A Mid-Cretaceous Ectoparasitic Fungus, Spheciophila adercia gen et sp. nov., Attached to a Wasp in Myanmar Amber

Poinar, George

doi:10.4172/2165-8056.1000145

“…Perreau and D. Haelewaters,unpubl. data), and a report we consider spurious by Poinar (2016) of an amber inclusion from Myanmar (around 100 Myo). The hypothesized evolutionary history of these fungi may be inferred from phylogenetic molecular investigations incorporating a molecular clock approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Birth of an order: Comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study excludes Herpomyces (Fungi, Laboulbeniomycetes) from Laboulbeniales

Haelewaters

¹

,

Pfliegler

²

,

Gorczak

³

et al. 2019

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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The class Laboulbeniomycetes comprises biotrophic parasites associated with arthropods and fungi. Two orders are currently recognized, Pyxidiophorales and Laboulbeniales.Herpomyces is an isolated genus of Laboulbeniales, with species that exclusively parasitize cockroaches (Blattodea). Here, we evaluate 39 taxa of Laboulbeniomycetes with a three-locus phylogeny (nrSSU, ITS, nrLSU) and propose a new order in this class. Herpomycetales accommodates a single genus, Herpomyces, with currently 26 species, one of which is described here based on morphological and molecular data. Herpomyces shelfordellae is found on Shelfordella lateralis cockroaches from Hungary, Poland, and the USA. We also build on the six-locus dataset from the Ascomycota Tree of Life paper (Schoch and colleagues, 2009) to confirm that Laboulbeniomycetes and Sordariomycetes are sister classes, and we apply laboulbeniomyceta as a rankless taxon for the now well-resolved node that describes the most recent common ancestor of both classes.

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“…In addition, a fossil member of the Laboulbeniales, which are obligate ectoparasites, has been discovered on the thorax of a fossil stalk-eyed fly (Prosphyracephala succini) in Eocene Baltic amber (Rossi et al 2005). An enigmatic fossil from Myanmar amber, Spheciophila adercia, also attributed to the Laboulbeniales, consists of a thallus with numerous perithecia and antheridia that is attached to the abdominal tergite of a primitive wasp (Poinar 2016b). This author suggests that S. adercia belongs to an extinct lineage because there are no other extant thallus-forming ectoparasitic fungi.…”

Section: Amber Inclusionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism

2021

Topics in Geobiology

18

0

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Fungal parasites are important drivers in ecosystem dynamics today that can have far-reaching effects on the performance and community structure of other organisms. Knowledge of the fossil record and evolution of fungal parasitism is therefore a key component of our understanding of the complexity and functioning of ancient ecosystems. However, the fossil record of fungi as parasites remains exceedingly incomplete for several reasons. This chapter provides selected fossil examples of (putative) fungal parasites in association with land plants, algae, other fungi, and animals, and elucidates the inherent problems that often render interpretation of even the most exquisite fungal fossils difficult. Of all the potential levels of fungal interaction, parasitism is perhaps the most difficult to demonstrate in the fossil record. Different lines of evidence obtained from both the host and fungus are required to safely discriminate parasitic fungi from saprotrophs and even mutualists when examined in fossils.

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Fungi as Parasites: A Conspectus of the Fossil Record

Harper

¹

,

Krings

²

2021

Topics in Geobiology

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Fungal parasites are important drivers in ecosystem dynamics today that can have far-reaching effects on the performance and community structure of other organisms. Knowledge of the fossil record and evolution of fungal parasitism is therefore a key component of our understanding of the complexity and functioning of ancient ecosystems. However, the fossil record of fungi as parasites remains exceedingly incomplete for several reasons. This chapter provides selected fossil examples of (putative) fungal parasites in association with land plants, algae, other fungi, and animals, and elucidates the inherent problems that often render interpretation of even the most exquisite fungal fossils difficult. Of all the potential levels of fungal interaction, parasitism is perhaps the most difficult to demonstrate in the fossil record. Different lines of evidence obtained from both the host and fungus are required to safely discriminate parasitic fungi from saprotrophs and even mutualists when examined in fossils.

show abstract

A Mid-Cretaceous Ectoparasitic Fungus, Spheciophila adercia gen et sp. nov., Attached to a Wasp in Myanmar Amber

Cited by 6 publications

References 12 publications

Birth of an order: Comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study excludes Herpomyces (Fungi, Laboulbeniomycetes) from Laboulbeniales

Birth of an order: Comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study excludes Herpomyces (Fungi, Laboulbeniomycetes) from Laboulbeniales

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism

Fungi as Parasites: A Conspectus of the Fossil Record

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