Reyim Mamut
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Lidan Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Gulmira Anwar
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Composition, structure and robustness of Lichen guilds. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3295. [PMID: 36841885 PMCID: PMC9968342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiosis is a major engine of evolutionary innovation underlying many extant complex organisms. Lichens are a paradigmatic example that offers a unique perspective on the role of symbiosis in ecological success and evolutionary diversification. Lichen studies have produced a wealth of information regarding the importance of symbiosis, but they frequently focus on a few species, limiting our understanding of large-scale phenomena such as guilds. Guilds are groupings of lichens that assist each other's proliferation and are intimately linked by a shared set of photobionts, constituting an extensive network of relationships. To characterize the network of lichen symbionts, we used a large data set ([Formula: see text] publications) of natural photobiont-mycobiont associations. The entire lichen network was found to be modular, but this organization does not directly match taxonomic information in the data set, prompting a reconsideration of lichen guild structure and composition. The multiscale nature of this network reveals that the major lichen guilds are better represented as clusters with several substructures rather than as monolithic communities. Heterogeneous guild structure fosters robustness, with keystone species functioning as bridges between guilds and whose extinction would endanger global stability.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rojas-Gätjens D, Avey-Arroyo J, Chaverri P, Rojas-Jimenez K, Chavarría M. Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36848210 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Sloths have dense fur on which insects, algae, bacteria and fungi coexist. Previous studies using cultivation-dependent methods and 18S rRNA sequencing revealed that the fungal communities in their furs comprise members of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. In this note, we increase the resolution and knowledge of the mycobiome inhabiting the fur of the two- (Choloepus hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths. Targeted amplicon metagenomic analysis of ITS2 nrDNA sequences obtained from 10 individuals of each species inhabiting the same site revealed significant differences in the structure of their fungal communities and also in the alpha-diversity estimators. The results suggest a specialization by host species and that the host effect is stronger than that of sex, age and animal weight. Capnodiales were the dominant order in sloths' fur and Cladosporium and Neodevriesia were the most abundant genera in Bradypus and Choloepus, respectively. The fungal communities suggest that the green algae that inhabit the fur of sloths possibly live lichenized with Ascomycota fungal species. The data shown in this note offer a more detailed view of the fungal content in the fur of these extraordinary animals and could help explain other mutualistic relationships in this complex ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rojas-Gätjens
- Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT-CONARE, 1174-1200, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Priscila Chaverri
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.,Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Keilor Rojas-Jimenez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Max Chavarría
- Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT-CONARE, 1174-1200, San José, Costa Rica.,Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.,Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Alonso-García M, Pino-Bodas R, Villarreal A JC. Co-dispersal of symbionts in the lichen Cladonia stellaris inferred from genomic data. FUNGAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
9
|
Steinová J, Holien H, Košuthová A, Škaloud P. An Exception to the Rule? Could Photobiont Identity Be a Better Predictor of Lichen Phenotype than Mycobiont Identity? J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030275. [PMID: 35330277 PMCID: PMC8953480 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
With rare exceptions, the shape and appearance of lichen thalli are determined by the fungal partner; thus, mycobiont identity is normally used for lichen identification. However, it has repeatedly been shown in recent decades that phenotypic data often does not correspond with fungal gene evolution. Here, we report such a case in a three-species complex of red-fruited Cladonia lichens, two of which clearly differ morphologically, chemically, ecologically and in distribution range. We analysed 64 specimens of C. bellidiflora, C. polydactyla and C. umbricola, mainly collected in Europe, using five variable mycobiont-specific and two photobiont-specific molecular markers. All mycobiont markers exhibited very low variability and failed to separate the species. In comparison, photobiont identity corresponded better with lichen phenotype and separated esorediate C. bellidiflora from the two sorediate taxa. These results can be interpreted either as an unusual case of lichen photomorphs or as an example of recent speciation, in which phenotypic differentiation precedes the separation of the molecular markers. We hypothesise that association with different photobionts, which is probably related to habitat differentiation, may have triggered speciation in the mycobiont species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Steinová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence:
| | - Håkon Holien
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Pb 2501, NO-7729 Steinkjer, Norway;
| | - Alica Košuthová
- Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Škvorová Z, Černajová I, Steinová J, Peksa O, Moya P, Škaloud P. Promiscuity in Lichens Follows Clear Rules: Partner Switching in Cladonia Is Regulated by Climatic Factors and Soil Chemistry. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:781585. [PMID: 35173688 PMCID: PMC8841807 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.781585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climatic factors, soil chemistry and geography are considered as major factors affecting lichen distribution and diversity. To determine how these factors limit or support the associations between the symbiotic partners, we revise the lichen symbiosis as a network of relationships here. More than one thousand thalli of terricolous Cladonia lichens were collected at sites with a wide range of soil chemical properties from seven biogeographical regions of Europe. A total of 18 OTUs of the algal genus Asterochloris and 181 OTUs of Cladonia mycobiont were identified. We displayed all realized pairwise mycobiont-photobiont relationships and performed modularity analysis. It revealed four virtually separated modules of cooperating OTUs. The modules differed in mean annual temperature, isothermality, precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil pH, nitrogen, and carbon contents. Photobiont switching was strictly limited to algae from one module, i.e., algae of similar ecological preferences, and only few mycobionts were able to cooperate with photobionts from different modules. Thus, Cladonia mycobionts generally cannot widen their ecological niches through photobiont switching. The modules also differed in the functional traits of the mycobionts, e.g., sexual reproduction rate, presence of soredia, and thallus type. These traits may represent adaptations to the environmental conditions that drive the differentiation of the modules. In conclusion, the promiscuity in Cladonia mycobionts is strictly limited by climatic factors and soil chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Škvorová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivana Černajová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Steinová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Peksa
- Museum of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Pilsen, Czechia
| | - Patricia Moya
- Botánica, ICBIBE, Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Blázquez M, Hernández-Moreno LS, Gasulla F, Pérez-Vargas I, Pérez-Ortega S. The Role of Photobionts as Drivers of Diversification in an Island Radiation of Lichen-Forming Fungi. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:784182. [PMID: 35046912 PMCID: PMC8763358 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.784182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation in oceanic islands has attracted the interest of scientists since the 19th century. One of the most striking evolutionary phenomena that can be studied in islands is adaptive radiation, that is, when a lineage gives rise to different species by means of ecological speciation. Some of the best-known examples of adaptive radiation are charismatic organisms like the Darwin finches of the Galapagos and the cichlid fishes of the great African lakes. In these and many other examples, a segregation of the trophic niche has been shown to be an important diversification driver. Radiations are known in other groups of organisms, such as lichen-forming fungi. However, very few studies have investigated their adaptive nature, and none have focused on the trophic niche. In this study, we explore the role of the trophic niche in a putative radiation of endemic species from the Macaronesian Region, the Ramalina decipiens group. The photobiont diversity was studied by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the ITS2 region of 197 specimens spanning the phylogenetic breadth and geographic range of the group. A total of 66 amplicon sequence variants belonging to the four main clades of the algal genus Trebouxia were found. Approximately half of the examined thalli showed algal coexistence, but in most of them, a single main photobiont amounted to more than 90% of the reads. However, there were no significant differences in photobiont identity and in the abundance of ITS2 reads across the species of the group. We conclude that a segregation of the trophic niche has not occurred in the R. decipiens radiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Blázquez
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Open Access Publication Support Program, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
| | - Lucía S Hernández-Moreno
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Open Access Publication Support Program, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Gasulla
- Department of Life Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Israel Pérez-Vargas
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Sergio Pérez-Ortega
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Open Access Publication Support Program, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vančurová L, Malíček J, Steinová J, Škaloud P. Choosing the Right Life Partner: Ecological Drivers of Lichen Symbiosis. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:769304. [PMID: 34970234 PMCID: PMC8712729 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichens are an iconic example of symbiotic systems whose ecology is shaped by the requirements of the symbionts. Previous studies suggest that fungal (mycobionts) as well as photosynthesizing (phycobionts or cyanobionts) partners have a specific range of acceptable symbionts that can be chosen according to specific environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of climatic conditions and mycobiont identity on phycobiont distribution within the lichen genera Stereocaulon, Cladonia, and Lepraria. The study area comprised the Canary Islands, Madeira, Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands, spanning a wide range of climatic conditions. These islands are known for their unique and diverse fauna and flora; however, lichen phycobionts have remained unstudied in most of these areas. In total, we genetically analyzed 339 lichen samples. The phycobiont pool differed significantly from that outside the studied area. Asterochloris mediterranea was identified as the most abundant phycobiont. However, its distribution was limited by climatic constraints. Other species of Asterochloris and representatives of the genera Chloroidium, Vulcanochloris, and Myrmecia were also recovered as phycobionts. The selection of symbiotic partners from the local phycobiont pool was driven by mycobiont specificity (i.e., the taxonomic range of acceptable partners) and the environmental conditions, mainly temperature. Interestingly, the dominant fungal species responded differently in their selection of algal symbionts along the environmental gradients. Cladonia rangiformis associated with its phycobiont A. mediterranea in a broader range of temperatures than Stereocaulon azoreum, which favors other Asterochloris species along most of the temperature gradient. Stereocaulon vesuvianum associated with Chloroidium spp., which also differed in their temperature optima. Finally, we described Stereocaulon canariense as a new endemic species ecologically distinct from the other Stereocaulon species on the Canary Islands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Vančurová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Malíček
- Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
| | - Jana Steinová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Moya P, Molins A, Škaloud P, Divakar PK, Chiva S, Dumitru C, Molina MC, Crespo A, Barreno E. Biodiversity Patterns and Ecological Preferences of the Photobionts Associated With the Lichen-Forming Genus Parmelia. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:765310. [PMID: 35003003 PMCID: PMC8739953 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.765310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide, ecologically relevant lichen-forming genus Parmelia currently includes 41 accepted species, of which the Parmelia sulcata group (PSULgp) and the Parmelia saxatilis group (PSAXgp) have received considerable attention over recent decades; however, phycobiont diversity is poorly known in Parmelia s. lat. Here, we studied the diversity of Trebouxia microalgae associated with 159 thalli collected from 30 locations, including nine Parmelia spp.: P. barrenoae, P. encryptata, P. ernstiae, P. mayi, P. omphalodes, P. saxatilis, P. serrana, P. submontana, and P. sulcata. The mycobionts were studied by carrying out phylogenetic analyses of the nrITS. Microalgae genetic diversity was examined by using both nrITS and LSU rDNA markers. To evaluate putative species boundaries, three DNA species delimitation analyses were performed on Trebouxia and Parmelia. All analyses clustered the mycobionts into two main groups: PSULgp and PSAXgp. Species delimitation identified 13 fungal and 15 algal species-level lineages. To identify patterns in specificity and selectivity, the diversity and abundance of the phycobionts were identified for each Parmelia species. High specificity of each Parmelia group for a given Trebouxia clade was observed; PSULgp associated only with clade I and PSAXgp with clade S. However, the degree of specificity is different within each group, since the PSAXgp mycobionts were less specific and associated with 12 Trebouxia spp., meanwhile those of PSULgp interacted only with three Trebouxia spp. Variation-partitioning analyses were conducted to detect the relative contributions of climate, geography, and symbiotic partner to phycobiont and mycobiont distribution patterns. Both analyses explained unexpectedly high portions of variability (99 and 98%) and revealed strong correlations between the fungal and algal diversity. Network analysis discriminated seven ecological clusters. Even though climatic conditions explained the largest proportion of the variation among these clusters, they seemed to show indifference relative to climatic parameters. However, the cluster formed by P. saxatilis A/P. saxatilis B/Trebouxia sp. 2/Trebouxia sp. S02/Trebouxia sp. 3A was identified to prefer cold-temperate as well as humid summer environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Moya
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Arantzazu Molins
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pradeep K. Divakar
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Chiva
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Dumitru
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen Molina
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología (ESCET), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Crespo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Barreno
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Affiliation(s)
- Franck Carbonero
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson Floyd School of Medicine, Washington State University-Spokane, Spokane, WA, 99202, USA.
| | - Gary Strobel
- Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shishido TK, Wahlsten M, Laine P, Rikkinen J, Lundell T, Auvinen P. Microbial Communities of Cladonia Lichens and Their Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Potentially Encoding Natural Products. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1347. [PMID: 34206222 PMCID: PMC8304397 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens have been widely used in traditional medicine, especially by indigenous communities worldwide. However, their slow growth and difficulties in the isolation of lichen symbionts and associated microbes have hindered the pharmaceutical utilisation of lichen-produced compounds. Advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques now permit detailed investigations of the complex microbial communities formed by fungi, green algae, cyanobacteria, and other bacteria within the lichen thalli. Here, we used amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and in silico metabolomics together with compound extractions to study reindeer lichens collected from Southern Finland. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of Cladonia species as sources of novel natural products. We compared the predicted biosynthetic pathways of lichen compounds from isolated genome-sequenced lichen fungi and our environmental samples. Potential biosynthetic genes could then be further used to produce secondary metabolites in more tractable hosts. Furthermore, we detected multiple compounds by metabolite analyses, which revealed connections between the identified biosynthetic gene clusters and their products. Taken together, our results contribute to metagenomic data studies from complex lichen-symbiotic communities and provide valuable new information for use in further biochemical and pharmacological studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Keiko Shishido
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Matti Wahlsten
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Pia Laine
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botany Unit, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 7, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Taina Lundell
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Petri Auvinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kosecka M, Guzow-Krzemińska B, Černajová I, Škaloud P, Jabłońska A, Kukwa M. New lineages of photobionts in Bolivian lichens expand our knowledge on habitat preferences and distribution of Asterochloris algae. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8701. [PMID: 33888793 PMCID: PMC8062552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the biodiversity of Asterochloris photobionts found in Bolivian lichens to better understand their global spatial distribution and adaptation strategies in the context of a worldwide phylogeny of the genus. Based on nuclear ITS rDNA, the chloroplast rbcL gene and the actin type I gene we reconstructed a phylogenetic tree that recovered nine new Asterochloris lineages, while 32 Bolivian photobiont samples were assigned to 12 previously recognized Asterochloris lineages. We also show that some previously discovered Asterochloris photobiont species and lineages may occur in a broader spectrum of climatic conditions, and mycobiont species and photobionts may show different preferences along an altitude gradient. To reveal general patterns of of mycobiont specificity towards the photobiont in Asterochloris, we tested the influence of climate, altitude, geographical distance and effects of symbiotic partner (mycobiont) at the species level of three genera of lichen forming fungi: Stereocaulon, Cladonia and Lepraria. Further, we compared the specificity of mycobionts towards Asterochloris photobionts in cosmopolitan, Neotropical, and Pantropical lichen forming fungi. Interestingly, cosmopolitan species showed the lowest specificity to their photobionts, but also the lowest haplotype diversity. Neotropical and Paleotropical mycobionts, however, were more specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kosecka
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Beata Guzow-Krzemińska
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ivana Černajová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, Charles University, Benatska 2, 12801, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, Charles University, Benatska 2, 12801, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Agnieszka Jabłońska
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Martin Kukwa
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80308, Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|