Rarity, cause or consequence: Comparative population genomics of six lichenized fungi with contrasting range sizes, life histories, and morphologies
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Jessica L. Allen
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2024 9:05 AM
End Date
5-7-2024 9:25 AM
Location
PAT 326
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Lichens are long-lived, sessile symbiotic assemblages often exhibiting a high incidence of rarity. As an emergent trait, rarity encompasses the complexities of a species’ life-history traits and its environment. In this study, we used comparative population genomics to examine drivers and consequences of rarity in related widespread and range-restricted lichenized fungi sampled throughout the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. We generated robust population genomic datasets for the widespread species Punctelia rudecta, Lepraria finkii, and Usnea strigosa, and rare congeners P. appalachensis, L. lanata, and U. subfusca, totaling 924 individuals from 36 sites. Using long read sequences, we assembled high-quality reference genomes for each species. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) short reads were aligned to reference genomes and filtered for quality before conducting downstream analyses. The pipeline we developed advances established workflows for assessing high-volume population-level WGS datasets from complex metagenomic data. Rare species populations show stronger geographic-driven genetic structure than common species, which is also reflected by reductions in signals of gene flow among those populations. Our data suggest that Lepraria lanata is highly clonal, supporting our hypothesis based on the lack of observed sexual reproductive structures throughout the genus Lepraria. Comparatively, Lepraria finkii shows high levels of recombination, suggesting a cryptic recombination mechanism. All four additional species displayed evidence of recombination. Finally, we investigate the impact of habitat quality and climate on observed genetic diversity. Our findings show that rarity is associated with similar patterns of population genetic structure across taxonomically and morphologically diverse fungi.
Recommended Citation
Sharrett, Stephen T.; Paulsen, Julianna; Lendemer, James C.; Magori, Krisztian; Miller, Jesse E.D.; and Allen, Jessica L., "Rarity, cause or consequence: Comparative population genomics of six lichenized fungi with contrasting range sizes, life histories, and morphologies" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 1.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/op_2024/o3_2024/1
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rarity, cause or consequence: Comparative population genomics of six lichenized fungi with contrasting range sizes, life histories, and morphologies
PAT 326
Lichens are long-lived, sessile symbiotic assemblages often exhibiting a high incidence of rarity. As an emergent trait, rarity encompasses the complexities of a species’ life-history traits and its environment. In this study, we used comparative population genomics to examine drivers and consequences of rarity in related widespread and range-restricted lichenized fungi sampled throughout the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. We generated robust population genomic datasets for the widespread species Punctelia rudecta, Lepraria finkii, and Usnea strigosa, and rare congeners P. appalachensis, L. lanata, and U. subfusca, totaling 924 individuals from 36 sites. Using long read sequences, we assembled high-quality reference genomes for each species. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) short reads were aligned to reference genomes and filtered for quality before conducting downstream analyses. The pipeline we developed advances established workflows for assessing high-volume population-level WGS datasets from complex metagenomic data. Rare species populations show stronger geographic-driven genetic structure than common species, which is also reflected by reductions in signals of gene flow among those populations. Our data suggest that Lepraria lanata is highly clonal, supporting our hypothesis based on the lack of observed sexual reproductive structures throughout the genus Lepraria. Comparatively, Lepraria finkii shows high levels of recombination, suggesting a cryptic recombination mechanism. All four additional species displayed evidence of recombination. Finally, we investigate the impact of habitat quality and climate on observed genetic diversity. Our findings show that rarity is associated with similar patterns of population genetic structure across taxonomically and morphologically diverse fungi.
