Effects of fungivory by two specialist ciid beetles (Octotemnus glabriculus and Cis boleti) on the reproductive fitness of their host fungus, Coriolus versicolor

Abstract

On the basis of the evidence that insect fungivory has the potential to affect fungal reproductive fitness, we investigated the effects of two specialist ciid beetles (Octotemnus glabriculus and Cis boleti) on the reproductive potential of their host fungus, Coriolus versicolor. We found, from field data, a negative correlation between the number of individuals of O. glabriculus inhabiting C. versicolor fruit bodies and the percentage of the fungal spore‐producing surface (hymenium) that was functional. By contrast, the number of C. boleti inhabiting C. versicolor fruit bodies did not correlate with the percentage of functional hymenium. Experimentally, O. glabriculus and C. boleti reduced the reproductive potential of C. versicolor by 58% and 30%, respectively, whereas the combined trophic activity of both beetles caused a reduction of 64%. This latter effect was not significantly different from that caused by O. glabriculus alone. These findings disagree with previous assertions that insect fungivory on fruit bodies has only neutral effects on fungal fitness. We conclude that in the short‐term, fungivory by ciids significantly decreases the area of functional hymenium of C. versicolor and is likely to reduce fungal reproductive fitness. Within this perspective the evolution of certain fungal characteristics (i.e. chemical composition, consistency and phenology) can be interpreted as being driven by fungivory.

Electrophysiological responses of four fungivorous coleoptera to volatiles of Trametes versicolor: implications for host selection

“…For the fungivore Cisidae it has been hypothesized that two main fractions of fungal volatiles may play an important role in host selection: C 8 -compounds and terpenoids (Fäldt et al 1999;Guevara et al 2000b). Thakoew et al (2008) demonstrated 1-octene-3-ol to be a key cue for host finding in C. boleti.…”

“…Additional investigations involved the cisid species Sulcacis affinis associated with the same fungus and the tenebrionid species Diaperis boleti, mainly found on Fomitopsis pinicola and Laetiporus sulphureus (Scheerpeltz and Höfler 1948;Benick 1952). T. versicolor is a common wood-rotting fungus on woody debris and stumps of deciduous trees, especially on beech, birch, poplar and willow (Guevara et al 2000b). Fruiting bodies are annual and typically occur in a relatively early phase of decay succession (3-7 years ;Hintikka 1993;Komonen and Kouki 2005).…”

Fungal Growth and Biomass Development is Boosted by Plants in Snow-Covered Soil

“…The taxonomic affiliation and presumed function are given. Only taxa with frequencies ≥75% are listed, see Electronic Supplementary Material for a complete list The fungal response to soil fauna grazing activity depends on environmental variables and is taxon-specific, some fungi decreasing respiration activity, others reacting with compensatory growth [3,4,7,8,20,55].…”

Do the tropical freshwater fishes feed on aquatic fungi?

“…The herbivorous fishes through grazing activity strongly decreased the resident time of aquatic macrophytes and terrestrially derived leaf litter in a Costa Rican stream (Wootton and Oemke, 1992). The fungivorous animals are known to be harmful vectors by reducing the fungal fitness (Guevara et al, 2000). For instance, feeding Ceratophysella denisana (collembolan) with Pholiota nameko (mushroom) reduced the fitness as the spores in gut passage were damaged 100%, although the gut-passage time was much shorter than the duration of feeding (Nakamori and Suzuki, 2010).…”