Ecological Adaptation and Classification in Aspergillus and Penicillium

Abstract

Various adaptations of Aspergilli and Penicillia to their natural world have provided taxonomists the characters used in the classification of these moulds. From an ecologist's perspective, the potential adaptive value of such characters in nature is considered and their importance in placing these fungi within existing classification schemes is examined. The ecological data important in defining the niche of distinct populations of Aspergilli and Penicillia can be a strong predictor of genetic relatedness and taxonomic designation. This paper provides a sampling of the kinds of questions taxonomists should ask in attempting to identify clusters of characters that suggest a unique fungal niche and genetic divergence at the species level.