Abstract
Fungal species identities are often based on morphological features, but current molecular phylogenetic and other approaches almost always lead to the discovery of multiple species in single morpho-species. According to the morphological species concept, the ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a single species with pan-European distribution and a wide host range. Since its description, it has been reported from ten species of Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), of which two belong to the rubra-group and the other eight to the phylogenetically distinct scabrinodis-group. We found evidence for R. wasmannii being a single phylogenetic species using sequence data from two loci. Apparently, the original morphological description (dating back to 1899) represents a single phylogenetic species. Furthermore, the biology and host-parasite interactions of R. wasmannii are not likely to be affected by genetic divergence among different populations of the fungus, implying comparability among studies conducted on members of different ant populations. We found no differences in total thallus number on workers between Myrmica species, but we did observe differences in the pattern of thallus distribution over the body. The locus of infection is the frontal side of the head in Myrmica rubra and M. sabuleti whereas in M. scabrinodis the locus of infection differs between worker ants from Hungary (gaster tergites) and the Netherlands (frontal head). Possible explanations for these observations are differences among host species and among populations of the same species in (i) how ant workers come into contact with the fungus, (ii) grooming efficacy, and (iii) cuticle surface characteristics.
Highlights
IntroductionFungal species of ants are usually pathogenic, but some species, notably members of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota), are ectoparasitic and do not cause the death of the hosts
Ants harbour a vast diversity of microbial parasites and pathogens
The biology and host-parasite interactions of R. wasmannii are not likely to be affected by genetic divergence among different populations of the fungus, implying comparability among studies conducted on members of different ant populations
Summary
Fungal species of ants are usually pathogenic, but some species, notably members of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota), are ectoparasitic and do not cause the death of the hosts. Non-random positional patterns on the integument [48], variation in host usage across geographical regions [29], and habitat specificity [53] have recently been explored for R. wasmannii. The phylogenetic diversity of R. wasmannii from different host species remains unknown. This question deserves to be explored, as it was shown recently for a few Laboulbeniales examples that there is phylogenetic structuring within presumed species. Hesperomyces Thaxt., phylogenetic segregation by host species has been observed. Hesperomyces virescens Thaxt. consists of multiple clades, each clade corresponding to a species with strict host specificity [30]
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