Phylogenetic Relationships of Cyphelloid and Aquatic Homobasidiomycetes

由克拉克大学的大卫和曼弗雷德宾德博士提出的研究涉及同担子菌的进化关系，其中包括蘑菇形成真菌。这些真菌大约有13,500种。同担子菌作为腐殖菌、病原菌和动植物的有益共生菌，在生态学中发挥着重要作用。传统上，分类和进化的假设，在这个不同的组一直基于形态的子实体，其中包括形式与帽和柄，俱乐部和烛台形的形式，马勃，支架真菌等，最近，然而，DNA序列已被用来推断同源担子菌的进化关系。拟议中的研究将使用DNA序列来研究两组同担子菌的关系：“cyberidoid”真菌（大约300种），它们是微小的杯状形式，和水生同担子菌（20种，通常非常罕见）。无论是杯状菌还是水生同担子菌，在分类学上都是模糊的。最近的分子证据表明，这些群体可能是密切相关的，这是以前没有预测到的。拟议的研究将跟进最近分子研究中产生的线索，并将包括实地考察，以扩大对两组多样性的了解。这项工作将增加对同担子菌形态进化途径的理解。此外，该研究还将阐明真菌从陆地生境到水生生境的生态转变。拟议的研究将在两个主要方面造福科学和社会：1）拟议的研究将增进对生物多样性的理解。特别是，它将突出一个不寻常的生物群体，甚至大多数生物学家都没有意识到，但发挥重要的生态作用。2)拟议的研究将包括一个重要的培训和外联部分。一名博士后研究员和一名博士。学生将接受培训。此外，还计划在马萨诸塞州伍斯特地区为当地高中学生和高中教师举办一系列暑期讲习班（每年将资助一名学生和一名教师）。夏季讲习班将提供接触分子生物学和进化生物学的现代技术。参加研讨会的教师将获得专业发展点，这是马萨诸塞州年度重新认证所必需的，克拉克大学有权授予。教师和学生将从伍斯特公立学校系统招聘。

0128925Hibbett and BinderThe proposed research by Drs. David Hibbett and Manfred Binder at Clark University concerns the evolutionary relationships of homobasidiomycetes, which include the mushroom-forming fungi. There are about 13,500 described species of these fungi. Homobasidiomycetes play important ecological roles as decayers, pathogens, and beneficial symbionts of plants and animals. Traditionally, classifications and evolutionary hypotheses in this diverse group have been based on the morphology of the fruiting bodies, which include forms with a cap and stalk, club and candelabra-shaped forms, puffballs, bracket fungi, etc. Recently, however, DNA sequences have been used to infer evolutionary relationships of homobasidiomycetes. The proposed research will use DNA sequences to study relationships of two groups of homobasidiomycetes: "cyphelloid" fungi (roughly 300 species), which are minute cup-shaped forms, and aquatic homobasidiomycetes (20 species, usually quite rare). Both cyphelloid and aquatic homobasidiomycetes have been taxonomically obscure. Recent molecular evidence suggests that these groups may be closely related, which had not been predicted previously. The proposed research will follow up on the leads generated in recent molecular studies, and will include fieldwork to expand knowledge of the diversity in both groups. The proposed work will increase understanding of the pathways of morphological evolution in homobasidiomycetes. In addition, it will elucidate the ecological transitions from terrestrial to aquatic habitats in fungi.The proposed research will benefit science and society in two major ways: 1) The proposed research will enhance understanding of biodiversity. In particular, it will highlight an unusual group of organisms that even most biologists are not aware of, but that play important ecological roles. 2) The proposed research will include a significant training and outreach component. A post-doctoral fellow and a Ph.D. student will receive training. In addition, a series of summer workshops in the Worcester, MA, area for local high school students and high school teachers is planned (one student and one teacher will be supported per year). The summer workshops will provide exposure to modern techniques of molecular biology and evolutionary biology. Teachers who participate in the workshops will receive professional development points, which are necessary for annual recertification in Massachusetts, and which Clark University is authorized to award. Teachers and students will be recruited from the Worcester public school system.