title: Long-distance dispersal and recolonization of a fire-destroyed niche by a mite-associated fungus.
abstract: The Fynbos Biome in the Core Cape Subregion of South Africa is prone to recurrent fires that can clear vast areas of vegetation. Between periods of fire, ophiostomatoid fungi colonize the fruiting structures of serotinous Protea species through arthropod-mediated dispersal. Using microsatellite markers, this study considered the process whereby a Protea-associated ophiostomatoid fungus, Knoxdaviesia proteae, recolonizes a burnt area. The genetic diversity, composition and structure of fungal populations from young P. repens plants in a recently burnt area were compared to populations from the adjacent, unburnt Protea population. The only difference between K. proteae populations from the two areas was found in the number of private alleles, which was significantly higher in the unburnt population. The population structure, although weak, indicated that most K. proteae individuals from recently burnt areas originated from the unburnt population. However, individuals from unsampled source populations were also detected. This, together with the lack of isolation-by-distance across the landscape, suggested that long-distance dispersal is important for K. proteae to recolonize burnt areas. Similarly, the high level of gene flow and low differentiation observed between two distantly separated K. proteae populations also supported the existence of long-distance dispersal. The genetic cohesiveness of populations over long distances and the genetic diversity within populations could be attributed to frequent multiple fungal migration events mediated primarily by arthropods but, potentially, also by birds.
authors: Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. Electronic address: janneke@sun.ac.za.
authors: Janneke
authors: J
authors: Aylward
authors: Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors: Léanne L
authors: LL
authors: Dreyer
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors: Emma T
authors: ET
authors: Steenkamp
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Wingfield
authors: Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors: Francois
authors: F
authors: Roets
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D001717:Birds; D005390:Fires; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008925:Mites / Q000382:microbiology*; D039105:Proteaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D013019:South Africa
keywords: Fynbos; Knoxdaviesia; Ophiostomatoid; Recolonize