Beetles and Their Yeast Endosymbionts From Basidiocarp Habitats

这项研究将提供新发现的酵母菌和担子甲虫之间的内共生关系的基础知识。 初步数据表明，这些甲虫利用真菌来吃真菌。 要检查的担子果是蘑菇和多孔菌的含孢子结构。 该项目的重点是收集和表征酵母菌和相关真菌喂养甲虫的物种，从沿着东西向的样带沿着美国海湾沿岸平原，墨西哥的太平洋沿岸地区，和巴罗科罗拉多，巴拿马。 将培养酵母菌并提取DNA进行鉴定。 甲虫将被检查的网站内共生定位和确定。 担子果标本将作为昆虫收集和酵母分离的凭证。

This study will provide baseline knowledge on newly discovered endosymbiotic associations between saccharomycetalean yeasts and basidiocarp-dwelling beetles. Preliminary data suggests that these beetles use fungus to eat fungi. Basidiocarps to be examined are the spore-containing structures of agarics and polypores. The project will focus on collecting and characterizing species of yeasts and associated fungus-feeding beetles from along an east-west transect along the gulf coastal plain of the US, Pacific coastal regions of Mexico, and Barro Colorado, Panama. Yeasts will be cultured and DNA extracted for identification. Beetles will be examined for the site of endosymbiont localization and identified. Basidocarp specimens will serve as vouchers for the insect collections and yeast isolations.