Myrmecopterula moniliformis

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Myrmecopterula moniliformis
Myrmecopterula moniliformis.jpg
Myrmecopterula moniliformis with infertile bead like fruiting bodies
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Pterulaceae
Genus: Myrmecopterula
Species:
M. moniliformis
Binomial name
Myrmecopterula moniliformis
Synonyms

Lachnocladium moniliforme Henn. (1904)
Pterula moniliformis Corner (1952)
Thelephora clavarioides Torrend (1914)

Myrmecopterula moniliformis is a species of fungus in the family Pterulaceae and is the type species of the genus Myrmecopterula . It is associated with fungi cultivating ants of the genus Apterostigma.

Taxonomy

M. moniliformis was originally classified as Lachnocladium moniliforme by the German mycologist Paul Christoph Hennings in 1904. It was classified as Thelephora clavarioides by the Portuguese mycologist Camille Torrend in 1914. It was reclassified as Pterula moniliformis by the English mycologist Edred John Henry Corner in 1952. [1]

The genus Myrmecopterula was created in 2020 by the mycologists Leal-Dutra, Bryn Tjader Mason Dentinger & G.W. Griff when a major new reclassification took place of the Pterulaceae family based on phylogenetic analysis. [2]

Description

M. moniliformis produces two distinct forms of mushrooms. The first type resemble irregular strings of beads similar in appearance to some rhizomes produced by plants. These are sterile and lack an active hymenium to produce spores. The second type are fertile branching coral structures which are more typical of mushrooms produced by other species in the Pterulaceae family. [3] These forms may grow separately or together with fertile coral forms branching off from the infertile beads. The presence of fertile mushrooms means that M. moniliformis is capable of reproducing and surviving without the ants which separates it from the other two named species in this genus M. nudihortorum and M. velohortorum which appear to be reliant on ant domestication and have not been documented as producing fertile fruiting bodies.

One hypothesis for the presence of fertile fruiting bodies in M. moniliformis is that it may have descended from a lineage of ant-domesticated fungi which escaped from cultivation to become free-living fungi. The presence of the sterile mushrooms may be a genetic relic from previous cultivation as this mutation is detrimental to non-domesticated fungi.

Etymology

Myrmecopterula is derived from the Greek Myrmex meaning ant [4] as in Myrmecology, the study of ants. Monile is Latin for necklace and liformis is a Latin suffix for shape or form so 'necklace shaped'. [5] This is a reference to the bead like shapes formed by the infertile fruiting bodies.

Myrmecopterula moniliformis with small, sterile bead like mushrooms Myrmecopterula moniliformis 2.jpg
Myrmecopterula moniliformis with small, sterile bead like mushrooms

Similar species

Myrmecopterula nudihortorum and Myrmecopterula velohortorum are the only other named species belonging to the genus Myrmecopterula.These are also associated with cultivation by Apterostigma ants. Four other unnamed and poorly documented Myrmecopterula species are known. [2]

Habitat and distribution

Myrmecopterula species are found in the neotropics of South America and are usually found growing on top of living or dead ant nests or being cultivated by ants.

Some species of Myrmecopterula grow from soil whilst others appear to grow from wood however closer inspection reveals that rather than using the wood itself as a substrate they are instead found growing from loose debris within cavities in the wood. This substrate is sometimes similar in appearance to that of the fungal gardens of Apterostigma pilosum group ants, which have been documented cultivating Myrmecopterula species. [6] [7]

M. moniliformis is documented as growing from soil but has also been observed emerging from active and inactive ant nests. It is hypothesized that this species may be involved in residual decomposition of substrates in abandoned ant nests or even act as a mycoparasite of the cultivated fungus. [2]

The Apterostigma pilosum species itself has a distribution that covers parts of South America, Central America and Mexico [8] this helps to understand the potential distribution of Myrmecopterula species. Due to some species of this genus being reliant upon ants and not producing mushrooms, observations are uncommon and would depend on observing the nests themselves. However as M. moniliformis produces both fertile and infertile mushrooms and can grow without the ants observations of fruiting bodies can be made which place the distribution around Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Bolivia [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fungus-growing ants</span> Tribe of ants

Fungus-growing ants comprise all the known fungus-growing ant species participating in ant–fungus mutualism. They are known for cutting grasses and leaves, carrying them to their colonies' nests, and using them to grow fungus on which they later feed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ant–fungus mutualism</span> Symbiotic relationship

The ant–fungus mutualism is a symbiosis seen between certain ant and fungal species, in which ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. There is only evidence of two instances in which this form of agriculture evolved in ants resulting in a dependence on fungi for food. These instances were the attine ants and some ants that are part of the Megalomyrmex genus. In some species, the ants and fungi are dependent on each other for survival. This type of codependency is prevalent among herbivores who rely on plant material for nutrition. The fungus’ ability to convert the plant material into a food source accessible to their host makes them the ideal partner. The leafcutter ant is a well-known example of this symbiosis. Leafcutter ants species can be found in southern South America up to the United States. However, ants are not the only ground-dwelling arthropods which have developed symbioses with fungi. A similar mutualism with fungi is also noted in termites within the subfamily Macrotermitinae which are widely distributed throughout the Old World tropics with the highest diversity in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricholomataceae</span> Family of fungi

The Tricholomataceae are a large family of fungi within the order Agaricales. Originally a classic "wastebasket taxon", the family included any white-, yellow-, or pink-spored genera in the Agaricales not already classified as belonging to e.g. the Amanitaceae, Lepiotaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Pluteaceae, or Entolomataceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pterulaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Pterulaceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. According to a 2008 estimate, the family contained 99 species previously distributed among 12 genera. More recent data from molecular phylogenetic reconstruction showed that members of the genus Parapterulicium are unrelated to Pterulaceae and also polyphyletic. A new genus Baltazaria was created and both genera were moved to Russulales, to families Lachnocladiaceae and Peniophoraceae respectively.

<i>Aphanobasidium</i> Genus of fungi

Aphanobasidium is a genus of corticioid or crust fungi in the Radulomycetaceae family. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains several species. This genus was formally considered to be part of the Pterulaceae family.

Parapterulicium is a genus of fungi in the order Russulales. The genus contains two species found in Brazil and Argentina.

<i>Pterula</i> Genus of fungi

Pterula is a genus of fungi in the Pterulaceae family. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical regions, and contains about 50 species. One such species, Pterula sp. 82168, has yielded potential antifungal antibiotic properties.

<i>Pterulicium</i> Genus of fungi

Pterulicium is a genus of fungi in the Pterulaceae family. The genus was previously monotypic, containing the single species Pterulicium xylogenum, found in southeast Asia. However in 2020 a major reclassification of the Pterulaceae family occurred based on phylogenetic analysis and the Pterula genus was split into Pterula, Myrmecopterula, Pterulicium and Phaeopterula by the mycologists Caio A. Leal-Dutra, Bryn Tjader Mason Dentinger and Gareth W. Griffith.

<i>Radulomyces</i> Genus of fungi

Radulomyces is a genus of crust fungi in the family Radulomycetaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains 11 species. It was circumscribed by Danish botanist Mads Peter Christiansen in 1960, with Radulomyces confluens as the type species. This genus was formally considered to be part of the Pterulaceae family.

<i>Apterostigma</i> Genus of ants

Apterostigma is a genus of New World ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Two species have been described from fossils preserved in Dominican amber, while the others are extant. They are fungus-growing ants, though, unlike the majority of other species in Attini who grow Lepiotaceae, some species have begun cultivating Tricholomataceae.

<i>Leucoagaricus gongylophorus</i> Species of fungus

Leucoagaricus gongylophorus is a fungus in the family Agaricaceae which is cultivated by certain leafcutter ants. Like other species of fungi cultivated by ants, L. gongylophorus produces gongylidia, nutrient-rich hyphal swellings upon which the ants feed. Production of mushrooms occurs only once ants abandon the nest. L. gongylophorus is farmed by leaf cutter ant species belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex, amongst others.

<i>Myrmecopterula</i> Genus of fungi

Myrmecopterula is a genus of fungi in the family Pterulaceae. Basidiocarps are clavarioid and are associated with ant domestication by members of the genus Apterostigma.

Myrmecopterula velohortorum is a species of fungus in the family Pterulaceae. It is associated with fungi cultivating ants of the genus Apterostigma.

<i>Myrmecopterula nudihortorum</i> Species of fungus

Myrmecopterula nudihortorum is a species of fungus in the family Pterulaceae. It is associated with fungi cultivating ants of the genus Apterostigma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radulomycetaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Radulomycetaceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales.

Phaeopterula is a genus of fungi in the family Pterulaceae. Basidiocarps are clavarioid and resemble species of Pterula.

Radulotubus is a monotypic genus of corticioid or crust fungi in the family Radulomycetaceae containing the single resupinate species Radulotubus resupinatus. This species was found in Yunnan province, China and formally classified in 2016. The specimen was found growing on the fallen trunk of an angiosperm. It was originally placed in the family Pterulaceae and noted to be closesly related with Aphanobasidium and Radulomyces.

Pterulicium caricis-pendulae is a species of mushroom producing fungus in the family Pterulaceae. It has the common name pendulous sedge club.

Pterulicium gracile is a species of mushroom producing fungus in the family Pterulaceae.

References

  1. ↑ "Species Fungorum - Myrmecopterula moniliformis". www.speciesfungorum.org. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  2. 1 2 3 Leal-Dutra CA, Griffith GW, Neves MA, McLaughlin DJ, McLaughlin EG, Clasen LA, Dentinger BT (December 2020). "Reclassification of Pterulaceae Corner (Basidiomycota: Agaricales) introducing the ant-associated genus Myrmecopterula gen. nov., Phaeopterula Henn. and the corticioid Radulomycetaceae fam. nov". IMA Fungus. 11 (1): 2. doi: 10.1186/s43008-019-0022-6 . PMC   7325140 . PMID   32617254.
  3. ↑ Dentinger BT, Lodge DJ, Munkacsi AB, Desjardin DE, McLaughlin DJ (August 2009). "Phylogenetic placement of an unusual coral mushroom challenges the classic hypothesis of strict coevolution in the apterostigma pilosum group ant-fungus mutualism". Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution. 63 (8): 2172–2178. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00697.x . PMID   19453731. S2CID   4115854.
  4. ↑ "Definition of MYRMIDON". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  5. ↑ "Botanical Latin (L) & Greek (G)" (PDF).
  6. ↑ Leal-Dutra, Caio A.; Griffith, Gareth W.; Neves, Maria Alice; McLaughlin, David J.; McLaughlin, Esther G.; Clasen, Lina A.; Dentinger, Bryn T. M. (December 2020). "Reclassification of Pterulaceae Corner (Basidiomycota: Agaricales) introducing the ant-associated genus Myrmecopterula gen. nov., Phaeopterula Henn. and the corticioid Radulomycetaceae fam. nov". IMA Fungus. 11 (1): 2. doi: 10.1186/s43008-019-0022-6 . ISSN   2210-6359. PMC   7325140 . PMID   32617254.
  7. ↑ Villesen, Palle; Mueller, Ulrich G.; Schultz, Ted R.; Adams, Rachelle M. M.; Bouck, Amy C. (April 3, 2003). "Evolution of Ant-Cultivar Specialization and Cultivar Switching in Apterostigma Fungus-Growing Ants". Evolution. 58 (10): 2252–2265. doi: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2004.tb01601.x . ISSN   0014-3820. PMID   15562688. S2CID   202842261.
  8. ↑ "Apterostigma pilosum - AntWiki". www.antwiki.org. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  9. ↑ "Mushroom Observer". mushroomobserver.org. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  10. ↑ "Myrmecopterula moniliformis". iNaturalist NZ. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
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