What’s on your boots: an investigation into the role we play in protist dispersal

Abstract

D. M. Wilkinson (2010, Journal of Biogeography, 37, 393–397) suggested that anthropogenic dispersal is an understudied and potentially important factor in terrestrial protist biogeography. We investigated human footwear as a potential vector of dictyostelids, a diverse group of amoebae that includes both geographically restricted and cosmopolitan species. Eighteen pairs of boots were examined and dictyostelids were isolated from nearly all samples larger than 5.0 g. In total, six dictyostelid isolates were recovered, corresponding to four species –Dictyostelium minutum, D. sphaerocephalum, D. leptosomopsis and a new species, Polysphondylium sp. 1. Myxogastrid amoebae and acrasid‐like aggregations were also observed. Thus anthropogenic dispersal of naked amoebae appears to occur. The possible role of variations in dictyostelid fruiting body morphologies in dispersal potential is also discussed. These results support Wilkinson’s proposal and suggest that dictyostelids may be a useful group with which to study anthropogenic dispersal of terrestrial protists.

Holarctic phylogeography of the testate amoeba Hyalosphenia papilio (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida) reveals extensive genetic diversity explained more by environment than dispersal limitation

“…In addition, animals, including humans, represent potential vectors for the dispersal of protists (Foissner ; Perrigo et al . ). Dispersal limitations in terrestrial protists likely relate to the population size of a species, the ability to form resting cysts, the size of the test (if present) and the spectrum of ecological tolerances (Finlay & Fenchel ; Mitchell & Meisterfeld ; Foissner ; Lara et al .…”

“…Although dispersal mechanisms in protists remain poorly understood, wind is thought to be one of the main agents for the dispersal of terrestrial testate amoeba (Wilkinson 2001). In addition, animals, including humans, represent potential vectors for the dispersal of protists (Foissner 2006;Perrigo et al 2012). Dispersal limitations in terrestrial protists likely relate to the population size of a species, the ability to form resting cysts, the size of the test (if present) and the spectrum of ecological tolerances (Finlay & Fenchel 2004;Mitchell & Meisterfeld 2005;Foissner 2008;Lara et al 2011).…”

Additional new species suggest high dictyostelid diversity on Madagascar

“…The species of Heterostelium from Madagascar do not form a monophyletic group, indicating that these species or their ancestors dispersed to and/or from the island many times. This is feasible, as dictyostelids are known to be transported by fruit flies, invertebrates, ground vertebrates, migratory songbirds, and even humans (Suthers 1985;Huss 1989;Stephenson and Landolt 1992;Perrigo et al 2012;Smith et al 2014). They have also been shown to be dispersed in fresh water over short distances (O'Dell 1979).…”

The impact of tourists on Antarctic tardigrades: an ordination-based model

“…There is indisputable evidence for human mediated transport of terrestrial meiofauna that is increasingly being documented (Wilkinson, 2010;Perrigo et al, 2012). Within the Antarctic, accidental importation of soils attached to machinery has also been reported (Hughes et al, 2010) prompting assessment of the current management protocols for dealing with non-native introductions (Hughes and Convey, 2012).…”