Ecology of Thelebolus in Antarctic Lakes

G.S. DE HOOG, ; E. GÖTTLICH, ; J.L. ROJAS, ; O. GENILLOUD, ; G. LEOTTA, ; J. VAN BRUMMELEN.

Paris, Francia

Congreso; Congress: IUMS 2002; 2002

An investigation of the biodiversity of some Antarctic lakes revealed that Thelebolus microsporus (Berk. & Br.) Kimbrough was one of the preponderant species. Some strains sporulated on PCA at temperatures below 15°C. The asci found were 8-spored and in part had forcible spore-discharge. T. caninus (Auersw.) Jeng & Krug [= T. psychrophilus (Bergman) Eckblad)], described with 32 spores per ascus, deviated by a point mutation in ITS2. Microsatellite data showed that all strains from Reid are strictly identical, showing the close genetic similarity of adjacent strains. A strain from Organic proved to be different. Strains from Lake Fryxell had a number of ITS changes in ITS1-2; these isolates may represent an undescribed Thelebolus species. The genus Thelebolus is known to combine psychrotolerance with growth on dung and guano, suggesting association with penguins or skuas. Antarctomyces was found to be closely similar on the basis of rDNA ITS data; cold-tolerance apparently is a mainstay in the evolution of Thelebolus and its relatives.