title: New findings of Neurospora in Europe and comparisons of diversity in temperate climates on continental scales.
abstract: The life cycles of the conidiating species of Neurospora are adapted to respond to fire, which is reflected in their natural history. Neurospora is found commonly on burned vegetation from the tropic and subtropical regions around the world and through the temperate regions of western North America. In temperate Europe it was unknown whether Neurospora would be as common as it is in North America because it has been reported only occasionally. In 2003 and 2004 a multinational effort surveyed wildfire sites in southern Europe. Neurospora was found commonly from southern Portugal and Spain (37 degrees N) to Switzerland (46 degrees N). Species collected included N. crassa, N. discreta, N. sitophila and N. tetrasperma. The species distribution and spatial dynamics of Neurospora populations showed both similarities and differences when compared between temperate Europe and western North America, both regions of similar latitude, climate and vegetation. For example the predominant species in western North America, N. discreta phylogenetic species 4B, is common but not predominant in Europe, whereas species rare in western North America, N. crassa NcB and N. sitophila, are much more common in Europe. The meiotic drive element Spore killer was also common in European populations of N. sitophila and at a higher proportion than anywhere else in the world. The methods by which organisms spread and adapt to new environments are fundamental ecosystem properties, yet they are little understood. The differences in regional diversity, reported here, can form the basis of testable hypotheses. Questions of phylogeography and adaptations can be addressed specifically by studying Neurospora in nature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020, USA. djjacob@stanford.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Jeremy R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dettman
authors.forename: Rachel I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boesl
authors.forename: Shahana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roenneberg
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merrow
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ushakova
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Videira
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Navarro-Sampedro
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olmedo
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Corrochano
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D002980:Climate; D005060:Europe; D005390:Fires; D005843:Geography; D009491:Neurospora / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics