ABSTRACT Rodents are the most widespread and diverse order of vertebrate mycophagists and are key to the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi. Rodents consume and subsequently disperse fungi through their feces on every continent except Antarctica. This study examines the fungal taxa consumed by the Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis), an endangered Australian endemic rodent from the family Muridae. We analyzed 251 fecal samples collected over a 19-year period between 1993 and 2012 at sites throughout the distribution of the animal in New South Wales and Queensland. We show that at least 16 genera of mycorrhizal fungi are eaten by this species and that it is therefore playing an important role as a vector of ectomycorrhizal truffle-like fungi in eastern Australia. Similar to the fungal diets of other mammals in eastern Australia, seasonal fungal consumption was greatest in autumn and winter. The dietary diversity of P. oralis also appeared to follow a geographic trend from south to north; samples collected at sites in the southern part of the species’ range had greater diversity than those from sites in the northern part of the range, and overall, diets from southern sites yielded more fungal taxa than did northern sites. This study provides novel insights into the diet of P. oralis and highlights the importance of previously overlooked ecosystem services this species provides through its dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi.

中文翻译：

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濒临灭绝的黑斯廷斯河小鼠（口唇假单胞菌）作为澳大利亚东部外生菌根真菌的传播者

摘要 啮齿动物是脊椎动物噬菌体中分布最广、种类最多的一类，是菌根真菌传播的关键。啮齿动物在除南极洲以外的每个大陆上消耗并随后通过粪便传播真菌。这项研究检查了黑斯廷斯河老鼠（Pseudomysoralis）消耗的真菌类群，这是一种来自鼠科的濒临灭绝的澳大利亚地方性啮齿动物。我们分析了 1993 年至 2012 年间在 19 年期间在新南威尔士州和昆士兰州动物分布的地点收集的 251 份粪便样本。我们表明，该物种至少食用 16 个菌根真菌属，因此它在澳大利亚东部作为外生菌根松露样真菌的载体发挥着重要作用。类似于澳大利亚东部其他哺乳动物的真菌饮食，秋季和冬季的季节性真菌消耗量最大。P.oralis 的饮食多样性也似乎遵循从南到北的地理趋势；在物种分布范围南部的地点收集的样本比来自该范围北部地点的样本具有更大的多样性，总体而言，来自南部地点的饮食产生的真菌类群比北部地点多。这项研究提供了对口唇假单胞菌饮食的新见解，并强调了该物种通过其菌根真菌的传播提供的先前被忽视的生态系统服务的重要性。在物种分布范围南部的地点收集的样本比来自该范围北部地点的样本具有更大的多样性，总体而言，来自南部地点的饮食产生的真菌类群比北部地点多。这项研究提供了对口唇假单胞菌饮食的新见解，并强调了该物种通过其菌根真菌的传播提供的先前被忽视的生态系统服务的重要性。在物种分布范围南部的地点收集的样本比来自该范围北部地点的样本具有更大的多样性，总体而言，来自南部地点的饮食产生的真菌类群比北部地点多。这项研究提供了对口唇假单胞菌饮食的新见解，并强调了该物种通过其菌根真菌的传播提供的先前被忽视的生态系统服务的重要性。