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Methods and Difficulties of Identifying Species in Studies on the Ecology and Distribution Patterns of Spore Organisms

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Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract

The use of molecular biology methods for identifying species of fungi and myxomycetes (DNA barcoding) has shown the necessity of reconsidering our views on the ecology and habitats of many species of spore organisms. Spores of basidiomycetes and myxomycetes can spread over considerable distances by water, wind, and insects, resulting in their resettlement to various distant habitats, where the only limiting factors are microenvironment and suitable substrates. The possibility of inhabiting various “island” habitats, for example, such as large tree debris in steppe regions or special microclimatic conditions on the bottoms of ravines and gullies in the forest steppe, where the humidity is much higher than on the plain areas, allows spore organisms to expand their habitats and settle in natural areas that are not typical for them. Our original research, an analysis of literature sources, and GenBank data have shown that, when studying the ecology and distribution patterns of spore-like organisms, issues of correctly identifying species are quiet questionable. This article discusses examples using the influence of the hypothesis Everything is everywhere, but, the environment selects (EiE hypothesis) on understanding the ecology and ranges of some species of myxomycetes and basidiomycetes. Data on the distribution and ecology of nivicolous myxomycetes Lamproderma pseudomaculatum on the plain territory of Western Siberia are presented for the first time. Using the myxomycetes Arcyria imperialis and A. stipata, as well as fungi Disciseda hyalothrix and Pleurotus pulmonarius, we envisage the possibility of a DNA barcoding application for studies of the species diversity of spore organisms and the morphological differentiation of similar species and for correctly interpreting their ranges and ecology. rDNA sequences have been studied for all these species; for myxomycetes, photos have been taken on a scanning electron microscope.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We used materials from Popov Herbarium at the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSK), Novosibirsk.

Funding

The work of A.V. Vlasenko on myxomycetes was carried out in accordance with a State Task of Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (AAAA-A17-117012610055-3). The work of Yu.K. Novozhilov on myxomycetes was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-04-01232-A. The work of V.A. Vlasenko on Pleurotus pulmonarius was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research and the Government of Novosibirsk region, project no. 18-44-543018 r_mol_a. The work of A.S. Asbaganov and T. Dejidmaa on Disciseda hyalothrix was carried out as part of the project of Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Ministry for Culture, Education, Science, and Sport of Mongolia, project no. 19-54-44002 Mong_T. Materials from the M.G. Popov Herbarium (NSK) in Novosibirsk were used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    A. V. Vlasenko, V. A. Vlasenko & S. V. Asbaganov

  2. Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Yu. K. Novozhilov

  3. Plant Protection Research Institute of Mongolia, 17024, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    T. Dejidmaa

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  1. A. V. Vlasenko
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Correspondence to A. V. Vlasenko.

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Translated by T. Kuznetsova

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Vlasenko, A.V., Vlasenko, V.A., Novozhilov, Y.K. et al. Methods and Difficulties of Identifying Species in Studies on the Ecology and Distribution Patterns of Spore Organisms. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 13, 346–359 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425520040113

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