Insects and Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota, Fungi) of Lake Eustis and
Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area: a case study on urbanization and
diversity
Abstract
A rapid biodiversity assessment of insects and associated Laboulbeniales
fungi was conducted over the course of five nights in August, 2018 at
two central Florida lakes: Lake Eustis and the nearby protected and
restored National Natural Landmark, Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area
(EMCA), which encompasses a portion of Lake Griffin. These locations
were selected because Lake Eustis was surveyed for Laboulbeniales in
1897 by mycologist Dr. Roland Thaxter, but has not since been
investigated. Because Lake Eustis has been urbanized, with the lake
perimeter almost entirely altered by human development, the site offers
a look into Laboulbeniales diversity across a 121 year timeline, before
and after human development. By surveying Lake Eustis and EMCA, a modern
case study comparison of Laboulbeniales and insect diversity between a
developed and unrestored system and a protected and restored system is
made. A total of 4,022 insects were collected during the rapid
assessment. Overall, insect abundance was greater at EMCA, with 3,001
insects collected, compared to 1,021 insects collected from Eustis.
Though family level insect richness was comparable between sites, with
55 families present at EMCA and 56 at Eustis, 529 out of 3,001 (17.6%)
of the insects collected at EMCA were hosts to parasitic Laboulbeniales
fungi whereas only 2 out of 1,021 (0.19%) collected from Eustis were
infected. There were 16 species of Laboulbeniales found at EMCA compared
to only one at Eustis. The current number of Laboulbeniales species
documented at Eustis was incredibly depauperate compared to the 27
species recorded by Thaxter in 1897, suggesting the possibility of
utilizing Laboulbeniales as indicators of ecosystem health. A figure
displaying host-parasite records and a species list of Laboulbeniales
fungi is compiled and updated occurrence records for species of
Ceratomyces and Hydrophilomyces are provided.