The study of fungal diversity is of paramount importance due to its ecological significance and its economic potential in the fields of medicine and food. The cost-effectiveness of dung beetle sampling, coupled with their fungivorous nature, offers a way for invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA)-based assessments of fungal diversity. This could potentially supplement the environmental sampling DNA (eDNA) approach and other traditional methods used to monitor fungal diversity.
In a study published in Molecular Ecology Resources, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences provided the first fungal diversity assessment utilizing iDNA metabarcoding. The method facilitates sampling and monitoring of fungal communities via the gut contents of dung beetles, showcasing its potential applicability for mycological studies and the conservation of fungi.
The researchers sampled two habitats (rainforest vs. rubber plantation) and seasons (dry vs. rainy) in tropical Xishuangbanna, southwest China. They extracted, amplified and identified 9259 unique fungi Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) from the gut of three species of dung beetles (Paragymnopleurus sp., telecoprids; Onthophagus diabolicus, paracoprids; and Onthophagus cf. gracilipes, endocoprids).
The researchers extracted fungal DNA from 68 beetle guts, including 17 telecoprids (Paragymnopleurus sp.), 25 paracoprids (Onthophagus diabolicus), and 26 endocoprids (Onthophagus cf. gracilipes), from both habitats and seasons. They also used published soil-based fungal eDNA studies from the same locality, and evaluated the similarities and differences between them and the iDNA approach.
The findings revealed that a single iDNA sample, specifically one dung beetle gut, can yield hundreds of fungal taxa. The quantity of fungal entities identified from a singular, minute sample, such as a single dung beetle's gut, was comparable to those detected in soil-based eDNA studies. These studies typically amalgamate a substantial quantity from multiple soil core samples into a composite sample.
The study demonstrated that the iDNA of dung beetles is a potent tool for the effective detection and monitoring of diverse fungal communities. This method enhanced the detection of fungal occurrences associated with seasonal precipitation patterns
“The use of dung beetle iDNA provides a less labor-intensive field sampling approach, facilitating the exploration and monitoring of fungal diversity even in the hyperdiverse tropical rainforest environments. This technique can address significant conservation-related queries, such as the impact of land-use alterations on fungal communities,” said Akihiro Nakamura of XTBG.
First Published: 26 February 2025
