1. |
- Zamora, Juan Carlos, et al.
(author)
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Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa
- 2018
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In: IMA Fungus. - : INT MYCOLOGICAL ASSOC. - 2210-6340 .- 2210-6359. ; 9:1, s. 167-185
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.
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2. |
- Garcia-Cunchillos, Ivan, et al.
(author)
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Phylogeny and evolution of morphological structures in a highly diverse lineage of fruiting-body-forming amoebae, order Trichiales (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa)
- 2022
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In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. - : Elsevier. - 1055-7903 .- 1095-9513. ; 177
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Early phylogenetic studies refuted most previous assumptions concerning the evolution of the morphological traits in the fruiting bodies of the order Trichiales and did not detect discernible evolutionary patterns, yet they were based on a limited number of species. We infer a new Trichiales phylogeny based on three independently inherited genetic regions (nuclear and mitochondrial), with a fair taxonomic sampling encompassing its broad diversity. Besides, we study the evolutionary history of some key morphological characters. According to the new phylogeny, most fruiting body traits in Trichiales systematics do not represent exclusive synapomorphies or autapomorphies for most monophyletic groups. Instead, the evolution of the features derived from the peridium, stalk, capillitium, and spores showed intricate patterns, and character state transitions occurred rather within -than between clades. Thus, we should consider other evolutionary scenarios instead of assuming the homology of some characters. According to these results, we propose a new classification of Trichiales, including the creation of a new genus, Gulielmina, the resurrection of the family Dictydiaethaliaceae and the genus Ophiotheca, and the proposal of 13 new combinations for species of the genera Arcyria (1), Hemitrichia (2), Ophiotheca (2), Oligonema (4), Gulielmina (3), and Perichaena (1).
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3. |
- Maria Garcia-Martin, Joaquina, et al.
(author)
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Evidence of Intra-individual SSU Polymorphisms in Dark-spored Myxomycetes (Amoebozoa)
- 2019
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In: Protist. - : ELSEVIER GMBH. - 1434-4610 .- 1618-0941. ; 170:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (SSU or 18S) is a marker frequently used in phylogenetic and barcoding studies in Amoebozoa, including Myxomycetes. Despite its common usage and the confirmed existence of divergent copies of ribosomal genes in other protists, the potential presence of intra-individual SSU variability in Myxomycetes has never been studied before. Here we investigated the pattern of nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' end fragment of SSU by cloning and sequencing a total of 238 variants from eight specimens, each representing a species of the dark-spored orders Stemonitidales and Physarales. After excluding singletons, a relatively low SSU intra-individual variability was found but our data indicate that this might be a widely distributed phenomenon in Myxomycetes as all samples analyzed possessed various ribotypes. To determine if the occurrence of multiple SSU variants within a single specimen has a negative effect on the circumscription of species boundaries, we conducted phylogenetic analyses that revealed that clone variation may be detrimental for inferring phylogenetic relationships among some of the specimens analyzed. Despite that intra-individual variability should be assessed in additional taxa, our results indicate that special care should be taken for species identification when working with closely related species.
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4. |
- Romeralo, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Social Amoebae : Environmental Factors Influencing Their Distribution and Diversity Across South-Western Europe
- 2011
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In: Microbial Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0095-3628 .- 1432-184X. ; 61:1, s. 154-165
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The social amoebae (dictyostelids) are the only truly multicellular lineage within the superkingdom Amoebozoa, the sister group to Ophistokonts (Metazoa+Fungi). Despite the exceptional phylogenetic and evolutionary value of this taxon, the environmental factors that determine their distribution and diversity are largely unknown. We have applied statistical modeling to a set of data obtained from an extensive and detailed survey in the south-western of Europe (The Iberian Peninsula including Spain and Portugal) in order to estimate some of the main environmental factors influencing the distribution and diversity of dictyostelid in temperate climates. It is the first time that this methodology is applied to the study of this unique group of soil microorganisms. Our results show that a combination of climatic (temperature, water availability), physical (pH) and vegetation (species richness) factors favor dictyostelid species richness. In the Iberian Peninsula, dictyostelid diversity is highest in colder and wet environments, indicating that this group has likely diversified in relatively cold places with high levels of water availability.
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5. |
- Sheikh, Sanea, et al.
(author)
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A New Classification of the Dictyostelids
- 2018
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In: Protist. - : Elsevier BV. - 1434-4610 .- 1618-0941. ; 169:1, s. 1-28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Traditional morphology-based taxonomy of dictyostelids is rejected by molecular phylogeny. A new classification is presented based on monophyletic entities with consistent and strong molecular phylogenetic support and that are, as far as possible, morphologically recognizable. All newly named clades are diagnosed with small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) sequence signatures plus morphological synapomorphies where possible. The two major molecular clades are given the rank of order, as Acytosteliales ord. nov. and Dictyosteliales. The two major clades within each of these orders are recognized and given the rank of family as, respectively, Acytosteliaceae and Cavenderiaceae fam. nov. in Acytosteliales, and Dictyosteliaceae and Raperosteliaceae fam. nov. in Dictyosteliales. Twelve genera are recognized: Cavenderia gen. nov. in Cavenderiaceae, Acytostelium, Rostrostelium gen. nov. and Heterostelium gen. nov. in Acytosteliaceae, Tieghemostelium gen. nov., Hagiwaraea gen. nov., Raperostelium gen. nov. and Speleostelium gen. nov. in Raperosteliaceae, and Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium in Dictyosteliaceae. The “polycephalum” complex is treated as Coremiostelium gen. nov. (not assigned to family) and the “polycarpum” complex as Synstelium gen. nov. (not assigned to order and family). Coenonia, which may not be a dictyostelid, is treated as a genus incertae sedis. Eighty-eight new combinations are made at species and variety level, and Dictyostelium ammophilum is validated.
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