HOST PARASITE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FRESHWATER PHYTOPLANKTON AND CHYTRID FUNGI (CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA)1

Some chytrids are host‐specific parasiticfungithat may have a considerable impact on phytoplankton dynamics. The phylum Chytridiomycota contains one class, the Chytridiomycetes, and is composed of five different orders. Molecular studies now firmly place the Chytridiomycota within the fungal kingdom. Chytrids are characterized by having zoospores, a motile stage in their life cycle. Zoospores are attracted to the host cell by specific signals. No single physical–chemical factor has been found that fully explains the dynamics of chytrid epidemics in the field. Fungal periodicity was primarily related to host cell density. The absence of aggregated distributions of chytrids on their hosts suggested that their hosts did not vary in their susceptibility to infection. A parasite can only become epidemic when it grows faster than the host. Therefore, it has been suggested that epidemics in phytoplankton populations arise when growth conditions for the host are unfavorable. No support for such a generalization was found, however. Growth of the parasitic fungus Rhizophydium planktonicum Canter emend, parasitic on the diatom Asterionella formosa Hassal, was reduced under stringent nutrient limitation,because production and infectivity of zoospores were affected negatively. A moderate phosphorous or light limitation favored epidemic development, however. Chytrid infections have been shown to affect competition between their algal hosts and in this way altered phytoplankton succession. There is potential for coevolution between Asterionella and the chytrid Zygorhizidium planktonicum Canter based on clear reciprocal fitness costs, absence of overall infective parasite strains, and possibly a genetic basis for host susceptibility and parasite infectivity.     

Maullinia ectocarpii gen. et sp. nov. (Plasmodiophorea), an Intracellular Parasite in Ectocarpus siliculosus (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) and other Filamentous Brown Algae

An obligate intracellular parasite infecting Ectocarpus spp. and other filamentous marine brown algae is described. The pathogen forms an unwalled multinucleate syncytium (plasmodium) within the host cell cytoplasm and causes hypertrophy. Cruciform nuclear divisions occur during early development. Mature plasmodia become transformed into single sporangia, filling the host cell completely, and then cleave into several hundred spores. The spores are motile with two unequal, whiplash-type flagella inserted subapically and also show amoeboid movement. Upon settlement, cysts with chitinous walls are formed. Infection of host cells is accomplished by means of an adhesorium and a stachel apparatus penetrating the host cell wall, and injection of the cyst content into the host cell cytoplasm. The parasite is characterized by features specific for the plasmodiophorids and is described as a new genus and species, Maullinia ectocarpii.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel chytrid species (phylum Blastocladiomycota), parasitic on the green alga Haematococcus

A parasite was found in cultures of the green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis that grew epibiotically on algal cells and caused epidemics resulting in damage to the host cultures. The parasite was isolated into axenic culture on solid and liquid media. It was demonstrated to be the sole causative agent of the epidemics. According to its life cycle and phylogenetic analysis based on 18S ribosomal DNA sequences, the pathogen appears to represent a novel chytrid fungus closely related to the vascular plant pathogen Physoderma (Blastocladiomycota), although it differs from all other known chytrids by its infective stage, a wall-less propagule endowed with amoeboid motion and lacking the group's typical flagellum.     

Phylogenetic relationships between the slave‐making ants Rossomyrmex and their Proformica hosts in relation to other genera of the ant tribe Formicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The ant genus Proformica is very common to Eurasian semi‐deserts, and a few species are parasitized by the slave‐making ants Rossomyrmex. However, the phylogenetic relationship between Proformica (host) and Rossomyrmex (parasite) remains unclear as another closely related genus (Cataglyphis) could be a sister group of Rossomyrmex. This work has two main goals: (i) to study the phylogenetic relationships among Proformica, Rossomyrmex, and other genera of the tribe Formicini, with a special focus on the highly diverse genus Cataglyphis; and (ii) to reconstruct the biogeographical distribution of parasite and host genera. We perform a phylogenetic study for the first time including several species of the genera Rossomyrmex, Proformica, and Cataglyphis. Our results indicate that Proformica and Rossomyrmex are reciprocally monophyletic and that Rossomyrmex is nested within Cataglyphis, rendering the latter paraphyletic. Finally, the ancestral distribution range of the host genus could be situated in Central Asia and subsequently dispersed to Western Europe, whereas additional studies are required to clarify the range of the parasite.     

Observations on chytridiaceous parasites of Phanerogams

Summary A reexamination of Physoderma maculare Wallroth the type species of the genus, on Alisma, confirms Clinton's (1902) account of the production of an epibiotic stage from resting spore zoospores. The latter on mature host tissue may also give rise to the endobiotic stage which bears resting spores. On seedlings, however, resting spore zoospores produce only epibiotic sporangia. The fungus could not successfully infect Sagittaria, a closely related host.Contribution No. 1152     

Venom volatiles of the paper wasp social parasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polistes sulcifer</Emphasis> elicit intra-colonial aggression on the nest of the host species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polistes dominulus</Emphasis>

Insect social parasites rely on host workers to rear and protect their own brood. To conquer a host colony, a parasite must overcome the defensive mechanisms of the host, often by exploiting its chemical communication system. A widespread strategy involves the production of specific allomones (the so-called “propaganda pheromones”) to facilitate the usurpation process by manipulating the defensive behavior of the host. Polistes sulcifer is the obligate and permanent social parasite of the congeneric paper wasp Polistes dominulus. In this study, we investigated if the venom volatiles, well known to be alarm pheromones in the host species, could be used by the parasite to manipulate the host defense. We thus performed laboratory bioassays, to evaluate the possible effect of the venom volatile compounds of the parasite on the host. Our results show that host colony members reacted to the venom volatiles extract of the parasite with an increase in intra-colonial aggression compared to the reaction induced by the venom volatiles extract of the host foundress. Besides, a re-analysis of previously published chemical data showed that the parasite venom volatiles profile differs from that of the host: the spiroacetals are absent, whilst the amides are very abundant in the parasite venom when compared with that of the host. Similar to other insect social parasites, Polistes wasp parasites might be able to increase their invasion success by using venom volatile pheromones to distract the host defenders.     

Phylogenetic affiliation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choiromyces magnusii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. venosus Tuberaceae Ascomycota</Emphasis>) from Spain

The only two species of Choiromyces collected up to now in Spain, C. venosus and C. magnusii, were studied with both morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic inference of nrDNA ITS and LSU sequences showed that they should be considered independent species in the genus Choiromyces. Choiromyces venosus is a hypogeous fungus, infrequent but naturally present in the Iberian Peninsula, that is imported into Spain from central Europe without any indication of its origin or proper taxonomic identification. It is usually sold as highly-prized edible species of the genus Tuber such as T. magnatum. Choiromyces magnusii is a more frequent hypogeous fungus in Spain that is commercialized in spring on a local scale together with different species in the genus Terfezia. Additionally, the Australian species Reddellomyces westraliensis, which was introduced with Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations, is cited here for the first time in Spain and Europe.     

Ustilago aldabrensis, a new species from Seychelles, and two other smut fungi on Dactyloctenium

A new smut fungus Ustilago aldabrensis on the grass Dactyloctenium ctenoides is described and illustrated from Aldabra Island in the Seychelles archipelago. It is compared with similar species known on the genus Dactyloctenium. A further two smut fungi infecting this host plant genus, U. dactyloctenii-gigantei and U. idonea are discussed. U. dactyloctenii-gigantei is reported for the first time from Nigeria on a new host plant, D. aegyptium. U. idonea is redescribed, and its nomenclature and geographical distribution are clarified. A key to smut fungi infecting species of Dactyloctenium is provided.     

101 Effect of Karlodinium Micrum Toxin on Success of the Parasitic Dinoflagellate Amoebophyra SP.

Parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Amoebophrya infect and kill bloom‐forming dinoflagellates, including the toxic species Karlodinium micrum. Unlike non‐toxic hosts, K. micrum is partially resistant to infection, a trait that may be related to toxin production. Here we tested the hypothesis that parasitism of K. micrum is inversely related to toxin concentration in the culture medium. Time‐course studies were conducted to determine the influence of extracted toxin and toxin carrier (methanol) on host growth, parasite prevalence, and parasite load. Results indicate that methanol concentrations below 0.1% have no effect on these variables. When methanol concentration was maintained below 0.1%, extracted toxin equivalent to 100 to 10,000 K. micrum per ml had no effect on host abundance. We are currently analyzing sample to assess the fate of Amoebophrya dinospores when exposed to K. micrum toxin. We will also consider the effect of intracellular host toxin on parasite success, by examining the fate of Amoebophrya dinospores when inoculated to K. micrum cultures that express different levels of toxin production. Understanding the effect of toxins on parasite success will contribute to our knowledge of host‐parasite biology and provide insight into the role of dinoflagellate toxins as a defense against parasitism.     

Atkinsiella parasitica sp. nov. isolated from a rotifer,Brachionus plicatilis

A new species ofAtkinsiella (Lagenidiales, Oomycetes),Atkinsiella parasitica is described and illustrated. It was isolated from the eggs and bodies of a rotifer,Brachionus plicatilis, with fungal infection in 1992. The rotifer was reared in a hatchery as the first food supply for seed production of crustaceans and fishes. The fungus is characterized by producing monoplanetic, lateral biflagellate zoospores, and infrequently branched discharge tubes. Optimum temperature for the fungus was 25°C. The fungus was considered an obligate marine fungus, because its growth was observed only on PYGS medium including seawater.     

Host specificity in spinturnicid mites: do parasites share a long evolutionary history with their host?

Host specificity in parasites can be explained by spatial isolation from other potential hosts or by specialization and speciation of specific parasite species. The first assertion is based on allopatric speciation, the latter on differential lifetime reproductive success on different available hosts. We investigated the host specificity and cophylogenetic histories of four sympatric European bat species of the genus Myotis and their ectoparasitic wing mites of the genus Spinturnix. We sampled >40 parasite specimens from each bat species and reconstructed their phylogenetic COI trees to assess host specificity. To test for cospeciation, we compared host and parasite trees for congruencies in tree topologies. Corresponding divergence events in host and parasite trees were dated using the molecular clock approach. We found two species of wing mites to be host specific and one species to occur on two unrelated hosts. Host specificity cannot be explained by isolation of host species, because we found individual parasites on other species than their native hosts. Furthermore, we found no evidence for cospeciation, but for one host switch and one sorting event. Host‐specific wing mites were several million years younger than their hosts. Speciation of hosts did not cause speciation in their respective parasites, but we found that diversification of recent host lineages coincided with a lineage split in some parasites.     

Monilinia jezoensis sp. nov. in the Sclerotiniaceae, causing leaf blight and mummy fruit disease of Rhododendron kaempferi in Hokkaido, northern Japan

A new leaf blight and mummy fruit disease caused by a species of Monilinia was first found on Rhododendron kaempferi at the lakeside of Shikotsu-ko, Hokkaido, northern Japan, in 2002. Studies on morphology, life cycle, cultural characters, and gene analyses of the causal fungus enabled us to conclude that it is a new species of the genus. It is named M. jezoensis. Rhododendron is a new host genus for Monilinia fungi in Japan.     

Pleurovularia, a new genus of hyphomycetes proposed for a parasite on leaves of Microstegium sp. (Poaceae)

The hyphomycete Ovularia polliniae, formerly excluded from Ramularia and allied genera and tentatively considered as related to Beniowskia sphaeroidea, was recently collected on leaves of the grass Microstegium sp. in Taiwan. Based on studies with light and transmission electron microscopy, O. polliniae was redescribed. Using type specimens, the taxonomic status of both fungal species was reevaluated. In O. polliniae, the conidiophores emerge directly through the outer cell wall of the host epidermis. They are either sparsely branched at the base or simple and composed of verruculose intercalary and terminal conidiogenous cells that produce conidia through minute, slightly darkened scars. The conidia are solitary, one-celled, obovoid, hyaline, smooth, and often have a large vacuole. By the combination of these characteristics, this fungus differs from similar species of Beniowskia, Ramularia, and Ramulariopsis. The new genus Pleurovularia and the new combination Pleurovularia polliniae are proposed to accommodate this parasite on Microstegium. Received: May 24, 2001 / Accepted: September 3, 2001     

An ant social parasite in-between two chemical disparate host species

Host-parasite coevolution shapes the structure of communities and simultaneously the traits of the interacting species. Social parasites developed sophisticated chemical integration strategies to circumvent host defences. Here, we show that the two Leptothorax host species of the obligate social parasite Harpagoxenus sublaevis exhibit extremely divergent chemical profiles, making it nearly impossible for this parasite to closely adapt to both hosts at once. Our cuticular hydrocarbon analyses demonstrate that H. sublaevis acquires some host chemicals passively, but additionally, actively biosyntheses some host hydrocarbons. The parasite adjusts thereby more closely to its smaller host, L. muscorum, because it actively produces two of its cuticular substances and also more easily acquires the short-chained hydrocarbons of this host. Community composition analyses indicate that the social parasite overexploits this chemical closer host species and, albeit costly for the parasite, frequently enslaves workers of the second host concurrently.     

Morfologia di Neobarclaya Natalensis Syd.

Summary

The morphology of Neobarclaya natalensis Syd., parasite on the leaves of Syzigium guineense DC., is described. Some characters are esp. stressed, such as the shape of the acervula, their position within the host tissues, some morphological peculiarities of the conidia, the nature and localization of their pigment.

Considerations on the systematic position of the fungus are exposed and the original diagnosis of J. B. Ellis and B. M. Everhart is enlarged and emendated.

Some morphological relations between the fungus under examination and the genera, esp. Melanconiales, showing dark, pluriseptate, appendaged conidia, are discussed.

Systematical and morphological considerations are then reported on the other two species of the genus Neobarclaya Sacc.: N. primaria (Ell. and Ev.) Sacc. and N. flagellifera (Ell. and Ev.) Sacc., the first of which is to be considered as the type species of the genus and the second one, due to its single apical seta, is segregated from Neobarclaya as the type species of a new genus of Melanconiales: Uniseta, which is different from Neobarclaya because of the above mentioned character, from Monochaetia Sacc. because of its 2-cellular conidia and from Monotrichum Gaüm. because of the dark pigment present in its conidia.     

Virulence and competitive ability in an obligately killing parasite

Mixed infections are thought to have a major influence on the evolution of parasite virulence. During a mixed infection, higher within‐host parasite growth is favored under the assumption that it is critical to the competitive success of the parasite. As within‐host parasite growth may also increase damage to the host, a positive correlation is predicted between virulence and competitive success. However, when parasites must kill their hosts in order be transmitted, parasites may spend energy on directly attacking their host, even at the cost of their within‐host growth. In such systems, a negative correlation between virulence and competitive success may arise. We examined virulence and competitive ability in three sympatric species of obligately killing nematode parasites in the genus Steinernema. These nematodes exist in a mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria in the genus Xenorhabdus. Together the nematodes and their bacteria kill the insect host soon after infection, with reproduction of both species occurring mainly after host death. We found significant differences among the three nematode species in the speed of host killing. The nematode species with the lowest and highest levels of virulence were associated with the same species of Xenorhabdus, indicating that nematode traits, rather than the bacterial symbionts, may be responsible for the differences in virulence. In mixed infections, host mortality rate closely matched that associated with the more virulent species, and the more virulent species was found to be exclusively transmitted from the majority of coinfected hosts. Thus, despite the requirement of rapid host death, virulence appears to be positively correlated with competitive success in this system. These findings support a mechanistic link between parasite growth and both anti‐competitor and anti‐host factors.     

Can infection by eugregarine parasites mediate species coexistence in Calopteryx damselflies?

1. Parasitism may be an important factor determining the coexistence of closely related species. Although host–parasite interactions can affect the ecology and distribution of the host species, virtually nothing is known about how other interspecific interactions affecting the host, such as competition or predation, relate to the parasite burden of the host. 2. We studied parasite‐mediated competition between two closely related Calopteryx damselflies, C. virgo L. and C. splendens Harris. We investigated a total of 31 populations, including 18 allopatric and 13 sympatric populations. We measured the occurrence of gut parasites, eugregarines. 3. We found that the prevalence of gregarines was higher in C. virgo than in C. splendens. On average, more than half of the C. virgo individuals were infected by eugregarines both in allopatric and sympatric populations. However, hardly any allopatric C. splendens populations had gregarines, but most of sympatric populations had infected individuals. 4. According to our results, co‐existence of the host species affects the likelihood of the subordinate species showing higher levels of parasitism. Interspecific aggression, lower species genetic heterozygosity, and the difference in host species immunity are proposed as possible explanations for greater parasite burdens in the inferior species at sympatric sites.     

The evolution of social parasitism in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acromyrmex</Emphasis> leaf-cutting ants: a test of Emery’s rule

Summary Emerys rule predicts that social parasites and their hosts share common ancestry and are therefore likely to be close relatives. Within the leaf-cutting ant genus Acromyrmex, two taxa of social parasites have been found, which are thought to occupy opposite grades of permanent social parasitism, based on their contrasting morphologies: Acromyrmex insinuator differs little in morphology from its free-living congeneric host species and produces a worker caste, and is thus thought to represent an early grade of social parasitism. At the other extreme, Pseudoatta spp. exhibit a very specialised morphology and lack a worker caste, both of which are characteristics of an evolutionarily derived grade of social parasitism. Here we present a molecular phylogeny using partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and II of about half of the known Acromyrmex species including two social parasites, their hosts and all congeneric species occurring sympatrically. We show that the two inquiline parasites represent two separate origins of social parasitism in the genus Acromyrmex. The early-grade social parasite A. insinuator is highly likely to be the sister species of its host Acromyrmex echinator, but the derived social parasite Pseudoatta sp. is not the sister species of its extant host Acromyrmex rugosus.Received 18 November 2002; revised 16 July 2003; accepted 24 July 2003.     

Bambusicolous fungi in Japan (7): a new coelomycetous genus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Versicolorisporium</Emphasis>

A new genus, Versicolorisporium, is established for the coelomycetous fungus collected in Japan on dead culms of the bamboos Pleioblastus chino and Sasamorpha borealis. The type species of the genus, V. triseptatum, is characterized by the production of holoblastic, 3-septate, obovoid, versicolored conidia. Versicolorisporium is similar to Toxosporiella, Neohendersonia, Toxosporiopsis, and Scolicosporium in having versicolored conidia, but differs from these genera by the uniloculate pycnidial conidiomata with a periphysate ostiole, lacking paraphyses, and the conidia without black-banded septa. A BLAST search using LSU nrDNA sequence indicates that the new genus is a member of Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes.     

Fitness consequences of nest infiltration by the mutualist‐exploiter Megalomyrmex adamsae

1. Fungus‐growing ants are obligate mutualists. Their nutrient‐rich fungus garden provides a valuable food store that sustains the ant hosts, but can also attract social parasites. 2. The ‘guest ant' Megalomyrmex adamsae Longino parasitises the fungus‐growing Trachymyrmex zeteki Weber queen just after nest founding. The parasitic queen infiltrates the incipient nest, builds a cavity in the fungal garden, and lays eggs that develop into workers and reproductive males and females. 3. This study compared young parasitised and non‐parasitised laboratory colonies by measuring garden growth and biomass, and the number of host workers and reproductives. Host queen survival and parasite colony growth were also monitored. 4. Parasitised Trachymyrmex colonies had reduced host worker and alate numbers, as well as lower garden biomass, compared with non‐parasitised control colonies, confirming that M. adamsae is a xenobiotic social parasite. Host queen survival was not significantly different between parasitised and control colonies. 5. This is the first study that experimentally infects host colonies with a xenobiotic social parasite to measure fitness cost to the host. The natural history of M. adamsae and the fungus‐growing ant mutualism are evaluated in the context of three general predictions of (Bronstein, Ecology Letters, 4 , 277–287, 2001a) regarding the cost of mutualism exploiters.