Experimental and molecular approximation to microbial niche: trophic interactions between oribatid mites and microfungi in an oligotrophic freshwater system

PeerJ
Patricia VelezValeria Souza

Abstract

Mite-fungal interactions play a key role in structuring core ecosystem processes such as nutrient dynamics. Despite their ecological relevance, these cross-kingdom interactions remain poorly understood particularly in extreme environments. Herein, we investigated feeding preferences of a novel genetic lineage of aquatic oribatids obtained from an oligotrophic freshwater system in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (CCB) within the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. During in vitro diet preference bioassays, transient aquatic microfungi (Aspergillus niger, Talaromyces sp., and Pleosporales sp.) recovered from the same mesocosm samples were offered individually and simultaneously to mites. Gut content was analyzed using classic plating and culture-independent direct PCR (focusing on the fungal barcoding region) methods. Our results indicated that oribatids fed on all tested fungal isolates, yet the profusely developing A. niger was preferentially consumed with all fungal components being digested. This feeding habit is particularly interesting since A. niger has been reported as an unsuitable dietary element for population growth, being consistently avoided by mites in previous laboratory experiments. It is possible that our mites from the CCB ha...Continue Reading

References

Aug 10, 2000·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·A Gange
Apr 3, 2001·Genome Research·D GordonP Green
Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Entomology·T D PaineT C Harrington
Sep 1, 2005·Mycorrhiza·Katja SchneiderMark Maraun
Apr 19, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Valeria SouzaJames J Elser
Oct 15, 2008·Systematic Biology·Alexandros StamatakisJacques Rougemont
Apr 23, 2010·The New Phytologist·Kessy AbarenkovUrmas Kõljalg
Mar 29, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Conrad L SchochUNKNOWN Fungal Barcoding Consortium Author List
Aug 28, 2012·Astrobiology·Valeria SouzaLuis E Eguiarte
Oct 12, 2013·Molecular Ecology·Urmas KõljalgKarl-Henrik Larsson
Nov 6, 2013·Annual Review of Entomology·R W Hofstetter, J C Moser
Dec 11, 2014·Studies in Mycology·R A SamsonJ C Frisvad
Jul 19, 2017·PloS One·Sofia DuarteFelix Bärlocher
Jun 5, 2018·Mycologia·Karen W HughesRonald H Petersen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
dissection

Software Mentioned

BioEdit
RAxML
CIPRES Gateway
Zeiss ZEN
GTRCAT
Consed
BLAST
Geneious

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.