Integrating chytrid fungal parasites into plankton ecology: research gaps and needs.

Thijs Frenken, Elisabet Alacid, Stella A. Berger, Elizabeth C. Bourne, Melanie Gerphagnon, Hans-Peter Grossart, A.S. Gsell, B.W. Ibelings, M. Kagami, Frithjof C. Küpper, Peter M. Letcher, Adeline Loyau, Takeshi Miki, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Serena Rasconi, Albert Reñé, Thomas Rohrlack, Keilor Rojas-Jimenez, Dirk S. Schmeller, Bettina ScholzKensuke Seto, Télesphore Sime-Ngando, A. Sukenik, D.B. Van de Waal, S. Van den Wyngaert, E. van Donk, J. Wolinska, Christian Wurzbacher, Ramsy Agha (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

226 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Chytridiomycota, often referred to as chytrids, can be virulent parasites with the potential to inflict mass mortalities on hosts, causing e.g. changes in phytoplankton size distributions and succession, and the delay or suppression of bloom events. Molecular environmental surveys have revealed an unexpectedly large diversity of chytrids across a wide range of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. As a result, scientific interest towards fungal parasites of phytoplankton has been gaining momentum in the past few years. Yet, we still know little about the ecology of chytrids, their life cycles, phylogeny, host specificity and range. Information on the contribution of chytrids to trophic interactions, as well as co-evolutionary feedbacks of fungal parasitism on host populations is also limited. This paper synthesizes ideas stressing the multifaceted biological relevance of phytoplankton chytridiomycosis, resulting from discussions among an international team of chytrid researchers. It presents our view on the most pressing research needs for promoting the integration of chytrid fungi into aquatic ecology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3802-3822
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology
Volume19
Issue number10
Early online date2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • international

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Integrating chytrid fungal parasites into plankton ecology: research gaps and needs.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this