A phenotype is the expression of interactions between species genotype and environment. We quantified the contributions of ecological and phylogenetic associations to phenotypic variation in Geosmithia fungi. Geosmithia are symbiotic beetle-associated saprotrophs with a range of life histories and host specificities, including obligate nutritional beetle mutualists (ambrosia fungi) and phytopathogens. We hypothesized that: (1) species phenotypes are better explained by their ecology than by their phylogenetic relationships; (2) niche specialization was accompanied by enzymatic capability losses; and (3) ambrosia Geosmithia species have higher nutritional quality and antibiotic capabilities than species with facultative symbioses. Our results confirmed that long-term co-evolved specialists have reduced metabolic breadth in comparison to generalists. Phytopathogenic G. morbida produces unique enzyme suites with affinity to ligno-cellulose. Mycelia of ambrosia fungi contain large amounts of oleic fatty acid with nutritive and possibly allelopathic function. Overall, our results indicate that Geosmithia ecology have greater effect on species phenotype than their phylogenetic relationships.

表型是物种基因型和环境之间相互作用的表达。我们量化了生态和系统发育协会对大地史真菌的表型变异的贡献。地史铁匠是与甲虫共生的共生腐生菌，具有多种生活史和宿主特异性，包括专性营养甲虫互惠生（菌类真菌）和植物病原体。我们假设：（1）通过生态学比通过系统发育关系更好地解释了物种表型；（2）生态位专业化伴随着酶能力的丧失；和（3）佳肴地史密斯州与具有兼性共生的物种相比，这些物种具有更高的营养质量和抗生素能力。我们的结果证实，与普通专家相比，长期共同发展的专家减少了新陈代谢的广度。致植物病原菌G. morbida产生独特的酶套件，对木质纤维素具有亲和力。菌类真菌菌丝体含有大量油酸脂肪酸，具有营养和化感作用。总体而言，我们的结果表明，大地铁矿生态学对物种表型的影响大于它们的系统发生关系。