Integrating chytrid fungal parasites intoplankton ecology: research gaps and needs

Abstract

Summary: Chytridiomycota, often referred to as chytrids, can bevirulent parasites with the potential to inflict massmortalities on hosts, causing e .g. changes inphytoplankton size distributions and succession,and the delay or suppression of bloom events.Molecular environmental surveys have revealed anunexpectedly large diversity of chytrids across awide range of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. As aresult, scientific interest towards fungal parasites ofphytoplankton has been gaining momentum in thepast few years. Yet, we still know little about theecology of chytrids, their life cycles, phylogeny, hostspecificity and range. Information on the contributionof chytrids to trophic interactions, as well as co-evolutionary feedbacks of fungal parasitism on hostpopulations is also limited. This paper synthesizesideas stressing the multifaceted biological relevanceof phytoplankton chytridiomycosis, resulting fromdiscussions among an international team of chytridresearchers. It presents our view on the most pressingresearch needs for promoting the integration ofchytrid fungi into aquatic ecology.