Isolation of diverse viable fungi from the larvae of the introduced chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi on Signy Island

• Published in: Polar biology Vol. 30; no. 7; pp. 935 - 937
• Main Authors: BRIDGE, P. D, DENTON, G. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-06-2007; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Ascomycetes; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Eretmoptera murphyi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Insects; Larvae; Microbiology; Nonnative species; Oomycetes; Particular ecosystems; Synecology; Zygomycetes; Chironomidae; Introduced species; Insecta; Climatic zone; Fungi; Signy Island; Larva; Arthropoda; Ascomycetes; Polar region; Fungi Imperfecti; Invertebrata; Vector; Diptera; Interspecific relation; Thallophyta; Plant microorganism relation
• ISSN: 0722-4060; 1432-2056
• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-007-0268-0

The chironimid midge Eretmoptera murphyi has been introduced to Signy Island and has since become established at a single site. Viable propagules of a diverse range of micro-fungi were recovered from the normal intestinal tract of larvae of E. murphyi, indicating the potential for the larvae to act as vectors for fungal introductions. The fungi present in the intestines of the larvae included ascomycetes, zygomycetes and an oomycete, and this diversity highlights the potential for multiple microbial introductions from a single invertebrate introduction.