Meeting Abstract

P2.224  Saturday, Jan. 5  Fungal patterns across space and species: Comparative studies of the mycobiomes of sympatric paper wasp species MADDEN, A.A.*; SORIANO, J.N.; ELLIS, N.; GRASSETTI, A.; FIERER, N.; STARKS, P.T.; Tufts University, Medford, MA; Tufts University, Medford, MA; Tufts University, Medford, MA; Tufts University, Medford, MA; Univ. of Colorado, Boulder; Tufts University, Medford, MA madden.anne@gmail.com

Recent investigations of ant-associated microbial communities have revealed diverse assemblages of commensal microbes. Some of these microbes have been shown to affect host insect nutrition, nest hygiene, and colony health. However, microbial communities associated with other hymenoptera remain understudied. Paper wasps are globally distributed, social hymenoptera that construct nests annually out of macerated plant material and saliva. Disparate studies have suggested that paper wasp nests contain culturable fungi, including a previously uncharacterized fungal species. However, the full diversity of these communities remains unexplored. We extend these preliminary studies by investigating the fungal diversity of the bodies and nests of congeneric, sympatric paper wasps in Massachusetts—Polistes dominulus and P. fuscatus. We measured the fungal abundance and diversity associated with these wasps across multiple nesting locations to investigate how location and species correlate with fungal community patterns. Fungal communities were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively using culture-dependent methods to investigate specific isolates and their viability, as well as culture-independent methods, such as microscopy and high-throughput sequencing of ITS rDNA. Contrary to the general understanding that these nest habitats are constructed solely out of macerated paper and saliva, our results indicate that paper wasp nests and bodies contain an abundance of diverse, viable fungi.