Fungi associated with beetles dispersing from dead wood – Let's take the beetle bus!. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seibold, Sebastian; Müller, Jörg; Baldrian, Petr; Cadotte, Marc W.; Štursová, Martina; Biedermann, Peter H.W.; Krah, Franz-Sebastian; Bässler, Claus
• Is Part Of: Fungal ecology. Volume 39(2019)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Directed dispersal -- Ecosystem function -- Facilitation -- Forest -- Saproxylic species -- Vectoring -- Woody debris; Fungi -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; 579.517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.11.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-5048

Abstract

Abstract: Spore characteristics of wood-inhabiting fungi suggest that wind is their predominant dispersal vector. However, since they are restricted to ephemeral habitats, colonizing new patches should benefit from dispersal by animals with similar habitat preferences because the directed, resource-searching movement of animals increases the likelihood of reaching suitable habitats. Here we determine which fungal guilds are carried by wood-inhabiting beetles and what influences beetle-associated fungal communities. High-throughput sequencing identified >1800 fungal taxa from beetle communities that emerged from 64 experimental logs. Beetle-associated fungi included mutualistic, decomposing, pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi; decomposers were the most diverse. Partial-procrustes analysis revealed that the total beetle-associated community and mutualists were correlated (p ≤ 0.05) with beetle community composition and decomposers were marginally correlated (p ≤ 0.10) with beetle community composition. All three groups were marginally correlated with the total fungal communities that inhabit the dead wood. Our results show that beetles carry a broad range of wood-inhabiting fungi and beetle-associated fungal communities are determined by environmental factors and the vectoring beetle community and to some degree by the fungal source community. This suggests that wood-inhabiting beetles contribute to fungal dispersal, including directed dispersal, which could affect fungal community assembly and ecosystem processes like wood decomposition. Highlights: Beetles carried a high number of fungal OTUs, predominantly wood decomposers. Community composition of mutualists and decomposers was related to beetle communities. Number of beetle-associated OTUs was independent of beetle biomass, abundance and richness. Beetles may contribute to fungal dispersal, including directed dispersal.