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

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.