Biology:Psathyrella aquatica
| 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: unknown |
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.
Discovery
It 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
The 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
The 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
Though 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
The taxonomy of the species is in reference to the habitat of the mushroom is found in. Aquatica is a Latin word meaning water or watery.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Only Aquatic Gilled Mushroom in the World and the Amazing Story of Its Discovery". Robert A. Coffan/OggiScienza. April 15, 2021. https://earthlymission.com/psytherella-aquatica-underwater-gilled-mushroom-discovery-mycology/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
Wikidata ☰ Q1954000 entry
 |  |
