Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Cantonwine, Emily [1], Osmundson, Todd [2], Russell, Stephen [3], Sheehan, Bill [4].

DNA Barcode Identification of Macrofungi by Community Scientists.

Outcomes of a community scientist effort to document macrofungal biodiversity using ITS barcode sequencing are presented. Nearly two thousand sequences from thirty-five projects associated with the Fungal Diversity Survey, formerly known as the North American Mycoflora Project Inc., were evaluated. Seventeen projects included a professional consultant or amateur with known taxonomic expertise and were classified as advanced projects. The remaining were classified as standard projects. ITS sequences, generated using Sanger Sequencing, were screened against the GenBank reference database using megablasts. Species-level matches to reference sequences were accepted at ≥97% percent identify and ≥1000 Bit-score. Successful species barcode identifications were noted when all reference matches had consistent taxon associations. Novel sequences were reassessed in GenBank to look for eDNA matches, and novel and uncommon sequences, those with 3 or fewer reference matches, were screened against georeferenced collections of curated Fungaria using Mycoportal to estimate first reports for the collection State. For sequences with a reference match, 36.7% were barcoded to a single species, 51.5% to multiple species within the same genus, and the remaining were barcoded to family-, or order-level (10.7%). Approximately 12% (241) were novel sequences to GenBank. Advanced projects generated more novel sequences on average (16%) than standard projects (9.0%) (P=0.04). Thirty-one novel sequences belonging to the Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Cantharellaceae, Cortinariaceae, Entolomataceae, Gomphaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Inocybaceae, Mycenaceae, Nidulariaceae, Russulaceae, or Tricholomataceae matched one or more eDNA references. Of the novel and uncommon collections screened on Mycoportal, 15% were first reports for the State of collection, and 2% were second reports. These results suggest that barcode species identification for macrofungi in the United States is currently achievable for approximately 1 of 3 collections made by amateurs. Identification to genus is expected for 8 of 10 collections. Community scientist efforts such as this can help to populate reference barcode databases, and when accompanied by high quality vouchered collections, help to extend species ranges, clarify species complexes, and improve environmental biodiversity assessments. Expert involvement can improve scientific outcomes, but depending on the project goals, may not be necessary.

1 - Valdosta State University, Biology, 1500 N. Patterson St, Valdosta, GA, 31698, USA
2 - University of Wisconsin La Crosse, 1725 State St, La Crosse, WI, 54601, United States
3 - North American Mycoflora Project
4 - Fungal Diversity Survey, Athens, GA

Keywords:
Citizen science
Mycology
Basidiomycete
barcode
barcoding
amateur mycologists
Fungal Diversity Survey
North American Mycoflora Project.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P1, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 22nd, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1RT011
Abstract ID:1400
Candidate for Awards:None