The evolution of defense mechanisms correlate with the explosive diversification of autodigesting Coprinellus mushrooms (Agaricales, Fungi)

Bursts of diversification are known to have contributed significantly to the extant morphological and species diversity, but evidence for many of the theoretical predictions about adaptive radiations have remained contentious. Despite their tremendous diversity, patterns of evolutionary diversification and the contribution of explosive episodes in fungi are largely unknown. Here, using the genus Coprinellus (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) as a model, we report the first explosive fungal radiation, and infer that the onset of the radiation follows a change from a multi-layered to a much simpler defense structure on the fruiting bodies. We suggest that this change constitutes a key innovation, relaxing constraints on diversification imposed by nutritional investment into the development of protective tissues of fruiting bodies. Evidence for the impact of protective structures on diversification places our current understanding of fruiting body evolution in a new context. Fossil calibration ...

物种多样化爆发事件被证实对现存的形态多样性与物种丰富度贡献显著，但学界关于适应辐射（adaptive radiation）的诸多理论预测，其相关证据始终存在较大争议。尽管真菌类群拥有极为丰富的多样性，但真菌的演化多样化模式以及爆发式演化事件所发挥的作用，目前仍基本未被探明。本研究以小脆柄菇属（Coprinellus，脆柄菇科Psathyrellaceae，伞菌目Agaricales）作为模式类群，首次报道了真菌的爆发式辐射演化事件，并推断该辐射演化的起始节点，与真菌子实体（fruiting bodies）上的防御结构从多层结构简化为更简洁结构的转变紧密相关。我们认为，这一结构转变属于一项关键创新，它解除了因将营养资源投入子实体保护组织发育而对物种多样化施加的制约。关于防御结构对物种多样化影响的相关实证，为我们重新审视子实体演化的现有认知提供了全新的研究语境。化石校准……