MYCOBIOME ANALYSIS OF TREES SELECTED BY BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES (Poecile atricapillus) AS NEST SITES

<p>Decay fungi may aid primary cavity excavators, such as woodpeckers, in nest excavation by softening wood, and in turn the excavators disperse fungi. Recent molecular techniques have allowed researchers to examine communities of fungi present in environmental samples more comprehensively than ever before. However, this association has not been examined for primary excavating songbirds (Passeriformes). In this study, I examine the communities of fungi in trees selected by black-capped chickadees (<em>Poecile atricapillus</em>) and compare them to communities in non-selected control trees to determine whether chickadee nest trees are associated with specific fungal taxa and communities. Overall, I identified 201 fungal OTUs to species level. Among the fungal OTUs identified to phylum level, 706 (63%) belonged to Ascomycota, 284 (25%) Basidiomycota, four (0.35%) Mortierellomycota, two (0.2%) Glomeromycota, two (0.2%) Mucoromycota, while 122 (11%) fungal OTUs could not be identified to the phylum level or lower. The fungal community composition and multivariate dispersion between different tree species was not significantly different. The fungal community composition and multivariate dispersion between nest and control trees was not significantly different. Nest trees had significantly lower wood hardness than controls. An indicator species analysis showed that nest trees were significantly associated with five fungal OTUs. While community composition of fungi in nest and controls are not significantly different, the indicator species analysis results indicate that chickadees may select nest trees that contain specific taxa of fungi, or, inoculate trees with fungi.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Gable, Connor

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alec Lindsay

• Poecile atricapillus
• mycobiome
• fungi
• DNA
• metabarcoding
• Biology
• Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/608

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1642