Patterns of fungal communities that inhabit rodent food stores: effect of substrate and infection time

Abstract

We studied the spatial diversity of microfungal communities through time in the food stores of three rodent species at two climatically different locations. Although the microfungal species composition and environmental conditions differed considerably among the rodents' food stores, microfungal diversity was very similar when assessed on one standardized substrate (sorghum seeds) placed in food stores of all three rodent species. This suggests that changes in the chemistry and composition of food items are largely responsible for controlling most of the fungal diversity within a food store. Newly stored food items placed within the dens were quickly infected by an array of transient microbial species that were, in turn, gradually replaced by a few competitively dominant species. Increases in microfungal diversity appeared to follow a change or disturbance of microbial resources (e.g., seasonal rains, restocking of food stores). The variability and abundance of resources, and disturbance events may be the principal reason that rodent dens are hot spots for microbial diversity.

Key Words:

• fungal community dynamics
• fungal-vertebrate interactions
• microfungal diversity
• microfungal populations