Revisiting the aquatic phycomycete biota of the Douglas Lake region since the time of Dogma and Sparrow | CU Experts

Fredrick K. Sparrow and his students, including Irineo J. Dogma, conducted many surveys of the aquatic phycomycete biota of the Douglas Lake region in Michigan, United States of America. Following the tradition of Sparrow and Dogma, we undertook an inventory of the aquatic phycomycete biota of the Douglas Lake region with an emphasis on Chytridiomycota. Cognizant of the difficulties of relying solely on light microscopy, we used a combination of light microscopy, culturing, and single cell techniques. We observed a total of 42 taxa. We successfully cultured Terramycetaceae sp., Physocladia obscura, and Rhizoclosmatium globosum. Using single cell techniques, we obtained molecular sequence data for Rhopalophlyctis sarcoptoides, Rhizophydium echinocystoides and an unidentified parasite of Desmidium. Our inferred maximum likelihood phylogeny placed Rhopalophlyctis sarcoptoides in the Chytridales as sister to Chytriomyces hyalinus. Rhizophydium echinocystoides was placed in the Rhizophydiales but did not group with the type of the genus. The unidentified parasite of Desmidium surprisingly grouped with members of Synchytrium. Our results provide a pilot study for demonstrating how light microscopy, culturing, and single cell techniques to obtain molecular sequences of chytrid taxa could be used to create a local aquatic fungal inventory based on molecular techniques, discover novel taxa, and potentially revise current taxonomy.

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