| Title | Environmental filtering and phylogenetic clustering correlate with the distribution patterns of cryptic protist species |
| Abstract | The community composition of any group of organisms should theoretically be determined by a combination of assembly processes including resource partitioning, competition, environmental filtering, and phylogenetic legacy. Environmental DNA studies have revealed a huge diversity of protists in all environments, raising questions about the ecological significance of such diversity and the degree to which they obey to the same rules as macroscopic organisms. The fast-growing cultivable protist species on which hypotheses are usually experimentally tested represent only a minority of the protist diversity. Addressing these questions for the lesser known majority can only be inferred through observational studies. We conducted an environmental DNA survey of the genus Nebela, a group of closely related testate (shelled) amoeba species, in different habitats within Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. Identification based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene, allowed species-level resolution as well as phylogenetic reconstruction. Community composition varied strongly across habitats and associated environmental gradients. Species showed little overlap in their realized niche, suggesting resource partitioning, and a strong influence of environmental filtering driving community composition. Furthermore, phylogenetic clustering was observed in the most nitrogen-poor samples, supporting phylogenetic inheritance of adaptations in the group of N. guttata. This study showed that the studied free-living unicellular eukaryotes follow to community assembly rules similar to those known to determine plant and animal communities; the same may be true for much of the huge functional and taxonomic diversity of protists. |
| Source | Ecology (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.) 99, pp. 904–914 |
| Keywords | Environmental filteringNearest Taxon IndexNiche partitioningPhylogenetic clustering/over-dispersionSphagnum-dominated peatlandsUncultivable protists |
| Journal | Ecology (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.) |
| Editor | Brooklyn Botanical Garden,, Brooklyn, NY, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2018 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1002/ecy.2161 |
| Authors | Singer, David; Kosakyan, Anush; Kosakyan, Anush; Kosakyan, Anush; Seppey, Christophe V.W.; Seppey, Christophe V.W.; Pillonel, Amandine; Fernández, Leonardo D.; Fernández, Leonardo D.; Fernández, Leonardo D.; Fontaneto, Diego; Mitchell, Edward A.D.; Mitchell, Edward A.D.; Lara, Enrique; Lara, Enrique |
| Text | 385972 2018 10.1002/ecy.2161 Scopus 2 s2.0 85044272932 ISI Web of Science WOS 000428878200015 Environmental filtering Nearest Taxon Index Niche partitioning Phylogenetic clustering/over dispersion Sphagnum dominated peatlands Uncultivable protists Environmental filtering and phylogenetic clustering correlate with the distribution patterns of cryptic protist species Singer, David; Kosakyan, Anush; Kosakyan, Anush; Kosakyan, Anush; Seppey, Christophe V.W.; Seppey, Christophe V.W.; Pillonel, Amandine; Fernandez, Leonardo D.; Fernandez, Leonardo D.; Fernandez, Leonardo D.; Fontaneto, Diego; Mitchell, Edward A.D.; Mitchell, Edward A.D.; Lara, Enrique; Lara, Enrique Universidade de Sao Paulo USP; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Universitetet i Tromso; University of Concepcion; ; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ; The community composition of any group of organisms should theoretically be determined by a combination of assembly processes including resource partitioning, competition, environmental filtering, and phylogenetic legacy. Environmental DNA studies have revealed a huge diversity of protists in all environments, raising questions about the ecological significance of such diversity and the degree to which they obey to the same rules as macroscopic organisms. The fast growing cultivable protist species on which hypotheses are usually experimentally tested represent only a minority of the protist diversity. Addressing these questions for the lesser known majority can only be inferred through observational studies. We conducted an environmental DNA survey of the genus Nebela, a group of closely related testate shelled amoeba species, in different habitats within Sphagnum dominated peatlands. Identification based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene, allowed species level resolution as well as phylogenetic reconstruction. Community composition varied strongly across habitats and associated environmental gradients. Species showed little overlap in their realized niche, suggesting resource partitioning, and a strong influence of environmental filtering driving community composition. Furthermore, phylogenetic clustering was observed in the most nitrogen poor samples, supporting phylogenetic inheritance of adaptations in the group of N. guttata. This study showed that the studied free living unicellular eukaryotes follow to community assembly rules similar to those known to determine plant and animal communities; the same may be true for much of the huge functional and taxonomic diversity of protists. 99 Published version https //esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ecy.2161 singer 2018_Ecology_Singer et al.pdf Articolo in rivista Brooklyn Botanical Garden, 0012 9658 Ecology Brooklyn, New York, N.Y. Ecology Brooklyn, New York, N.Y. Ecol. Brooklyn, New York, N.Y. Ecology. Brooklyn, New York, N.Y. diego.fontaneto FONTANETO DIEGO |
