Species Diversity of Cordyceps -Like Fungi in the Tiankeng Karst Region of China.

Tiankeng acts as a refugium for biodiversity amid a changing global climate, and a previous study has shown that some ancient ( Alsophila spinulosa ) and unique plants (cool-adapted plants) are present in Tiankeng. However, there are few reports on Ascomycota from the Tiankeng karst region. In this research, the species diversity of Cordyceps -like fungi in Monkey-Ear Tiankeng was investigated. Seven species in the genera Akanthomyces , Beauveria , Cordyceps , and Samsoniella were identified based on internal transcribed spacer sequences and morphological characteristics. Eight new species in the genera Akanthomyces , Cordyceps , and Samsoniella were established and described according to a multilocus phylogenetic analysis and morphological characteristics. Our results revealed that Cordyceps -like fungi were abundant in Monkey-Ear Tiankeng, providing new insights into the diversity of Ascomycota in this special eco-environment. IMPORTANCE Karst Tiankeng has a special eco-environment and acts as a refugium for biodiversity. However, there are few reports on Ascomycota from the Tiankeng karst region. In this research, seven known species and eight new species in the genera Akanthomyces , Beauveria , Cordyceps , and Samsoniella were reported. The results showed that Cordyceps -like fungi are abundant in Monkey-Ear Tiankeng. Interestingly, the month of the sampling was November, which is not an active period of growth and reproduction for Cordyceps -like fungi. These results revealed that unconventional time sampling should not be ignored, especially for a special eco-environment, and provided new insights into the diversity of Ascomycota in this special eco-environment.