Journal article
Highly diverse fungal communities in carbon-rich aquifers of two contrasting lakes in Northeast Germany
Fungal Ecology, Vol.41(October), pp.116-125
06/06/2019
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Fungi are an important component of microbial communities and are well known for their ability to decompose refractory, highly polymeric organic matter. In soils and aquatic systems, fungi play an important role in carbon processing, however, their diversity, community structure and function as well as ecological role, particularly in groundwater, are poorly studied. The aim of this study was to examine the fungal community composition, diversity and function in groundwater from 16 boreholes located in the vicinity of two lakes in NE Germany that are characterized by contrasting trophic status. The analysis of 28S rRNA gene sequences amplified from the groundwater revealed high fungal diversity and clear differences in community structure between the aquifers. Most sequences were assigned to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, but members of Chytridiomycota, Cryptomycota, Zygomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Glomeromycota and Neocallimastigomycota were also detected. In addition, 27 species of fungi were successfully isolated from the groundwater samples and tested for their ability to decompose complex organic polymers – the predominant carbon source in the groundwater. Most isolates showed positive activities for at least one of the tested polymer types, with three strains, belonging to the genera Gibberella, Isaria and Cadophora, able to decompose all tested substrates. Our results highlight the high diversity of fungi in groundwater, and point to their important ecological role in breaking down highly polymeric organic matter in these isolated microbial habitats.
Details
- Title
- Highly diverse fungal communities in carbon-rich aquifers of two contrasting lakes in Northeast Germany
- Creators
- Anita K Perkins - Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales, AustraliaLars Ganzert - Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Experimental Limnology, 16775, Neuglobsow, GermanyKeilor Rojas-Jimenez - Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Experimental Limnology, 16775, Neuglobsow, GermanyJeremy Fonvielle - Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Experimental Limnology, 16775, Neuglobsow, GermanyGrant C Hose - Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales, AustraliaHans-Peter Grossart - Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Experimental Limnology, 16775, Neuglobsow, Germany
- Publication Details
- Fungal Ecology, Vol.41(October), pp.116-125
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991012927072002368
- Copyright
- © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article