Aquatic macroinvertebrate gut symbionts in Vallforners stream (, Spain) Nicolás Ortiz Vaquerizas Tutor: Laia Guàrdia Valle

Introduction The trichomycetes are an ecological group of arthropod gut symbionts. This fascinating group has managed to live inside arthropod’s gut by developing special Host features that allow them to synchronize their biological cycle with its host; trichomycetes must grow and attach to a specific environment and reach maturity Trichomycetes: an before the molt period. In addition, host and their gut symbionts can be found in many ecological group different habitats, which demands an efficient spreading method, however, this study is focused on freshwater ones. Midgut, tubes of Malpighi and hindgut. Previously they were considered a natural group within the fungal clade Zygomycota O. Most trichomycetes O. Harpellales O. Asellariales O. Eccrinales Amoebidiales (Manier 1970). Later, the applications of molecular thecniques provided insights to are found in host’s stablish a new classification: two orders (Amoebidiales and Eccrinales) were classified hindgut but some dipteran species have within the protists and the two other orders (Harpellales, Asellariales) were kept in the trichomycetes fungal branch within the Kickxellomycotina clade (Hibbett et al. 2007). attached to their midgut

Work objective Material and Methods The massif is a well studied area, but no data related to trichomycetes in A  Three field sampling days were done. Samples Vallforners stream was available before were collected in the field locations chosen in Example of the Vallforners stream (above and below the dam). Extra biological cycle of this work. the trichomycetes B The aim of this work is to provide a catalog data was also recorded (pH, temperature). order Harpellales.  Once in the lab, larvae and nymphs was dissected Note that of the trichomycetes species living in this Sampling points: reproductive above (A) and below carefully; host’s gut was isolated and prepared for forms are shown: ecosystem. In addition, the river has a dam (B) the dam c: trichospore, which may have aneffect on host presence- microscope observation. asexual  Each trichomycete species found was described to reproduction; g: consequently on trichomycetes too- zygospore, therefore collecting data above (A) and build up the catalog, which was the main goal of the sexual study. Raw data was used to achieve the second goal, reproduction below (B) the dam-level was done to study (conjugation). the differences inflicted by dammed water. which was the description of the differences created by the dam. Dam

Species catalogue Results: differences between locations Raw data was used to show differences in host sample size (Graph 1) and calculate Infection Index (Graph 2), other processes, which are not included here, were done to see differences between days. In addition, Simpson’s diversity index was calculated for host species in each location. As expected, location A has more diversity than B.

Astreptonema Graminella bulbosa: Genistellospora Regarding pH, water after the dam (B) had a slight increase in pH (0,2). On the other hand, temperature change gammari: first report first report in homothallica in Montseny Montseny was more significant: A=5,1 | B= 8,3. (Simuliidae) (Gammaridae) (Baetidae)

Orphella Harpella melusinae Legeriomyces sp. catalaunica (Simuliidae) (Heptageniidae) (Leuctridae)

Simuliomyces Orphella helicospora Paramoebidium microsporus (Leuctridae) curvum (Simuliidae) (Simuliidae)

Graph 2: Mean Infection Index per host family and location (A and B). Standard Graph 1: Total sample size per host family and location (A and B) deviation between days is shown above the bars.

Smittium sp.: Stachylina euthena: Paramoebidium undescribed firstreport in chattoni species Montseny (Simuliidae) (Chironomidae) (Chironomidae)

Discussion and conclusions References

•Hibbett DS. et al. 2007. A higher- Despite the fact that time was life and, therefore, a reduction in level phylogenetic classification on limited, which is reflected in few water oxygen levels. the Fungi. Mycol Res, 122: 509 -547 Tectimyces field sampling days, this study Furthermore, because less thermal •Manier JF. 1970. Trichomycètes de Stachylina nana leptophlebiidaru France. Annales des Science (Chironomidae) m managed to show a piece of the exchange can be done, dammed Naturelles Botanique, Paris, Série 12, (leptophlebiidae) trichomycetes species of the water usually is warmer than 10: 565-672 Vallforners stream. Because this flowing water, which is shown in •Lichtwardt RW, Cafaro MJ and White MM 2001. The Trichomycetes: stream was not sampled before, all our results. Those changes in the Fungal Associates of Arthropos, data obtained is new. However, habitat may constrain the potential revised edition. Published on the some of the species that were found presence for most host species. Data Internet at www.nhm.ku.edu/~fungi •Valle LG. 2010. Coneixement actual have a special relevance because obtained from different locations - dels tricomicets (sensu lato) al they have never been reported for above (A) and below (B) the dam- Montseny. VII Monografies del Montseny, 81 -89 Gammaridae Simuliidae Baetidae Chironomidae the science (new species of the support the idea that dammed water •Valle LG. 2004. Tricomicets Ibèrics. genus Smittium) or in the Montseny can alter host distribution- Ph. D. Thesis, Universitat Autònoma massif (Astreptonema gammari, represented in Graph 1 as sample de Barcelona, Spain, 381 p •Urgell IA. 2012. A CASE STUDY: Hosts Graminella bulbosa and Stachylina size-, reduce host diversity and, endosymbiont fungi (Harpellales) euthena). consequently, affect trichomycetes from stream in the Dams retain organic debris, which presence, which is represented in (, Spain). Leuctridae Heptageniidae Leptophlebiidae Master, Ecología Terrestre IGestió de causes an increase in heterotrophic Graph 2 as Infection Index. la Biodiversitat, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, 65 p