Dissertation Research: Diversification and evolution of major trophic modes in the Xylariaceae: exploring the role of previously unknown symbiotrophic and saprotrophic fungi

真菌是生物体中最具多样性和生态重要性的类群之一，但只有一小部分（5%）的真菌物种的估计多样性已被发现和描述。生活在表面上健康的植物和地衣中的真菌被认为是这种未知多样性的一大部分。这些共生真菌无处不在，在生态学上很重要，但关于它们的起源和进化、多样化率和代谢能力的基本知识仍然有限。本提案的目标是为来自众多地区的这些真菌的先前未知的多样性集合生成DNA序列，以研究真菌中主要生态模式的进化。这项研究将集中在一个组，炭角菌科，一个世界性的和生态多样性的家庭，包括木材，垃圾，土壤和粪便，植物病原体的分解者，以及许多真菌生活在植物内。此外，本研究将探讨这些真菌的代谢能力，并将它们的碳和氮代谢与它们的进化起源和生态模式联系起来，这一研究将阐明大型真菌和生态动态家族的进化，同时也为植物和地衣的广泛和生态重要共生体的功能生物学提供第一视角。此外，它将提供一个重要的机会，通过亚利桑那州生物学网络，提供社区大学生从传统上代表性不足的群体与研究培训，并通过PI？在亚利桑那州的美国原住民学生的推广计划。

Fungi are one of the most diverse and ecologically important groups of living organisms, yet only a tiny fraction (5%) of the estimated diversity of fungal species has been discovered and described. Fungi which live within apparently healthy plants and lichens, are thought to represent a large fraction of this unknown diversity. These symbiotic fungi are ubiquitous and ecologically important, but basic knowledge regarding their origins and evolution, rates of diversification, and metabolic capacities remains limited. The goal of this proposal is to generate DNA sequences for a diverse collection of previously unknown variety of these fungi from numerous areas to examine the evolution of major ecological modes in fungi. This study will focus on one group, the Xylariaceae, a cosmopolitan and ecologically diverse family that encompasses decomposers of wood, litter, soil and dung, plant pathogens, and numerous fungi living within plants. Furthermore, this study will investigate the metabolic capacities of these fungi and relate their carbon- and nitrogen-metabolism to their evolutionary origins and ecological modes.This research will illuminate the evolution of large and ecologically dynamic family of fungi while also providing a first perspective on the functional biology of widespread and ecologically important symbionts of plants and lichens. Moreover, it will provide an important opportunity to mentor undergraduates in molecular and mycological techniques through the Arizona Biology Network, which provides community college students from traditionally under-represented groups with research training, and through the PI?s outreach program with Native American students in Arizona.