Abstract
The hidden diversity and interactions of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), their associated microfungal symbiont(s), and parasitoid wasps in temperate saltmarshes have been little studied in Australia. Over a period of two years, we investigated the gall-associated communities of the dominant saltmarsh plants, Tecticornia arbuscula and Salicornia quinqueflora, across south-eastern Australian coastal and inland salt-lake sites. We discovered that i) many gall midge species are more widely distributed than previously thought; ii) co-distribution of species affecting different plant organs on the same host is also widespread; iii) diversity of gall midges (6 species previously named; 5 species identified here as new) and parasitoid wasps (17 sp. prov.) is likely higher than we uncovered; iv) parasitoid wasps associated with gall midges belonged to diverse lineages and appear to be widespread generalists; v) while the microfungus usually associated with most Cecidomyiinae larval chambers is Botryosphaeria dothidea, we discovered a provisional new species of Botryosphaeria associated with a novel Asphondylia sp. in western South Australia. We also show that targeted amplicon sequencing is a valuable tool for investigating all components of multi-trophic level systems. Our research has contributed to a greater understanding of the basic biology of gall midge interactions within temperate saltmarsh ecosystems in southern Australia, and highlights the value of investigating all trophic levels in these complex interactions simultaneously.
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Data availability
All collections of plants, insects and fungi were made with appropriate permits [South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources A26636-1; Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 10,007,429; and Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment FA16288], and have been deposited in official institutions. Raw data are available from the primary author on request. Molecular data have or are in the process of being deposited in GenBank.
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Not applicable.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr Anneke Veenstra (Deakin University) for her invaluable expertise in Australian gall midges and Dr Mike Gates (Smithsonian Museum) for the taxonomic confirmation of wasps. We are very grateful to Dr Cuong Huynh (Deakin University) for his assistance with insect DNA extraction protocols and mounting of specimens, and Rachael Fowler, Stephen Wilcox and Thomas McConville for their help with processing samples for Next Generation sequencing. Warm thanks to Dr Lincoln Erm for invaluable assistance in the field. Thank you also to herbarium staff and volunteers at MEL and AD for help with examining collections for galls, processing samples and aiding in access to collections. Staff at MELU and museum staff at MMV and SAMA are also thanked for help in depositing insect and plant collections.
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This study was supported by grants from The University of Melbourne Botany Foundation (2016) and Holsworth Foundation (2017) to support MSc research of M. Rixon, and an Australian Biological Resources Bush Blitz Taxonomy Grant TTC214-41 to support research by Lebel, Veenstra and Rixon.
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Rixon, Bayly and Lebel contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed primarily by Rixon, Bayly and Lebel with some specialist input from various people as in acknowledgements. McLay developed the protocols for targeted amplicon sequencing and guided associated laboratory and data assembly work. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Rixon and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript.
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Rixon, M.E., Bayly, M.J., McLay, T.G.B. et al. Investigating gall midges (Asphondylia), associated microfungi and parasitoids in some chenopod plant hosts (Amaranthaceae) in south-eastern Australia. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 15, 747–771 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-021-09853-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-021-09853-1