10 research outputs found
Botanophila-Epichloë Interaction in a Wild Grass, Puccinellia distans, Lacks Dependence on the Fly Vector
In grass-infecting Epichloë (Ascomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) fungi, the transfer of spermatia for fungal fertilization depends on an insect vector: flies of the genus Botanophila (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). The flies use the fungal stroma, a spore-producing fungal structure surrounding the grass inflorescence, for laying eggs and as a food source for both adults and larvae. This fly-fungus interaction is generally regarded as obligatory and mutualistic. Two Botanophila taxa were noted among four populations of the nonagricultural grass Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. that were infected with the fungus Epichloë typhina (Pers.) Tul. However, during the 7 yr of field observations, Botanophila flies were present every year in only one population of P. distans. The number of eggs per stroma ranged from zero to four and differed with year and site. Overall, eggs (or larvae) were observed on only 132 (19.2%) of the 687 stromata examined during the survey, with one (13.8%), two (4.5%), or more than two (0.9%) per stroma. However, 90.8% of the examined stromata were fertilized and produced perithecia, suggesting that other mechanisms or vectors of spermatia were responsible for fertilizatio
Tardigrades and oribatid mites in bryophytes from geothermally active lava fields (Krafla, Iceland) and the description of Pilatobius islandicus sp. nov. (Eutardigrada)
In polar regions, apart from tundra and glaciers, geothermally active areas
with elevated temperatures are important elements of ecosystems. One such geothermally
active region characterized by mosaic ecosystems and vast areas covered by recent lava
fields is Iceland. The aim of our study was to explore the diversity of invertebrates
inhabiting geothermally active lava fields in the Krafla area (Iceland). Eight bryophyte
samples were collected from a warm surface, mainly from the steaming areas. We have
found Nematoda, Rotifera, Tardigrada and Oribatida in the samples. Habitat analysis
demonstrated there to be 12 bryophyte species (five liverworts and seven mosses).
The diversity of bryophytes in a single sample ranged from one to six species. The
most common bryophyte was Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid. Four species
of tardigrades were found, including one that was new. Pilatobius islandicus sp. nov.
is described herein by morphological, morphometric and molecular approaches (COI,
28S rRNA, 18S rRNA). Oribatida mites were identified as two species (Malaconothrus
monodactylus (Michael, 1888) and Camisia foveolata Hammer, 1955). The average density
of invertebrates was 13.1 ind./g with a maximum of 40.8 ind./g calculated per dry
material. The tardigrades found in our study belonged to herbivores, microbivores and
omnivores, whereas the mites belonged to saprophages, which indicates complex trophic
networks in geothermally active lava fields
The occurrence and preference of <i>Botanophila </i>flies (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) for particular species of <i>Epichloë </i>fungi infecting wild grasses
Botanophila–Epichloe Interaction in a Wild Grass, Puccinellia distans, Lacks Dependence on the Fly Vector
In grass-infecting Epichloe (Ascomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) fungi, the transfer of spermatia for fungal fertilization depends on an insect vector: flies of the genus Botanophila (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). The flies use the fungal stroma, a spore-producing fungal structure surrounding the
grass inßorescence, for laying eggs and as a food source for both adults and larvae. This fly-fungus interaction is generally regarded as obligatory and mutualistic. Two Botanophila taxa were noted among four populations of the nonagricultural grass Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. that were infected with the fungus Epichloe typhina (Pers.) Tul. However, during the 7 yr of field observations, Botanophila
flies were present every year in only one population of P. distans. The number of eggs per stroma ranged from zero to four and differed with year and site. Overall, eggs (or larvae) were observed on only 132 (19.2%) of the 687 stromata examined during the survey, with one (13.8%), two (4.5%), or more than two (0.9%) per stroma. However, 90.8% of the examined stromata were fertilized
and produced perithecia, suggesting that other mechanisms or vectors of spermatia were responsible for fertilization
The occurrence and preference of Botanophila flies (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) for particular species of Epichloë fungi infecting wild grasses
Specific associations between species frequently occur in ecological interactions. The aim of this study was to determine
the preferences of anthomyiid flies of the genus Botanophila for particular species of fungi as sites for laying eggs and as food for both larvae and adults. The associations of their eggs, larvae and flies with the stromata of different species of Epichloë fungi infecting 7 species of grass in Poland were analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface of their eggs and an analysis of the genetic sequences of their mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COII) were used to identify the taxa of the flies studied. Three types of eggs were distinguished based on their shape, colour and the presence of dorsal folds and sculpturing on the shells. Tentatively,these eggs were assigned to the following species: B. laterella, B. phrenione, B. dissecta and B. lobata. COII sequences obtained from larvae that hatched from two of the types of eggs formed three distinct clades associated with the reference sequences
for Botanophila phrenione, B. lobata (new to the fauna of Poland) and a putative species, “Taxon 1”. Only one of these flies (B.
lobata) was restricted to a single species of Epichloë (E. bromicola on Elymus repens); B. phrenione was recorded mainly from E.
typhina infecting three different species of grass. The results of this study confirm that there is not a close species specific association between this fungus and this insect
Oribatid mites of the genus Allonothrus (Acari: Oribatida: Crotonioidea) of the Ethiopian region with the description of a new subspecies
Summary data on oribatid mites of the genus Allonothrus (Trhypochthoniidae) of the Ethiopian region are presented. A new subspecies, Allonothrus schuilingi seychelli nov. subsp., is described from Seychelles. It is distinguished on the basis of the shape and length of the notogastral and ventral setae. An identification key to all known African species of Allonothrus is provided.Keywords: Africa, new subspecies, Seychelles, Trhypochthoniida
FIGURES 19–21 in Redescription of C. Willmann's Holarctic species of the genus Trhypochthonius (Acari: Oribatida: Trhypochthoniidae)
FIGURES 19–21. Trhypochthonius nigricans (specimen from Poland). (19) Dorsal view; (20) right trichobothrium; (21) left trichobothrium. Scale: 19 = 160 µm; 20, 21 = 300 µm
Botanophila—Epichloë Interaction in a Wild Grass, Puccinellia distans, Lacks Dependence on the Fly Vector
ISSN:0013-8746ISSN:1938-290