Invariant properties of mycobiont‐photobiont networks in Antarctic lichens
Abstract Aim Lichens are often regarded as paradigms of mutualistic relationships. However, it is still poorly known how lichen‐forming fungi and their photosynthetic partners interact at a community scale. We explored the structure of fungus‐alga networks of interactions in lichen communities along...
Published in: | Global Ecology and Biogeography |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2023
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.13744 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/geb.13744 |
Summary: | Abstract Aim Lichens are often regarded as paradigms of mutualistic relationships. However, it is still poorly known how lichen‐forming fungi and their photosynthetic partners interact at a community scale. We explored the structure of fungus‐alga networks of interactions in lichen communities along a latitudinal transect in continental Antarctica. We expect these interactions to be highly specialized and, consequently, networks with low nestedness degree and high modularity. Location Transantarctic Mountains from 76° S to 85° S (continental Antarctica). Time Period Present. Major Taxa Studied Seventy‐seven species of lichen‐forming fungi and their photobionts. Methods DNA barcoding of photobionts using nrITS data was conducted in 756 lichen specimens from five regions along the Transantarctic Mountains. We built interaction networks for each of the five studied regions and a metaweb for the whole area. We explored the specialization of both partners using the number of partners a species interacts with and the specialization parameter d' . Network architecture parameters such as nestedness, modularity and network specialization parameter H 2 ' were studied in all networks and contrasted through null models. Finally, we measured interaction turnover along the latitudinal transect. Results We recovered a total of 842 interactions. Differences in specialization between partners were not statistically significant. Fungus‐alga interaction networks showed high specialization and modularity, as well as low connectance and nestedness. Despite the large turnover in interactions occurring among regions, network parameters were not correlated with latitude. Main Conclusions The interaction networks established between fungi and algae in saxicolous lichen communities in continental Antarctica showed invariant properties along the latitudinal transect. Rewiring is an important driver of interaction turnover along the transect studied. Future work should answer whether the patterns observed in our study are prevalent in ... |
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