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Karbstein K, Kösters L, Hodač L, Hofmann M, Hörandl E, Tomasello S, Wagner ND, Emerson BC, Albach DC, Scheu S, Bradler S, de Vries J, Irisarri I, Li H, Soltis P, Mäder P, Wäldchen J. Species delimitation 4.0: integrative taxonomy meets artificial intelligence. Trends Ecol Evol 2024:S0169-5347(23)00296-3. [PMID: 38849221 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Although species are central units for biological research, recent findings in genomics are raising awareness that what we call species can be ill-founded entities due to solely morphology-based, regional species descriptions. This particularly applies to groups characterized by intricate evolutionary processes such as hybridization, polyploidy, or asexuality. Here, challenges of current integrative taxonomy (genetics/genomics + morphology + ecology, etc.) become apparent: different favored species concepts, lack of universal characters/markers, missing appropriate analytical tools for intricate evolutionary processes, and highly subjective ranking and fusion of datasets. Now, integrative taxonomy combined with artificial intelligence under a unified species concept can enable automated feature learning and data integration, and thus reduce subjectivity in species delimitation. This approach will likely accelerate revising and unraveling eukaryotic biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Karbstein
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department of Biogeochemical Integration, 07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Lara Kösters
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department of Biogeochemical Integration, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ladislav Hodač
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department of Biogeochemical Integration, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Hofmann
- Technical University of Ilmenau, Institute for Computer and Systems Engineering, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Elvira Hörandl
- University of Göttingen, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Salvatore Tomasello
- University of Göttingen, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Natascha D Wagner
- University of Göttingen, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Brent C Emerson
- Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC), Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Dirk C Albach
- Carl von Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg, Institute of Biology and Environmental Science, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Scheu
- University of Göttingen, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; University of Göttingen, Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL), 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven Bradler
- University of Göttingen, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan de Vries
- University of Göttingen, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Applied Bioinformatics, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; University of Göttingen, Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany; University of Göttingen, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Department of Applied Bioinformatics, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Iker Irisarri
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Phylogenomics Section, Museum of Nature, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - He Li
- Eastern China Conservation Centre for Wild Endangered Plant Resources, Chenshan Botanical Garden, 201602 Shanghai, China
| | - Pamela Soltis
- University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, 32611 Gainesville, USA
| | - Patrick Mäder
- Technical University of Ilmenau, Institute for Computer and Systems Engineering, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Philosophenweg 16, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Jana Wäldchen
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department of Biogeochemical Integration, 07745 Jena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Hlavatá K, Záveská E, Leong-Škorničková J, Pouch M, Poulsen AD, Šída O, Khadka B, Mandáková T, Fér T. Ancient hybridization and repetitive element proliferation in the evolutionary history of the monocot genus Amomum (Zingiberaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1324358. [PMID: 38708400 PMCID: PMC11066291 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1324358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Genome size variation is a crucial aspect of plant evolution, influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Repetitive elements, which are fundamental components of genomic architecture, often play a role in genome expansion by selectively amplifying specific repeat motifs. This study focuses on Amomum, a genus in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), known for its 4.4-fold variation in genome size. Using a robust methodology involving PhyloNet reconstruction, RepeatExplorer clustering, and repeat similarity-based phylogenetic network construction, we investigated the repeatome composition, analyzed repeat dynamics, and identified potential hybridization events within the genus. Our analysis confirmed the presence of four major infrageneric clades (A-D) within Amomum, with clades A-C exclusively comprising diploid species (2n = 48) and clade D encompassing both diploid and tetraploid species (2n = 48 and 96). We observed an increase in the repeat content within the genus, ranging from 84% to 89%, compared to outgroup species with 75% of the repeatome. The SIRE lineage of the Ty1-Copia repeat superfamily was prevalent in most analyzed ingroup genomes. We identified significant difference in repeatome structure between the basal Amomum clades (A, B, C) and the most diverged clade D. Our investigation revealed evidence of ancient hybridization events within Amomum, coinciding with a substantial proliferation of multiple repeat groups. This finding supports the hypothesis that ancient hybridization is a driving force in the genomic evolution of Amomum. Furthermore, we contextualize our findings within the broader context of genome size variations and repeatome dynamics observed across major monocot lineages. This study enhances our understanding of evolutionary processes within monocots by highlighting the crucial roles of repetitive elements in shaping genome size and suggesting the mechanisms that drive these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Hlavatá
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eliška Záveská
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Science, Průhonice, Czechia
| | - Jana Leong-Škorničková
- Herbarium, Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Milan Pouch
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- National Center for Biomolecular Research (NCBR), Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czechia
| | - Axel Dalberg Poulsen
- Tropical Diversity Section, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Otakar Šída
- Department of Botany, National Museum in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bijay Khadka
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Terezie Mandáková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Fér
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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3
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Skopalíková J, Leong-Škorničková J, Šída O, Newman M, Chumová Z, Zeisek V, Jarolímová V, Poulsen AD, Dantas-Queiroz MV, Fér T, Záveská E. Ancient hybridization in Curcuma (Zingiberaceae)-Accelerator or brake in lineage diversifications? THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 116:773-785. [PMID: 37537754 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization is a widespread phenomenon in the evolution of plants and exploring its role is crucial to understanding diversification processes of many taxonomic groups. Recently, more attention is focused on the role of ancient hybridization that has repeatedly been shown as triggers of evolutionary radiation, although in some cases, it can prevent further diversification. The causes, frequency, and consequences of ancient hybridization remain to be explored. Here, we present an account of several events of ancient hybridization in turmeric, the economically important plant genus Curcuma (Zingiberaceae), which harbors about 130 known species. We analyzed 1094 targeted low-copy genes and plastomes obtained by next-generation sequencing of 37 species of Curcuma, representing the known genetic diversity and spanning the geographical distribution of the genus. Using phylogenetic network analysis, we show that the entire genus Curcuma as well as its most speciose lineage arose via introgression from the genus Pyrgophyllum and one of the extinct lineages, respectively. We also document a single event of ancient hybridization, with C. vamana as a product, that represents an evolutionary dead end. We further discuss distinct circumstances of those hybridization events that deal mainly with (in)congruence in chromosome counts of the parental lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Skopalíková
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Leong-Škorničková
- The Herbarium, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Otakar Šída
- Department of Botany, National Museum in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Newman
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Zuzana Chumová
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Zeisek
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Vlasta Jarolímová
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Tomáš Fér
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Záveská
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
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4
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Kinneberg VB, Lü DS, Peris D, Ravinet M, Skrede I. Introgression between highly divergent fungal sister species. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1133-1149. [PMID: 37363874 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
To understand how species evolve and adapt to changing environments, it is important to study gene flow and introgression due to their influence on speciation and radiation events. Here, we apply a novel experimental system for investigating these mechanisms using natural populations. The system is based on two fungal sister species with morphological and ecological similarities occurring in overlapping habitats. We examined introgression between these species by conducting whole genome sequencing of individuals from populations in North America and Europe. We assessed genome-wide nucleotide divergence and performed crossing experiments to study reproductive barriers. We further used ABBA-BABA statistics together with a network analysis to investigate introgression, and conducted demographic modelling to gain insight into divergence times and introgression events. The results revealed that the species are highly divergent and incompatible in vitro. Despite this, small regions of introgression were scattered throughout the genomes and one introgression event likely involves a ghost population (extant or extinct). This study demonstrates that introgression can be found among divergent species and that population histories can be studied without collections of all the populations involved. Moreover, the experimental system is shown to be a useful tool for research on reproductive isolation in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vilde Bruhn Kinneberg
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Evolution and Paleobiology, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dabao Sun Lü
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - David Peris
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mark Ravinet
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Inger Skrede
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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5
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Allen JL, Lendemer JC. A call to reconceptualize lichen symbioses. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:582-589. [PMID: 35397954 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Several decades of research across disciplines have overturned historical perspectives of symbioses dominated by binary characterizations of highly specific species-species interactions. This paradigm shift has unlocked the previously underappreciated and overlooked dynamism of fungal mutualisms such as mycorrhizae. Lichens are another example of important fungal mutualisms where reconceptualization is urgently needed to realize their potential as model systems. This reconceptualization requires both an objective synthesis of new data and envisioning a revised integrative approach that unifies the spectrum of ecology and evolution. We propose a ten-theme framework that if pursued would propel lichens to the vanguard of symbiotic theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Allen
- Eastern Washington University, Biology Department, Cheney, WA 99004, USA.
| | - James C Lendemer
- Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, USA.
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Interpreting phylogenetic conflict: Hybridization in the most speciose genus of lichen-forming fungi. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 174:107543. [PMID: 35690378 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
While advances in sequencing technologies have been invaluable for understanding evolutionary relationships, increasingly large genomic data sets may result in conflicting evolutionary signals that are often caused by biological processes, including hybridization. Hybridization has been detected in a variety of organisms, influencing evolutionary processes such as generating reproductive barriers and mixing standing genetic variation. Here, we investigate the potential role of hybridization in the diversification of the most speciose genus of lichen-forming fungi, Xanthoparmelia. As Xanthoparmelia is projected to have gone through recent, rapid diversification, this genus is particularly suitable for investigating and interpreting the origins of phylogenomic conflict. Focusing on a clade of Xanthoparmelia largely restricted to the Holarctic region, we used a genome skimming approach to generate 962 single-copy gene regions representing over 2 Mbp of the mycobiont genome. From this genome-scale dataset, we inferred evolutionary relationships using both concatenation and coalescent-based species tree approaches. We also used three independent tests for hybridization. Although different species tree reconstruction methods recovered largely consistent and well-supported trees, there was widespread incongruence among individual gene trees. Despite challenges in differentiating hybridization from ILS in situations of recent rapid radiations, our genome-wide analyses detected multiple potential hybridization events in the Holarctic clade, suggesting one possible source of trait variability in this hyperdiverse genus. This study highlights the value in using a pluralistic approach for characterizing genome-scale conflict, even in groups with well-resolved phylogenies, while highlighting current challenges in detecting the specific impacts of hybridization.
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Zhang Y, Clancy J, Jensen J, McMullin RT, Wang L, Leavitt SD. Providing Scale to a Known Taxonomic Unknown—At Least a 70-Fold Increase in Species Diversity in a Cosmopolitan Nominal Taxon of Lichen-Forming Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050490. [PMID: 35628746 PMCID: PMC9146994 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Robust species delimitations provide a foundation for investigating speciation, phylogeography, and conservation. Here we attempted to elucidate species boundaries in the cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungal taxon Lecanora polytropa. This nominal taxon is morphologically variable, with distinct populations occurring on all seven continents. To delimit candidate species, we compiled ITS sequence data from populations worldwide. For a subset of the samples, we also generated alignments for 1209 single-copy nuclear genes and an alignment spanning most of the mitochondrial genome to assess concordance among the ITS, nuclear, and mitochondrial inferences. Species partitions were empirically delimited from the ITS alignment using ASAP and bPTP. We also inferred a phylogeny for the L. polytropa clade using a four-marker dataset. ASAP species delimitations revealed up to 103 species in the L. polytropa clade, with 75 corresponding to the nominal taxon L. polytropa. Inferences from phylogenomic alignments generally supported that these represent evolutionarily independent lineages or species. Less than 10% of the candidate species were comprised of specimens from multiple continents. High levels of candidate species were recovered at local scales but generally with limited overlap across regions. Lecanora polytropa likely ranks as one of the largest species complexes of lichen-forming fungi known to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyun Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Heilongtan, Kunming 650201, China;
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Jeffrey Clancy
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 4102 Life Science Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.C.); (J.J.)
| | - Jacob Jensen
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 4102 Life Science Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.C.); (J.J.)
| | | | - Lisong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Heilongtan, Kunming 650201, China;
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (S.D.L.)
| | - Steven D. Leavitt
- Department of Biology, M. L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, 4102 Life Science Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (S.D.L.)
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Tricou T, Tannier E, de Vienne DM. OUP accepted manuscript. Syst Biol 2022; 71:1147-1158. [PMID: 35169846 PMCID: PMC9366450 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Most species are extinct, those that are not are often unknown. Sequenced and sampled species are often a minority of known ones. Past evolutionary events involving horizontal gene flow, such as horizontal gene transfer, hybridization, introgression, and admixture, are therefore likely to involve “ghosts,” that is extinct, unknown, or unsampled lineages. The existence of these ghost lineages is widely acknowledged, but their possible impact on the detection of gene flow and on the identification of the species involved is largely overlooked. It is generally considered as a possible source of error that, with reasonable approximation, can be ignored. We explore the possible influence of absent species on an evolutionary study by quantifying the effect of ghost lineages on introgression as detected by the popular D-statistic method. We show from simulated data that under certain frequently encountered conditions, the donors and recipients of horizontal gene flow can be wrongly identified if ghost lineages are not taken into account. In particular, having a distant outgroup, which is usually recommended, leads to an increase in the error probability and to false interpretations in most cases. We conclude that introgression from ghost lineages should be systematically considered as an alternative possible, even probable, scenario. [ABBA–BABA; D-statistic; gene flow; ghost lineage; introgression; simulation.]
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Tricou
- Correspondence to be sent to: CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive (LBBE), Bâtiment Mendel, 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne, 69622 Cedex, France; E-mail:
| | - Eric Tannier
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
- Inria, Centre de Recherche de Lyon, F-69603 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Damien M de Vienne
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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10
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Lücking R, Leavitt SD, Hawksworth DL. Species in lichen-forming fungi: balancing between conceptual and practical considerations, and between phenotype and phylogenomics. FUNGAL DIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-021-00477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLichens are symbiotic associations resulting from interactions among fungi (primary and secondary mycobionts), algae and/or cyanobacteria (primary and secondary photobionts), and specific elements of the bacterial microbiome associated with the lichen thallus. The question of what is a species, both concerning the lichen as a whole and its main fungal component, the primary mycobiont, has faced many challenges throughout history and has reached new dimensions with the advent of molecular phylogenetics and phylogenomics. In this paper, we briefly revise the definition of lichens and the scientific and vernacular naming conventions, concluding that the scientific, Latinized name usually associated with lichens invariably refers to the primary mycobiont, whereas the vernacular name encompasses the entire lichen. Although the same lichen mycobiont may produce different phenotypes when associating with different photobionts or growing in axenic culture, this discrete variation does not warrant the application of different scientific names, but must follow the principle "one fungus = one name". Instead, broadly agreed informal designations should be used for such discrete morphologies, such as chloromorph and cyanomorph for lichens formed by the same mycobiont but with either green algae or cyanobacteria. The taxonomic recognition of species in lichen-forming fungi is not different from other fungi and conceptual and nomenclatural approaches follow the same principles. We identify a number of current challenges and provide recommendations to address these. Species delimitation in lichen-forming fungi should not be tailored to particular species concepts but instead be derived from empirical evidence, applying one or several of the following principles in what we call the LPR approach: lineage (L) coherence vs. divergence (phylogenetic component), phenotype (P) coherence vs. divergence (morphological component), and/or reproductive (R) compatibility vs. isolation (biological component). Species hypotheses can be established based on either L or P, then using either P or L (plus R) to corroborate them. The reliability of species hypotheses depends not only on the nature and number of characters but also on the context: the closer the relationship and/or similarity between species, the higher the number of characters and/or specimens that should be analyzed to provide reliable delimitations. Alpha taxonomy should follow scientific evidence and an evolutionary framework but should also offer alternative practical solutions, as long as these are scientifically defendable. Taxa that are delimited phylogenetically but not readily identifiable in the field, or are genuinely cryptic, should not be rejected due to the inaccessibility of proper tools. Instead, they can be provisionally treated as undifferentiated complexes for purposes that do not require precise determinations. The application of infraspecific (gamma) taxonomy should be restricted to cases where there is a biological rationale, i.e., lineages of a species complex that show limited phylogenetic divergence but no evidence of reproductive isolation. Gamma taxonomy should not be used to denote discrete phenotypical variation or ecotypes not warranting the distinction at species level. We revise the species pair concept in lichen-forming fungi, which recognizes sexually and asexually reproducing morphs with the same underlying phenotype as different species. We conclude that in most cases this concept does not hold, but the actual situation is complex and not necessarily correlated with reproductive strategy. In cases where no molecular data are available or where single or multi-marker approaches do not provide resolution, we recommend maintaining species pairs until molecular or phylogenomic data are available. This recommendation is based on the example of the species pair Usnea aurantiacoatra vs. U. antarctica, which can only be resolved with phylogenomic approaches, such as microsatellites or RADseq. Overall, we consider that species delimitation in lichen-forming fungi has advanced dramatically over the past three decades, resulting in a solid framework, but that empirical evidence is still missing for many taxa. Therefore, while phylogenomic approaches focusing on particular examples will be increasingly employed to resolve difficult species complexes, broad screening using single barcoding markers will aid in placing as many taxa as possible into a molecular matrix. We provide a practical protocol how to assess and formally treat taxonomic novelties. While this paper focuses on lichen fungi, many of the aspects discussed herein apply generally to fungal taxonomy. The new combination Arthonia minor (Lücking) Lücking comb. et stat. nov. (Bas.: Arthonia cyanea f. minor Lücking) is proposed.
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Leavitt SD, Hollinger J, Summerhays S, Munger I, Allen J, Smith B. Alpine lichen diversity in an isolated sky island in the Colorado Plateau, USA-Insight from an integrative biodiversity inventory. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:11090-11101. [PMID: 34429905 PMCID: PMC8366874 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichens are major components of high altitude/latitude ecosystems. However, accurately characterizing their biodiversity is challenging because these regions and habitats are often underexplored, there are numerous poorly known taxonomic groups, and morphological variation in extreme environments can yield conflicting interpretations. Using an iterative taxonomic approach based on over 800 specimens and incorporating both traditional morphology-based identifications and information from the standard fungal DNA barcoding marker, we compiled a voucher-based inventory of biodiversity of lichen-forming fungi in a geographically limited and vulnerable alpine community in an isolated sky island in the Colorado Plateau, USA-the La Sal Mountains. We used the newly proposed Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) approach to empirically delimit candidate species-level lineages from family-level multiple sequence alignments. Specimens comprising DNA-based candidate species were evaluated using traditional taxonomically diagnostic phenotypic characters to identify specimens to integrative species hypotheses and link these, where possible, to currently described species. Despite the limited alpine habitat (ca. 3,250 ha), we document the most diverse alpine lichen community known to date from the southern Rocky Mountains, with up to 240 candidate species/species-level lineages of lichen-forming fungi. 139 species were inferred using integrative taxonomy, plus an additional 52 candidate species within 29 different putative species complexes. Over 68% of sequences could not be assigned to species-level rank with statistical confidence, corroborating the limited utility of current sequence repositories for species-level DNA barcoding of lichen-forming fungi. By integrating vouchered specimens, DNA sequence data, and photographic documentation, we provide an important baseline of lichen-forming fungal diversity for the limited alpine habitat in the Colorado Plateau. These data provide an important resource for subsequent research in the ecology and evolution of lichens alpine habitats, including DNA barcodes for most putative species/species-level lineages occurring in the La Sal Mountains, and vouchered collections representing any potentially undescribed species that can be used for future taxonomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D. Leavitt
- M.L. Bean Life Science Museum & Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
| | - Jason Hollinger
- HerbariumDepartment of BiologyWestern Carolina UniversityCullowheeNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Isaac Munger
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
| | - Jonah Allen
- Department of BiologyBrigham Young UniversityProvoUtahUSA
| | - Barb Smith
- Wildlife Biologist/Botanist, Moab DistrictManti–La Sal National ForestMoabUtahUSA
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12
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Phylogenomic reconstruction addressing the Peltigeralean backbone (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota). FUNGAL DIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-021-00476-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Ament-Velásquez SL, Tuovinen V, Bergström L, Spribille T, Vanderpool D, Nascimbene J, Yamamoto Y, Thor G, Johannesson H. The Plot Thickens: Haploid and Triploid-Like Thalli, Hybridization, and Biased Mating Type Ratios in Letharia. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:656386. [PMID: 37744149 PMCID: PMC10512270 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.656386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The study of the reproductive biology of lichen fungal symbionts has been traditionally challenging due to their complex lifestyles. Against the common belief of haploidy, a recent genomic study found a triploid-like signal in Letharia. Here, we infer the genome organization and reproduction in Letharia by analyzing genomic data from a pure culture and from thalli, and performing a PCR survey of the MAT locus in natural populations. We found that the read count variation in the four Letharia specimens, including the pure culture derived from a single sexual spore of L. lupina, is consistent with haploidy. By contrast, the L. lupina read counts from a thallus' metagenome are triploid-like. Characterization of the mating-type locus revealed a conserved heterothallic configuration across the genus, along with auxiliary genes that we identified. We found that the mating-type distributions are balanced in North America for L. vulpina and L. lupina, suggesting widespread sexual reproduction, but highly skewed in Europe for L. vulpina, consistent with predominant asexuality. Taken together, we propose that Letharia fungi are heterothallic and typically haploid, and provide evidence that triploid-like individuals are hybrids between L. lupina and an unknown Letharia lineage, reconciling classic systematic and genetic studies with recent genomic observations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Veera Tuovinen
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linnea Bergström
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Toby Spribille
- Biological Sciences CW 405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dan Vanderpool
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Juri Nascimbene
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Yoshikazu Yamamoto
- Department of Bioproduction Science, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Göran Thor
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Johannesson
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Muggia L, Ametrano CG, Sterflinger K, Tesei D. An Overview of Genomics, Phylogenomics and Proteomics Approaches in Ascomycota. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E356. [PMID: 33348904 PMCID: PMC7765829 DOI: 10.3390/life10120356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are among the most successful eukaryotes on Earth: they have evolved strategies to survive in the most diverse environments and stressful conditions and have been selected and exploited for multiple aims by humans. The characteristic features intrinsic of Fungi have required evolutionary changes and adaptations at deep molecular levels. Omics approaches, nowadays including genomics, metagenomics, phylogenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics have enormously advanced the way to understand fungal diversity at diverse taxonomic levels, under changeable conditions and in still under-investigated environments. These approaches can be applied both on environmental communities and on individual organisms, either in nature or in axenic culture and have led the traditional morphology-based fungal systematic to increasingly implement molecular-based approaches. The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies was key to boost advances in fungal genomics and proteomics research. Much effort has also been directed towards the development of methodologies for optimal genomic DNA and protein extraction and separation. To date, the amount of proteomics investigations in Ascomycetes exceeds those carried out in any other fungal group. This is primarily due to the preponderance of their involvement in plant and animal diseases and multiple industrial applications, and therefore the need to understand the biological basis of the infectious process to develop mechanisms for biologic control, as well as to detect key proteins with roles in stress survival. Here we chose to present an overview as much comprehensive as possible of the major advances, mainly of the past decade, in the fields of genomics (including phylogenomics) and proteomics of Ascomycota, focusing particularly on those reporting on opportunistic pathogenic, extremophilic, polyextremotolerant and lichenized fungi. We also present a review of the mostly used genome sequencing technologies and methods for DNA sequence and protein analyses applied so far for fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudio G. Ametrano
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Department of Science and Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605, USA;
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Institute of Natual Sciences and Technology in the Arts, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria;
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Spjut R, Simon A, Guissard M, Magain N, Sérusiaux E. The fruticose genera in the Ramalinaceae (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes): their diversity and evolutionary history. MycoKeys 2020; 73:1-68. [PMID: 32994702 PMCID: PMC7501315 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.73.47287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We present phylogenetic analyses of the fruticose Ramalinaceae based on extensive collections from many parts of the world, with a special focus on the Vizcaíno deserts in north-western Mexico and the coastal desert in Namibia. We generate a four-locus DNA sequence dataset for accessions of Ramalina and two additional loci for Niebla and Vermilacinia. Four genera are strongly supported: the subcosmopolitan Ramalina, the new genus Namibialina endemic to SW Africa, and a duo formed by Niebla and Vermilacinia, endemic to the New World except the sorediate V. zebrina that disjunctly occurs in Namibia. The latter three genera are restricted to coastal desert and chaparral where vegetation depends on moisture from ocean fog. Ramalina is subcosmopolitan and much more diverse in its ecology. We show that Ramalina and its sister genus Namibialina diverged from each other at c. 48 Myrs, whereas Vermilacinia and Niebla split at c. 30 Myrs. The phylogeny of the fruticose genera remains unresolved to their ancestral crustose genera. Species delimitation within Namibialina and Ramalina is rather straightforward. The phylogeny and taxonomy of Vermilacinia are fully resolved, except for the two youngest clades of corticolous taxa, and support current taxonomy, including four new taxa described here. Secondary metabolite variation in Niebla generally coincides with major clades which are comprised of species complexes with still unresolved phylogenetic relationships. A micro-endemism pattern of allopatric species is strongly suspected for both genera, except for the corticolous taxa within Vermilacinia. Both Niebla and saxicolous Vermilacinia have chemotypes unique to species clades that are largely endemic to the Vizcaíno deserts. The following new taxa are described: Namibialina gen. nov. with N. melanothrix (comb. nov.) as type species, a single new species of Ramalina (R. krogiae) and four new species of Vermilacinia (V. breviloba, V. lacunosa, V. pustulata and V. reticulata). The new combination V. granulans is introduced. Two epithets are re-introduced for European Ramalina species: R. crispans (= R. peruviana auct. eur.) and R. rosacea (= R. bourgeana auct. p.p). A lectotype is designated for Vermilacinia procera. A key to saxicolous species of Vermilacinia is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Spjut
- World Botanical Associates, PO Box 81145, Bakersfield, California 93380, USA World Botanical Associates Bakersfield, CA United States of America
| | - Antoine Simon
- Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit, Sart Tilman B22, Quartier Vallée 1, chemin de la vallée 4, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit Liège Belgium
| | - Martin Guissard
- Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit, Sart Tilman B22, Quartier Vallée 1, chemin de la vallée 4, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit Liège Belgium
| | - Nicolas Magain
- Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit, Sart Tilman B22, Quartier Vallée 1, chemin de la vallée 4, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit Liège Belgium
| | - Emmanuël Sérusiaux
- Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit, Sart Tilman B22, Quartier Vallée 1, chemin de la vallée 4, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Evolution and Conservation Biology Unit Liège Belgium
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Abstract
Diversity within the fungal kingdom is evident from the wide range of morphologies fungi display as well as the various ecological roles and industrial purposes they serve. Technological advances, particularly in long-read sequencing, coupled with the increasing efficiency and decreasing costs across sequencing platforms have enabled robust characterization of fungal genomes. These sequencing efforts continue to reveal the rampant diversity in fungi at the genome level. Here, we discuss studies that have furthered our understanding of fungal genetic diversity and genomic evolution. These studies revealed the presence of both small-scale and large-scale genomic changes. In fungi, research has recently focused on many small-scale changes, such as how hypermutation and allelic transmission impact genome evolution as well as how and why a few specific genomic regions are more susceptible to rapid evolution than others. High-throughput sequencing of a diverse set of fungal genomes has also illuminated the frequency, mechanisms, and impacts of large-scale changes, which include chromosome structural variation and changes in chromosome number, such as aneuploidy, polyploidy, and the presence of supernumerary chromosomes. The studies discussed herein have provided great insight into how the architecture of the fungal genome varies within species and across the kingdom and how modern fungi may have evolved from the last common fungal ancestor and might also pave the way for understanding how genomic diversity has evolved in all domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby J. Priest
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Vikas Yadav
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, NC, USA
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McKenzie SK, Walston RF, Allen JL. Complete, high-quality genomes from long-read metagenomic sequencing of two wolf lichen thalli reveals enigmatic genome architecture. Genomics 2020; 112:3150-3156. [PMID: 32504651 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Fungal genomes display incredible levels of complexity and diversity, and are exceptional study systems for genome evolution. Here we used the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing platform to generate high-quality fungal genomes from complex metagenomic samples of lichen thalli. We sequenced two wolf lichens using one flow cell per sample, generating 17.1 Gbps for Letharia lupina and 14.3 Gbps for Letharia columbiana. The resulting L. lupina genome is one of the most contiguous lichen genomes available to date, with 49.2 Mbp contained on 31 contigs. The L. columbiana genome, while less contiguous, is still relatively high quality, with 52.3 Mbp on a total of 161 contigs. Each thallus for both species contained multiple distinct haplotypes, a phenomenon that has rarely been empirically demonstrated. The Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies are robust and effective when applied to complex symbioses, and have the potential to fundamentally transform our understanding of fungal genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean K McKenzie
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Current affiliation: Emory Integrated Computational Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Ridge F Walston
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, USA
| | - Jessica L Allen
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, USA
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