Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Karst caves are obviously characterized by darkness, constantly low temperature, high humidity, and oligotrophy. Previous studies revealed that Karst caves have a high and specific bio-diversity. A large number of troglobiont animals had been discovered and their evolution and speciation have been well investigated. However, the origin and evolution of cave fungi remain unknown. In a previous study, we have identified 20 new species, which accounted for 49% of the total number of new species of fungi ever described from caves. In this study, we inferred the divergence times of these 20 new species and compared to the cave formation geologic age. The fossil-calibrated molecular clock showed that the divergence times of these 20 suspected troglobitic fungi are between late Miocene (7.2 Mya for Metapochonia variabilis) and late Jurassic (158 Mya for Gymnoascus exasperates). While based on the historical geological movement and the paleoclimate of Guizhou, it has been estimated that the development of caves in this area was later than middle Pliocene (3.5–4 Mya). It is therefore concluded that the new species described from these caves are unlikely troglobitic fungi but travelers from other environments. The geographic history of caves appeared to be too short for fungal speciation.
Highlights
Caves are strongly zonal environment, with unique characteristics determined by the surrounding rock, subterranean water, and karst morphology (Kuzmina et al, 2012; Gabriel and Northup, 2013)
190.52 175.80–217.62 the overall topology of the best tree generated in Maximum likelihood (ML) analysis
According to the climatic relict hypothesis, an epigean species preadapted to the underground life may survive in the subterranean refuge when the surface environment becomes unfavorable due to climate change
Summary
Caves are strongly zonal environment, with unique characteristics determined by the surrounding rock, subterranean water, and karst morphology (Kuzmina et al, 2012; Gabriel and Northup, 2013). As a relatively closed space, cave environment can be affected by various factors, such as the air currents, chemolithoautotrophy, visitors, and water movement (streams or water seeps; Hose et al, 2000; Barton and Jurado, 2007a; Gabriel and Northup, 2013; Ortiz et al, 2014). Six nucleotide sequences of the 20 suspected obligate troglobitic fungi described by Zhang et al (2017), and some aligned representative species in the phylum Ascomycota were combined to infer a fossilcalibrated phylogeny and estimate divergence times for fungi in caves
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
