Timing of fungal spore release dictates survival during atmospheric transport.

ABSTRACT: Fungi disperse spores to move across landscapes and spore liberation takes different patterns. Many species release spores intermittently; others release spores at specific times of day. Despite intriguing evidence of periodicity, why (and if) the timing of spore release would matter to a fungus remains an open question. Here we use state-of-the-art numerical simulations of atmospheric transport and meteorological data to follow the trajectory of many spores in the atmosphere at different times of day, seasons, and locations across North America. While individual spores follow unpredictable trajectories due to turbulence, in the aggregate patterns emerge: Statistically, spores released during the day fly for several days, whereas spores released at night return to ground within a few hours

SUBMITTER: Lagomarsino Oneto D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7071907 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature