Survey of mesomycetozoans in millipedes and terrestrial isopods of southeastern New England.

Abstract

Trichomycetes are a group of symbiotic organisms found in the gut of arthropods. They were recently split into two fungal groups and two protistan groups. The protists have been recatagorized as Mesomycetozoa (also known as Ichthysporea). This group lies somewhere at the animal-fungal evolutionary divergence and can help pinpoint a more precise date for this divergence with further phylogenetic studies. However, with confusing phylogenies, obscure lifecycles, and not enough worldwide research, answers have been difficult to come by. This study surveyed the trichomycete populations in Julidae millipedes and terrestrial isopods in Southeast New England. We found that in SE New England, Porcellio and Oniscidea isopods likely carry Parataeniella and Eccrinoides and Julidae carry Enterobryus. Further research should focus on how hibernation and seasonality affects trichomycete prevalence in these host organisms.