On the move: sloths and their epibionts as model mobile ecosystems

Kaup, Maya; Trull, Sam; Hom, Erik F. Y.

doi:10.1111/brv.12773

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 195 publications

(293 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the fungal communities could have a more complex relationship with the green algae in addition to the previously assigned role as moth decomposer in sloth fur [1]. Our results suggest that the green algae that inhabit the fur of sloths possibly live lichenized with Ascomycota fungal species, an idea that has also been suggested by Kaup et al [32].…”

supporting

confidence: 79%

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Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding

Rojas‐Gätjens¹,

Avey-Arroyo²,

Chaverri

et al. 2023

Microbiology

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Sloths have dense fur on which insects, algae, bacteria and fungi coexist. Previous studies using cultivation-dependent methods and 18S rRNA sequencing revealed that the fungal communities in their furs comprise members of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. In this note, we increase the resolution and knowledge of the mycobiome inhabiting the fur of the two- (Choloepus hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths. Targeted amplicon metagenomic analysis of ITS2 nrDNA sequences obtained from 10 individuals of each species inhabiting the same site revealed significant differences in the structure of their fungal communities and also in the alpha-diversity estimators. The results suggest a specialization by host species and that the host effect is stronger than that of sex, age and animal weight. Capnodiales were the dominant order in sloths’ fur and Cladosporium and Neodevriesia were the most abundant genera in Bradypus and Choloepus, respectively. The fungal communities suggest that the green algae that inhabit the fur of sloths possibly live lichenized with Ascomycota fungal species. The data shown in this note offer a more detailed view of the fungal content in the fur of these extraordinary animals and could help explain other mutualistic relationships in this complex ecosystem.

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supporting

confidence: 79%

“…Our results suggest that the green algae that inhabit the fur of sloths possibly live lichenized with Ascomycota fungal species, an idea that has also been suggested by Kaup et al . [32].…”

Section: Full-textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding

Rojas‐Gätjens¹,

Avey-Arroyo²,

Chaverri

et al. 2023

Microbiology

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“…SMP harbors notable examples. The unusual pelage of the two-fingered (Choloepus spp., Choloepodidae) and three-fingered (Bradypus spp., Bradypodidae) sloths maintains a large community of epibionts including fungi, Cyanobacteria, algae, beetles that feed upon the algae and moths whose larvae consume the sloth dung; birds consumed some of such insects (Kaup et al, 2021). Tank epiphytes are another example: their rosette stores water and generate a micro-ecosystem.…”

Section: Microclimate Microcosms and Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biophysical and Biocultural Upheavals in Mesoamerica, a Conservation Perspective: Mountains, Maize-Milpa, and Globalization

Castillo

2022

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Three upheavals shaped southern Mexico to Panama (SMP) biodiversity: 1. The Great American Interchange that allowed migrations between the Neotropical and the Nearctic biogeographic realms; 2. human colonization with the generation of Mesoamerican cultures; and 3. the Spaniards’ arrival and globalization.Tectonic events generated a narrow piece of land with steep topography and high environmental heterogeneity, demanding high levels of local adaptation. Habitat size is usually restricted and reduced by frequent disturbances. Topography imposes few options for individuals forced to displace. Thus, extinction risks should be unusually high. Humans initiated an ongoing defaunation process and introduced the maize and the milpa, an itinerant maize-based slash-and-burn polyculture, which depends on revegetation to re-establish soil fertility. Also, the milpa is a most important pre-Hispanic legacy, a biocultural and landrace reservoir actively affecting landscape configuration, succession, soil development, and the genetic architecture of the species. Unprecedented human epidemics and soil, biodiversity, and culture erosion followed behind the Spanish aftermath and the subsequent globalization. > 63 million people and ≈100 ethnic groups inhabit SMP in 2020, which, with the biota, share the same problems of climate change, disturbance, and acculturation. SMP has been the scenario of severe climate change, fastest and deadliest extinction events (amphibians), a most spectacular exotic-species invasion (Africanized honeybees), and accelerated deforestation, defaunation, and acculturation. Biocultural conflicts between native and non-native people are globalization byproducts and sources of habitat destruction and species decline. Bottom-up initiatives are likely the best option for conservation in indigenous areas, whereas honest (i.e., with truly conservation intentions) top-down initiatives are helpful if the affected people are considered subjects (no objects) of conservation plans. We suggest some unique areas requiring conservation attention and analyzed current conservation initiatives. Not a single initiative is best suited for all conservation needs in SMP. Protection of all successional stages is critical for resilience and revegetation. Conservation of the milpa system (crop fields and subsequent fallows) is an optimal option for minimizing tradeoffs between conservation and people needs and safeguarding traditional culture and local landraces but is limited to areas with indigenous people and may not work for species with large home ranges.

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“…Organisms with simpler structures, such as sponges and corals, exhibit a tissue-embedded association with cyanobacteria, while associations with vertebrates are mostly superficial, occurring on the animal’s surface (Mutalipassi et al 2021). It’s noteworthy that mutualistic connections between vertebrates and algae are relatively rare, with notable exceptions, such as the co-evolution of sloths with algae and cyanobacteria, resulting in a distinctive epizoic sloth associated photosynthetic community on their fur (Kaup et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growing older, growing more diverse: sea turtles and epibiotic cyanobacteria

Kanjer,

Filek,

Mucko

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Cyanobacteria are known for forming associations with various animals, including sea turtles, yet our understanding of sea turtles associated cyanobacteria remains limited. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the diversity of cyanobacteria in biofilm samples from loggerhead sea turtle carapaces, utilizing a 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing approach. The predominant cyanobacterial order identified wasNodosilineales, with the genusRhodoplocahaving highest relative abundance. Our results suggest that cyanobacterial communities became more diverse as sea turtles age as we had found a positive correlation between community diversity and the length of a sea turtle's carapace. Since larger and older turtles predominantly utilize neritic habitats, the shift to more diverse cyanobacterial community aligned with a shift in loggerheads habitat. Our research provided detailed insights into the cyanobacterial communities associated with loggerhead sea turtles, establishing a foundation for future studies delving into this fascinating ecological relationship and its potential implications for sea turtle conservation.

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On the move: sloths and their epibionts as model mobile ecosystems

Cited by 13 publications

References 195 publications

Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding

Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding

Biophysical and Biocultural Upheavals in Mesoamerica, a Conservation Perspective: Mountains, Maize-Milpa, and Globalization

Growing older, growing more diverse: sea turtles and epibiotic cyanobacteria

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