Psathyrella aquatica is a species of fungus from Oregon, first described in the journal Mycologia in 2010.[1] It represents the first ever report of a gilled basidiomycete fruiting underwater.
| Psathyrella aquatica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Psathyrellaceae |
| Genus: | Psathyrella |
| Species: | P. aquatica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Psathyrella aquatica J.L.Frank, Coffan, & Southworth (2010)
| |
| Psathyrella aquatica | |
|---|---|
| Gills on hymenium | |
| Cap is convex | |
| Hymenium is free | |
| Ecology is saprotrophic | |
| Edibility is unknown | |
Discovery
editIt was found by Southern Oregon University professor Robert Coffan in the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon.[1] Coffan and his colleagues, Darlene Southworth and Jonathan Frank, found the mushroom in 2005. The biology department at Southern Oregon University confirmed that the mushroom was a unique discovery.[1] Once their research was published, it was named one of the most significant species discovered in 2010.[2] They have so far been discovered in a 1 kilometer stretch of the river, and have an observed fruiting season of mid-June to late September[3] Many scientists were skeptical about describing this mushroom as a new species because of the hundreds of similar looking species in the family Psathyrellaceae.[2][4]
Less than 1% of aquatic fungi are assumed to be discovered yet, and many are assumed to be microscopic, with only a small fraction thought to produce fruiting bodies.[5]
Description
editThe fruiting body consists of a small convex cap and a long stipe.[1] Its cap is brown, convex, and has gills underneath.[1] The young mushroom develops a veil, which is lost as the mushroom grows to maturity.[1] The mushroom's stipe appears to be quite strong, and is anchored up to 1.6 feet (0.5 m) deep in sediment, in order to stand up to the fast-moving river currents where it is primarily found.[1] The stipe is covered in thin hair like structures.[1] Spores released by the gills stay in gas bubbles underneath the gills before floating to the top of the water to spread.[1] Underwater gills and ballistospores suggest that its underwater adaption is a relatively recent one.[1]
When synthetically grown, P. aquatica are known to only fruit (produce stipe and cap) underwater. A study done in 2014 by one of the original authors of the discovery paper showed that this species only produces sporocarps when completely submerged under cold water.[6]
Habitat
editThe mushrooms are found growing out of water-logged wood, silt, and gravel, a fine volcanic substrate, and was observed growing from youth to maturity completely underwater over 11 weeks.[1] The mushroom grows submerged under fast, cold, running water of the river.[1] The water is spring fed, aerated, and contains lots of woody debris and is shallow in depth.[1] They are found growing about a half a meter underneath the water.[3] The mushroom is also found growing on land in either grassy banks, or on gravel or water-logged wood next to the river.[3]
Ecosystem role
editThough not enough is known about the species to consider it edible, scientist assume that it is a food source for small insects in the river.[2] Though the river has low levels of nitrogen, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria near mushroom discovery sites suggests they might provide a source of nitrogen.[7]
Taxonomy
editThe taxonomy of the species is in reference to the habitat the mushroom is found in. Aquatica is a Latin word meaning water or watery (relating to water, aquatic).[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Frank, J. L.; Coffan, R. A.; Southworth, D. (July 2009). "Aquatic gilled mushrooms: Psathyrella fruiting in the Rogue River in southern Oregon". Mycologia. 102 (1): 93–107. doi:10.3852/07-190. PMID 20120233. S2CID 7175296.
- ^ a b c "The Only Aquatic Gilled Mushroom in the World and the Amazing Story of Its Discovery". Robert A. Coffan/OggiScienza. April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c Underwater_Mushroom – Mycological Society of America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://msafungi.org/underwater_mushroom/
- ^ Mushrooms underwater. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://fishbio.com/field-notes/wildlife-ecology/mushrooms-underwater
- ^ Elkhateeb, W., Thomas, P., Zohri, A.-N., Daba, G., & Wen, T.-C. (2021). Highlights on aquatic fungi and mushrooms ecology and biotechnology, with description of the rarely isolated aquatic mushroom Psathyrella aquatic as a novel taxon. Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry., 10.
- ^ Frank, J. L. (2014). Psathyrella aquatica Fruiting in vitro. Northwest Science, 88(1), 44–48. doi:10.3955/046.088.0108
- ^ Southern Oregon University: College of Arts and Sciences. (2008, August 19). https://web.archive.org/web/20080819151450/http://www.sou.edu/cas/connections/connections0006.html
- ^ Latin Definition for: Aquaticus, aquatica, aquaticum (ID: 4328)—Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources—Latdict. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2022, from http://www.latin-dictionary.net/definition/4328/aquaticus-aquatica-aquaticum