Diversity, identity and ecological role of a novel fungal super clade
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
A large proportion of the diversity of life is microbial. Microbes are important components of every ecosystem and natural environment on Earth, yet our understanding of microbial diversity and ecological roles is still in its infancy. In the last 15 years, molecular methods have been used which target the DNA of all microbes present in a particular environment. These methods enable the capture of sub-sections of each microbial genome for use as an identifying code. We can then use these fragments of DNA code to identify most of the organisms present in any environment. This approach has massively expanded our appreciation of the diversity of life on Earth. Such approaches have revealed a diverse and mysterious group of organisms present in a range of aquatic environments that appear to be entirely novel and previously uninvestigated. Analyses suggest that one such diverse group could be related to the Fungi. The Fungi include the well-known mushrooms and yeasts but also a massive range of microbes responsible for recycling biomass in many ecosystems. Given the diversity and extensive distribution of this microbial group in aquatic environments around the globe it is likely that the group represents an important part of the microbial community. In addition, this group has a very novel position in the tree of life with respect to known fungal microbes. Therefore a greater appreciation of their biology will provide important data for understanding the evolutionary diversification of the fungal kingdom and their close relatives the animals. We plan to use specific probes with fluorescence to identify, describe and investigate the ecological role of this novel group from a range of environmental samples. This approach will enable us to observe the nature of these microbial cells and their abundance and role within different habitat types.
People |
ORCID iD |
Thomas Richards (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bass D
(2011)
Three reasons to re-evaluate fungal diversity 'on Earth and in the ocean'
in Fungal Biology Reviews
Chambouvet A
(2019)
Intracellular Infection of Diverse Diatoms by an Evolutionary Distinct Relative of the Fungi.
in Current biology : CB
Jones MD
(2011)
Validation and justification of the phylum name Cryptomycota phyl. nov.
in IMA fungus
Jones MD
(2011)
Discovery of novel intermediate forms redefines the fungal tree of life.
in Nature
Kim E
(2011)
Newly identified and diverse plastid-bearing branch on the eukaryotic tree of life.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Logares R
(2014)
Patterns of rare and abundant marine microbial eukaryotes.
in Current biology : CB
Poggeler, Stefanie; Wostemeyer, Johannes
(2011)
Evolution of Fungi and Fungal-Like Organisms
Richards TA
(2016)
A role for fungi as parasites in the black box of marine trophic interactions.
in Environmental microbiology reports
Richards TA
(2011)
Horizontal gene transfer facilitated the evolution of plant parasitic mechanisms in the oomycetes.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Richards TA
(2015)
Molecular diversity and distribution of marine fungi across 130 European environmental samples.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Description | Our work completed all aims of the grant. Using environmental DNA methods we have identified and characterised a wide diversity of microbes that branch with or next to the fungi of the tree of life. |
Exploitation Route | Has inspired efforts to culture and sequence the genomes of representatives of this group and other uncultured microbial groups that are major players in the environment. |
Sectors | Education Environment |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13363932 |
Description | This work led to the re-evaluation of our understanding of eukaryotic diversity and the evolutionary relationships of the fungi. This gained a lot of media attention for example I took part in Radio Interviews for BBC radio 4 Material world and National Public Radio USA. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Biodiversity of Marine EuKaryotes (BioMarKs) |
Amount | £218,197 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 06/2014 |
Description | Community Sequencing Project: Revealing the ecological function of uncultured fungal dark matter in freshwater ecosystems using single cell genomics |
Amount | $1 (USD) |
Funding ID | - |
Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 10/2018 |
Description | Elucidating How Specialized Proteins Help Marine Microbes Extract Nutrients From Seawater |
Amount | $965,284 (USD) |
Funding ID | GBMF5514 |
Organisation | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | Life on the dark side: complex trophic interactions of marine microbial eukaryotes |
Amount | £251,912 (GBP) |
Organisation | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2013 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Newton International Fellowships 2017 |
Amount | £99,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NF170346 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2018 |
End | 02/2020 |
Description | Significant or trivial: Fungi in Polar ecosystems (F-POLE) Marie Curie Fellowship |
Amount | € 183,455 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 657141 |
Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | 2017 Sir Julian Huxley Lecture 'Fungi in the ocean deep' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 2017 Sir Julian Huxley Lecture 'Fungi in the ocean deep' (public lecture in Burlington House central London), The Systematics Association, Linnean Society, London. The lecture was recorded for You Tube |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN56C0Tb5to |
Description | Interviewed for National Public Radio, USA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Following publication of Jones et al. 2011* in Nature. I was interviewed for National Public Radio, USA discussing our work on the discovery and description of a highly diverse and deep-branching group of aquatic fungi. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Material World Radio 4 interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Following publication of Jones et al. 2011* in Nature. I was interviewed for BBC Radio 4 science program Material World discussing our work on the discovery and description of a highly diverse and deep-branching group of aquatic fungi. Jones, M.D.M., Forn, I., Gadelha, C., Bass, D., Massana, R., & Richards, T.A.* Discovery of novel intermediate forms redefines the fungal tree of life. Nature. 2011; 474(7350): 200-203. Following publication of Jones et al. 2011* in Nature. I was interviewed for BBC Radio 4 science program Material World discussing our work on the discovery and description of a highly diverse and deep-branching group of aquatic fungi. Jones, M.D.M., F |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Nature Podcast on Novel Fungi |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Following publication of Jones et al. 2011* in Nature. I was interviewed for the Nature Podcast discussing our work on the discovery and description of a highly diverse and deep-branching group of aquatic fungi. Jones, M.D.M., Forn, I., Gadelha, C., Bass, D., Massana, R., & Richards, T.A.* Discovery of novel intermediate forms redefines the fungal tree of life. Nature. 2011; 474(7350): 200-203. Following publication of Jones et al. 2011* in Nature. I was interviewed for the Nature Podcast discussing our work on the discovery and description of a highly diverse and deep-branching group of aquatic fungi. Jones, M.D.M., Forn, I., Gadelha, C., Ba |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |