Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter?
Abstract Fungi are among the least known organisms on earth, with an estimated number of species between 1.5 and 10 million. This number is expected to be refined, especially with increasing knowledge about microfungi in undersampled habitats and increasing amounts of data derived from environmental...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | IMA Fungus |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-023-00137-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832548281433980928 |
|---|---|
| author | Jonathan Cazabonne Allison K. Walker Jonathan Lesven Danny Haelewaters |
| author_facet | Jonathan Cazabonne Allison K. Walker Jonathan Lesven Danny Haelewaters |
| author_sort | Jonathan Cazabonne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fungi are among the least known organisms on earth, with an estimated number of species between 1.5 and 10 million. This number is expected to be refined, especially with increasing knowledge about microfungi in undersampled habitats and increasing amounts of data derived from environmental DNA sequencing. A significant proportion of newly generated sequences fail to match with already named species, and thus represent what has been referred to as fungal “dark taxa”. Due to the challenges associated with observing, identifying, and preserving sporophores, many macro- and microfungal species are only known from a single collection, specimen, isolate, and/or sequence—a singleton. Mycologists are consequently used to working with “rare” sequences and specimens. However, rarity and singleton phenomena lack consideration and valorization in fungal studies. In particular, the practice of publishing new fungal species names based on a single specimen remains a cause of debate. Here, we provide some elements of reflection on this issue in the light of the specificities of the fungal kingdom and global change context. If multiple independent sources of data support the existence of a new taxon, we encourage mycologists to proceed with formal description, irrespective of the number of specimens at hand. Although the description of singleton-based species may not be considered best practice, it does represent responsible science in the light of closing the Linnean biodiversity shortfall. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ca9396221cf44c797ef6f56f869ae33 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2210-6359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IMA Fungus |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ca9396221cf44c797ef6f56f869ae332025-02-03T06:18:01ZengBMCIMA Fungus2210-63592024-03-0115111110.1186/s43008-023-00137-2Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter?Jonathan Cazabonne0Allison K. Walker1Jonathan Lesven2Danny Haelewaters3Ecology Research Group of Abitibi RCM, Forest Research Institute, Université du Québec en Abitibi-TémiscamingueDepartment of Biology, Acadia UniversityLaboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-ComtéResearch Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent UniversityAbstract Fungi are among the least known organisms on earth, with an estimated number of species between 1.5 and 10 million. This number is expected to be refined, especially with increasing knowledge about microfungi in undersampled habitats and increasing amounts of data derived from environmental DNA sequencing. A significant proportion of newly generated sequences fail to match with already named species, and thus represent what has been referred to as fungal “dark taxa”. Due to the challenges associated with observing, identifying, and preserving sporophores, many macro- and microfungal species are only known from a single collection, specimen, isolate, and/or sequence—a singleton. Mycologists are consequently used to working with “rare” sequences and specimens. However, rarity and singleton phenomena lack consideration and valorization in fungal studies. In particular, the practice of publishing new fungal species names based on a single specimen remains a cause of debate. Here, we provide some elements of reflection on this issue in the light of the specificities of the fungal kingdom and global change context. If multiple independent sources of data support the existence of a new taxon, we encourage mycologists to proceed with formal description, irrespective of the number of specimens at hand. Although the description of singleton-based species may not be considered best practice, it does represent responsible science in the light of closing the Linnean biodiversity shortfall.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-023-00137-2Integrative taxonomyMorphologyRaritySequencingSingletonsSpecies descriptions |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Cazabonne Allison K. Walker Jonathan Lesven Danny Haelewaters Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? IMA Fungus Integrative taxonomy Morphology Rarity Sequencing Singletons Species descriptions |
| title | Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? |
| title_full | Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? |
| title_fullStr | Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? |
| title_short | Singleton-based species names and fungal rarity: Does the number really matter? |
| title_sort | singleton based species names and fungal rarity does the number really matter |
| topic | Integrative taxonomy Morphology Rarity Sequencing Singletons Species descriptions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-023-00137-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathancazabonne singletonbasedspeciesnamesandfungalraritydoesthenumberreallymatter AT allisonkwalker singletonbasedspeciesnamesandfungalraritydoesthenumberreallymatter AT jonathanlesven singletonbasedspeciesnamesandfungalraritydoesthenumberreallymatter AT dannyhaelewaters singletonbasedspeciesnamesandfungalraritydoesthenumberreallymatter |