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. 2022 Oct 26;10(5):e0240222.
doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02402-22. Epub 2022 Oct 3.

Diversity of Dictyostelid Cellular Slime Molds, Including Two Species New to Science, in Forest Soils of Changbai Mountain, China

Yue Zou  1 , Jiangan Hou  1 , Songning Guo  1 , Changtian Li  1 , Zhuang Li  2 , Steven L Stephenson  3 , Igor N Pavlov  4   5 , Pu Liu  1 , Yu Li  1
Affiliations

Diversity of Dictyostelid Cellular Slime Molds, Including Two Species New to Science, in Forest Soils of Changbai Mountain, China

Yue Zou et al. Microbiol Spectr. .

Abstract

Dictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids) are protists that are common inhabitants of most soils, where they feed upon bacteria. Changbai Mountain is the highest mountain in northeast China. Soil samples collected on Changbai Mountain yielded 11 isolates representing six species of dictyostelid samples. Two of these species (Dictyostelium robusticaule and Heterostelium recretum) were found to be new to science, based on morphology, SSU rDNA sequences, and an ATPase subunit 1 gene (atp1) phylogeny. The present study also demonstrated that the increased accuracy and lower costs associated with the use of atp1 sequences make them a complement of SSU rDNA sequences for identifying dictyostelids. Changbai Mountain is characterized by a higher diversity of dictyostelids than indicated by the few previous reports. Moreover, the data for Changbai Mountain, compared with comparable data for Taiwan, suggest that differences in diversity at the family level are possibly related to latitude. Mixed broadleaf-conifer forests produced more isolates and species than broadleaf forests at the same elevation and also had the highest species richness, which indicates an effect of vegetation on dictyostelids. However, the pattern of slightly decreasing diversity with increasing elevation in dictyostelids was also apparent. IMPORTANCE Dictyostelium robusticaule and Heterostelium recretum are two new species of dictyostelids reported in this study. The potential use of atp1 sequences is a complement of SSU rDNA sequences for the identifying dictyostelids. A pattern of slightly decreasing diversity with increasing elevation in dictyostelids was observed, with the conditions that exist at lower elevations apparently more suitable for dictyostelids, whereas differences of diversity observed at the family level are possibly related to latitude.

Keywords: Dictyostelium robusticaule; Heterostelium recretum; dictyostelids; differences of diversity; environmental adaptability; new species.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Maps of sampling sites on Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province of China. (A) Location of Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province with respect to the rest of China. (B) Map showing the collecting localities in Jilin Province. (C) Contour plot (ovitalMap, v9.1.6) showing the sampling sites on Changbai Mountain.
FIG 2
FIG 2
Phylogenetic tree of all known dictyostelids based on SSU rDNA. Numbers in parentheses are SH-aLRT support (%)/ultrafast bootstrap support (%). Newly generated sequences are indicated in bold. Scale bar = 9.0.
FIG 3
FIG 3
Phylogenetic trees of Dictyostelium sequences. (A) Position of Dictyostelium species of this paper in the SSU rDNA phylogeny. (B) Position of Dictyostelium species of this paper in the atp1 phylogeny. Numbers in parentheses are SH-aLRT support (%)/ultrafast bootstrap support (%). Newly generated sequences are indicated in bold. Scale bar: A = 2.0; B = 3.0.
FIG 4
FIG 4
Phylogenetic trees of Heterostelium sequences. (A) Position of Heterostelium species of this paper in the SSU rDNA phylogeny. (B) Position of Heterostelium species of this paper in the atp1 phylogeny. Numbers in parentheses are SH-aLRT support (%)/ultrafast bootstrap support (%). Newly generated sequences are indicated in bold. Scale bar: A = 2.0; B = 3.0.
FIG 5
FIG 5
Phylogenetic trees of Cavenderia sequences. (A) Position of Cavenderia species of this paper in the SSU rDNA phylogeny. (B) Position of Cavenderia species of this paper in the atp1 phylogeny. Numbers in parentheses are SH-aLRT support (%)/ultrafast bootstrap support (%). Newly generated sequences are indicated in bold. Scale bar: A = 2.0; B = 4.0.
FIG 6
FIG 6
Morphological features of Dictyostelium discoideum. (A) Sorocarps. (B) Pseudoplasmodia. (C) Tip of sorophore. (D) Aggregations. (E) Base of sorophore. (F) Spores. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B and D = 2 mm; C = 60 μm; E = 100 μm; F = 50 μm.
FIG 7
FIG 7
Morphological features of Dictyostelium mucoroides. (A) Spores. (B) Sorocarps. (C) Tip of sorophore. (D) Base of sorophore. Scale bars: A = 50 μm; B = 1 mm; C to D = 50 μm.
FIG 8
FIG 8
Morphological features of Dictyostelium robusticaule. (A) Larger sorocarps. (B) Tip of bigger sorophore. (C) Base of larger sorophore. (D) Larger spores. (E) Smaller sorocarps. (F) Smaller sorophore. (G) Smaller spores. (H) Pseudoplasmodia. (I) Aggregations. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B and C = 40 μm; D = 20 μm; E = 1 mm; F = 40 μm; G = 20 μm; H to I = 1 mm.
FIG 9
FIG 9
Morphological features of Cavenderia fasciculata. (A and B) Sorocarps. (C) Tip of sorophore. (D and E) Bases of sorophores. (F) Spores. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B = 1 mm; C = 20 μm; D and E = 60 μm; F = 20 μm.
FIG 10
FIG 10
Morphological features of Heterostelium pallidum. (A) Sorocarps. (B) Aggregation. (C) Tip of sorophore. (D) Base of sorophore. (E) Branches of sorophore. (F) Spores. Scale bars: A and B = 1 mm; C to F = 40 μm.
FIG 11
FIG 11
Morphological features of Heterostelium recretum. (A) Sorocarps. (B) Aggregation. (C) Tip of sorophore. (D) Base of sorophore. (E) Branches of sorophore. (F) Spores. Scale bars: A and B = 2 mm; C to E = 40 μm; F = 20 μm.
FIG 12
FIG 12
Species that have been recorded in Taiwan and on Changbai Mountain. A, Acytostelium; C, Cavenderia; Co, Coremiostelium; D, Dictyostelium; H, Heterostelium; Ha, Hagiwaraea; P, Polysphondylium; R, Raperostelium.
FIG 13
FIG 13
Numbers of species of dictyostelids in the different genera that have been recorded in Taiwan and on Changbai Mountain.
FIG 14
FIG 14
Numbers of species of dictyostelids in the different families that have been recorded in Taiwan and on Changbai Mountain.
FIG 15
FIG 15
Species recorded on Changbai Mountain. (A) Species recorded in the current and previous studies on Changbai Mountain. (B) Species recorded in the current studies on Changbai Mountain. C, Cavenderia; D, Dictyostelium; H, Heterostelium; P, Polysphondylium.
FIG 16
FIG 16
Relationships of elevation, species, isolates, habitat, and location in the present study. Habitats are shown in different colors. Localities are indicated by different shapes. Isolates are on display with names near the points. Species with one isolate are semihyaline, species with two isolates are nontransparent. New species are indicated with asterisks. C, Cavenderia; D, Dictyostelium; H, Heterostelium.
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