Complexes of soil micromycetes in the area of the influence of the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station]

Complexes of soil micromycetes in the Chernobyl 30-km zone of the Ukrainian Polesye were studied for 1986-1989 with regard for such ecological parameters as the level of radiation contamination, a particular observation site, depth of soil horizon and season. As a result of the study correlation pleiads of soil micromycete complexes have been revealed with their structure and fungal genera characteristic of such complexes determined. The overwhelming majority of correlation pleiads of fungal complexes are attributed to complex-organized ones and this indicated high radioresistance of mycobiota in the studied, soils. Melanine-containing genera of fungi rank among the first in formation of correlation pleiads of soil micromycete complexes.     

Adaptive spatiotemporal distribution of soil microfungi in 'Evolution Canyon' II, Lower Nahal Keziv, western Upper Galilee, Israel

We describe and interpret spatiotemporal micromycete community structure and adaptive complexes in contrasting xeric and mesic microclimates in the soils of 'Evolution Canyon' II, Lower Nahal Keziv, western Upper Galilee, Israel. A total of 192 species from 60 genera belonging to Zygomycota (nine species), Ascomycota (13 species), and mitosporic fungi (170 species) were isolated. The fungal communities on the south-facing, xeric, 'African' slope (AS) demonstrated significantly greater diversity than on the north-facing, mesic, 'European' slope (ES) and the valley bottom (VB). Seasonally, winter slope communities were less heterogeneous. Forest localities on the ES and the VB in all seasons and the shady localities on the AS in the winter were overwhelmingly dominated by mesophilic Penicillium species. The sunny locality on the AS was characterized by a dominance of melanin-containing micromycetes that was most pronounced in the summer and by high occurrence and abundance of thermotolerant and thermophilic Aspergillus and Fusarium species. Ascomycetes and zygomycetes were the minor components in all local mycobiota studied; sexual ascomycetes, being stress-selected fungi, were more than ten times more abundant in the soil of the AS than in that of the ES, with the peak of abundance in the sunny summer community. The results demonstrated a microscale adaptive spatiotemporal inter- and intraslope divergence in soil mycobiota structure. Microclimatic natural selection appears to be the major factor affecting soil fungus diversity patterns.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78, 527–539.     

Assessment of Anthropogenic Influence on Antarctic Mycobiota in Areas of Russian Polar Stations

This article presents the results of microscopic fungi complexes in the areas of five Russian polar stations in East Antarctica and the Subantarctic. A total of 104 microfungal species have been identified. Seventyseven fungal species have been detected in samples of soils and anthropogenic materials from polar stations of East Antarctica (Progress, Mirny, Molodezhnaya, and Druzhnaya 4) using mycological methods while, in the Bellingshausen station (Subantarctic), we have isolated 87 micromycete species. The number of fungi in soils varies from individual propagules in control soils to 94000 per 1 g of soil in contaminated areas. The largest number of species is represented by the genus Penicillium (26 species). Fungal species that form the core of mycobiota in most of the studied habitats have been identified. For soils of East Antarctica, it is formed by species of the genera Aureobasidium, Cadophora, Pseudogymnoascus (Geomyces), Thelebolus, and Phoma. Significant differences are established between the mycobiota of East Antarctica and that of the Subantarctic. At the same time, a general trend towards an increase in fungal species diversity and number in the areas of polar stations compared to the control (clean) sites for all studied areas is recorded. These data indicate that a significant part of micromycetes is introduced into the Antarctic by humans (anthropogenic invasion).     

On ecology of post-fire soil fungi: assessing impact of disturbance using species-abundance models as measure of community organization

Mediterranean ecosystems are among those most significantly modified by fires. Such fires lead to evident disturbance of the above- and below-ground ecosystem components, at various spatial and temporal scales, including soil microfungi. The ecological parameters used to measure the effects of disturbance on soil fungal communities include species-abundance distribution patterns, which reflect changes in the relationships between species numbers and their relative abundance, and serve as a critical measure of community organization. Species-abundance distribution patterns were used to assess the disturbance impact of experimental fires on soil fungal communities in Mediterranean maquis (southern Italy) in the short- to mid-term. The trend in the distribution patterns of heat-stimulated and xerotolerant soil fungi over time, their varying responses to low- and high-intensity fire, the efficiency of the soil germplasm bank, and the pivotal role of Neosartorya spp. in post-fire community structure in Mediterranean burned soils may all be used as tools to accurately assess the effects of fire on soil mycobiota.     

A First Record of Obligate Halophilic Aspergilli from the Dead Sea

The isolation of obligate halophilic aspergilli from the Dead Sea and the range of salt tolerance of halophilic fungi isolated, are reported here for the first time. The mycobiota of the Dead Sea isolated in this study, was dominated by Aspergillus and Penicillium species; Cladosporium were found in lesser numbers. All three genera were obtained from the water sample; however, Aspergillus was the only genus obtained from the sediment. There was significant difference in growth of each isolate at different salt concentrations and intraspecies analysis revealed dissimilarity in response of strains to different salt concentrations in the growth medium The isolates were euryhaline, with halotolerance up to 20–25% solar salt, Aspergillus and Penicillium species showing a higher level of halotolerance, as compared to that of Cladosporium. Halophilic fungi were found in greater numbers in the sediment sample as compared to that in the water sample. Penicillium and Cladosporium species were exclusively facultative halophiles, while some species of Aspergillus were facultative halophiles. All the obligate halophiles isolated, belonged to the genus Aspergillus and were identified as A. penicillioides and A unguis, the latter being a first record of the species from the Dead Sea.     

Communities of halotolerant micromycetes from the areas of natural salinity

The halophilic community of natural hypersaline soils has been isolated. Species of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, as well as dark-colored yeast-like organisms, are most frequently isolated on selective media from all saline soil samples that we have studied. It has been shown that the community of micromycetes of hypersaline habitats is less dependent on geographical position than on the physicochemical parameters of habitat.     

Effect of the mycorrhizosphere on soil micromycete biodiversity and community structure and its relation to the rhizosphere and hyphosphere effects

The impact of ectomycorrhiza on soil micromycete biodiversity and community versus the effect of the rhizosphere and hyphosphere was studied under natural conditions. Root-free soil was used as the control. The mycorrhizosphere effect manifested itself in changes in the structure of the complexes of the dominant and frequent micromycete species or in complete elimination of certain species, as well as in the influence of the mycorrhizal root zone on soil micromycete diversity. The changes in the structure of the soil micromycete community occurring in the mycorrhizosphere, as well as significant changes in their species composition in the mycorrhizosphere and other habitats, are indicative of the specificity of this niche and its differences from both the habitats influenced by only one of the two symbionts (plant-rhizosphere or mycobiont-hyphosphere) and free soil.     

Mites as Selective Fungal Carriers in Stored Grain Habitats

Mites are well documented as vectors of micromycetes in stored products. Since their vectoring capacity is low due to their small size, they can be serious vectors only where there is selective transfer of a high load of specific fungal species. Therefore the aim of our work was to find out whether the transfer of fungi is selective. Four kinds of stored seeds (wheat, poppy, lettuce, mustard) infested by storage mites were subjected to mycological analysis. We compared the spectrum of micromycete species isolated from different species of mites (Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Caloglyphus rhizoglyphoides and Cheyletus malaccensis) and various kinds of stored seeds. Fungi were separately isolated from (a) the surface of mites, (b) the mites' digestive tract (= faeces), and (c) stored seeds and were then cultivated and determined. The fungal transport via mites is selective. This conclusion is supported by (i) lower numbers of isolated fungal species from mites than from seeds; (ii) lower Shannon–Weaver diversity index in the fungal communities isolated from mites than from seeds; (iii) significant effect of mites/seeds as environmental variables on fungal presence in a redundancy analysis (RDA); (iv) differences in composition of isolated fungi between mite species shown by RDA. The results of our work support the hypothesis that mite–fungal interactions are dependent on mite species. The fungi attractive to mites seem to be dispersed more than others. The selectivity of fungal transport via mites enhances their pest importance.     

咸海湖泊退缩对岸边土壤真菌和植物内生真菌的影响研究

[目的] 研究咸海岸边不同暴露时期土壤带的土壤真菌和植物内生真菌群落构成及其对湖泊干涸的响应。[方法] 从咸海湖岸远端（土壤带的暴露时间最长）到湖岸近端（土壤带的暴露时间最短）的不同土壤带采集土壤样品,对其进行地球化学和矿物学分析。同时也采集各土壤带的土壤样品和优势植物,通过ITS基因高通量测序方法分析土壤真菌和植物内生真菌群落构成,进而探讨其如何响应湖泊干涸（如盐度升高、矿物组分变化、植物种类丰富度变化等）过程。[结果] 持续暴露的咸海湖床从湖泊远岸到湖泊近岸形成了一个连续的盐度梯度：E48（暴露于1970年之前,总可溶解盐0.5±0.5 g/L）;E38（暴露于1980年之前,总可溶解盐0.4±0.2 g/L）;E28（暴露于1990年之前,总可溶解盐23.3±2.1 g/L）;E18（暴露于2000年之前,总可溶解盐23.7±7.5 g/L）;E9（暴露于2009年之前,总可溶解盐71.3±6.1 g/L）;E1（暴露于2017年之前,总可溶解盐62.9±10.7 g/L）和E0（2018年湖岸线附近沉积物样品,总可溶解盐69.9±8.3 g/L）。咸海岸边不同土壤带分布着不同的植物：梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron）在E48和E38区域中占优势地位;滨藜（Chenopodium album）在E28、E18和E9区域占优势;而在E1和E0区域无可见植物物种分布。另外,咸海岸边不同土壤带的主要矿物成分也存在差异：粘土矿物和蒸发岩的含量从咸海湖岸远端到湖岸近端逐渐增加,而碳酸盐矿物含量逐渐减少。咸海岸边不同土壤带土壤样品优势真菌类群（>5%）为散囊菌纲（Eurotiomycetes）、粪壳菌纲（Sordariomycetes）、锤舌菌纲（Leotiomycetes）、座囊菌纲（Dothideomycetes）、黑粉菌亚门（Ustilaginomycotina）和伞菌纲（Agaricomycetes）,且按植物种类丰富度进行聚类。而植物样品优势真菌类群为未知真菌门类（>97.8%）,且按植物种类进行聚类。线性回归结果显示,咸海岸边不同土壤带土壤样品真菌群落差异性与暴露时间距离具有显著相关（R²=0.32,P<0.05）,而与总可溶解盐差异则无明显相关性。而植物内生真菌群落差异性与暴露时间距离/总可溶解盐差异之间均无显著相关。Mantel检验结果显示,咸海岸边不同土壤带土壤真菌群落与植物种类丰富度和矿物成分组成（如白云石、方解石、微斜长石和石膏）呈显著相关（P<0.05）,其中植物种类丰富度和方解石含量的相关性系数最大;植物内生真菌群落与方解石含量之间呈显著相关（P<0.05）。[结论] 咸海岸边不同暴露时期土壤带的土壤真菌和植物内生真菌种群结构具有时空差异,与植物种类丰富度和特定矿物组成相关,而与总可溶解盐无显著相关。     

Effect of Oil on the Population,Biomass, and Viability of Fungi in Highmoor Peats

Some microbiological parameters, such as the fungal mycelium length, the number of fungal spores, the distribution profiles of micromycetes, the viability of fungal propagules, the length distribution of micromycete hyphae, and the ratio between fungal spores and yeastlike cells, can be used to determine the degree of soil contamination with oil and the concentration that is inhibitory to micromycete complexes of highmoor peats.     

Survival of Filamentous Fungi in Hypersaline Dead Sea Water

A variety of filamentous fungi have recently been isolated from the Dead Sea (340 g/L total dissolved salts). To assess the extent to which such fungi can survive for prolonged periods in Dead Sea water, we examined the survival of both spores and mycelia in undiluted Dead Sea water and in Dead Sea water diluted to different degrees with distilled water. Mycelia of Aspergillus versicolor and Chaetomium globosum strains isolated from the Dead Sea remained viable for up to 8 weeks in undiluted Dead Sea water. Four Dead Sea isolates (A. versicolor, Eurotium herbariorum, Gymnascella marismortui, and C. globosum) retained their viability in Dead Sea water diluted to 80% during the 12 weeks of the experiment. Mycelia of all species survived for the full term of the experiment in Dead Sea water diluted to 50% and 10% of its original salinity. Comparison of the survival of Dead Sea species and closely related isolates obtained from other locations showed prolonged viability of the strains obtained from the Dead Sea. Spores of isolates obtained from the terrestrial shore of the Dead Sea generally proved less tolerant to suspension in undiluted Dead Sea water than spores of species isolated from the water column. Spores of the species isolated from the control sites had lost their viability in undiluted Dead Sea water within 12 weeks. However, with the exception of Emericella spores, which showed poor survival, a substantial fraction of the spores of Dead Sea fungal isolates remained viable for that period. The difference in survival rate between spores and mycelia of isolates of the same species points to the existence of adapted halotolerant and/or halophilic fungi in the Dead Sea.     

The central role of Clark's nutcracker in the dispersal and establishment of whitebark pine

Summary Plant and soil water relationships in a typical nebraska Sandhills prairie were examined to 1) explain the observed distribution patterns of several dominant grasses along a topographic gradient, and 2) show how spatial and temporal variations in soil moisture are critical to community organization on a sandy substrate. An experimental transect encompassing the major community and soil types along a steep, west-facing vegetated dune was established. Maximum available water was shown to be significantly higher in the fine textured surface soils of the lowland sites than the coarse textured sands of the dune sites. Seasonal (1979) patterns of available soil moisture of the sampling sites on the transect showed that in the upper elevation dune sands, moisture was available in the entire profile with surface depletions not occurring until mid to late summer. In contrast, moisture in the surface 60–80 cm in the fine textured lowland soils was exhausted by early to mid-summer with the entire profile nearly dry by late summer. Deep-rooted, C₄ species, Andropogon hallii and Calamovilfa longifolia which are common on upper, coarser sandy soils showed significantly greater water stress on fine textured soils than on dune sands. C₃, shallowrooted species, Agropyron smithii, Stipa comata, and Koeleria cristata always experienced lower mid-day and predawn leaf water potentials than the C₄ species. The C₃ species, with the exception of Koeleria are most abundant on finer textured soils that provide substantial moisture during their peak activity in the spring. It appears that the C₄ species show more conservative water use patterns than the C₃ species as significantly lower leaf conductances in the C₄'s were measured when soil water was abundant. The C₃ species appear to be opportunistic with available water and rapidly deplete surface soil moisture as a result of high transpiration rates. These data suggest that the temporal and spatial distribution of available water along this gradient controls species distribution according to rooting morphology, photosynthetic physiology, and water deficits, incurred by transpirational losses. Competitive interactions between species that utilize soil moisture differently may be an important factor in community organization.     

Effect of oil on the size of number, biomass, and viability of fungi in highmoor peats

Some microbiological parameters, such as the fungal mycelium length, the number of fungal spores, the distribution profiles of micromycetes, the viability of fungal propagules, the length distribution of micromycete hyphae, and the proportion between fungal spores and yeastlike cells, can be used to determine the degree of soil contamination with oil and the concentration that is inhibitory to the micromycete complexes of highmoor peats.     

Plant species diversity under desert conditions

Summary Annual species diversity in the northern Dead Sea Valley has a high inverse correlation with soil salinity. Leached silty soil which overlies a gravel layer supports a plant community rich in species. Saline patches are populated with a plant community which is poor in species number and may even be monospecific.     

Coastal plain halophytes and their relation to soil ionic composition

Halophytic coastal communities in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, were examined in relation to soil salinity along a transect from inland to the sea. The relationships between soil electrical conductivity and dominance-abundance values for different species were determined. The Chañaral community with its most conspicuous species Geoffroea decorticans was present in soils with the lowest salinity levels in the area. Halophytic underbush develops at soil salinity values of intermediate soil electrical conductivity, the characteristic species being Cyclolepis genistoides, Atriplex undulata and Salicornia ambigua. Halophytic shrub-like steppe vegetation, dominated by Allenrolfea patagonica or Heterostachys ritteriana, is present in soils with high salinity. It is concluded that the ionic composition of plants was a stable characteristic for different species and did not vary with changes in soil salinity.     

Effect of Trichoderma Fungi on Soil Micromycetes That Cause Infectious Conifer Seedling Lodging in Siberian Tree Nurseries

Soils in the tree nurseries studied were characterized by a lower species diversity of fungi than adjacent virgin soils. In particular, the relative abundances of representatives of the genera Mucor, Chaetomium, and Trichoderma in the nursery soil were two times lower than in adjacent virgin soils. On the other hand, the nursery soil exhibited greater abundances of fungi of the genus Fusarium, which are causative agents of many diseases of conifer seedlings. To appreciate the efficiency of biocontrol of the infectious diseases of conifer seedlings, we introduced several indigenous Trichoderma strains into the nursery soil and found that this affected the species composition of soil microflora considerably. Changes in the species composition of mycobiota beneficially influenced the phytosanitary state of soils and reduced the infectious lodging of conifer seedlings.     

Soil pH and species diversity in coastal dunes

Soil pH was measured at two different spatial scales in coastal dunes on Norderney, North Sea, and in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Baltic Sea, Germany. Relationships between the variability in soil pH, species richness and species diversity are presented. Species richness and diversity were highest in grey dunes, where soil pH was at intermediate levels; both variables were lower in yellow and brown dunes. The variability in pH increased with increasing species diversity and also with scale. Overall, soil pH variability decreased with increasing vegetation cover. The lowest pH heterogeneity was found in heath dominated by Empetrum nigrum L. and grey dunes dominated by Campylopus introflexus (Hedw.) Brid. Increasing abundance of dominant species and decreasing species diversity of vegetation apparently reduces soil heterogeneity. Decreasing species diversity of vegetation is likely to explain decreasing variability in soil pH.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium svalbardense</Emphasis>, a new species from Arctic glacial ice

During investigations of mycobiota in the coastal Arctic polythermal glaciers, different species of the ubiquitous genus Penicillium were isolated from the extreme subglacial environment. A group of Penicillium strains was obtained that did not belong to any known Penicillium species. This species was isolated in high numbers from the Kongsvegen subglacial ice and was not detected in the surrounding environment. A detailed analysis of secondary metabolite profiles, physiological and morphological characteristics, and partial β-tubulin gene sequences showed that the proposed new species Penicillium svalbardense is closely related but not identical to Penicillium piscarium and Penicillium simplicissimum. It differs in the production of secondary metabolites and in the morphological features of conidia and penicilli, and it is therefore described as a new species.     

The structure of micromycete communities and their synecologic interactions with basidiomycetes during plant debris decomposition

We investigated the interactions between micromycetes and basidiomycete mycelium on plant substrates in the course of their 3-year incubation in the litter of ecologically intact spruce forests of the Central Forest State Biosphere Reservoir (Nelidovo district, Tver oblast). Only 40–60% of the micromycetes were involved in direct antagonistic interactions with basidiomycetous fungi. In terms of the ratio between physiologically active strains and those that did not interact with basidiomycete mycelium, we revealed differences in the structure of micromycete communities developing on various types of substrates (wood, bark, sphagnum moss, leaves, needles, litter, and cotton grass). The micromycetes tested belonged to 49 species. At the end of the observation period, the fraction of microscopic fungi that actively influenced basidiomycete mycelium was four times lower in the inactive litter fraction (lignin-containing wood debris) than in the active fraction (grass substrates). The mechanisms of indirect regulation of the structure and functions of micromycete communities are discussed, which may be based on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the medium and changes in the enzyme activities of basidiomycete mycelium.Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 1, 2005, pp. 104–110.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Terekhova, Semenova.     

Distribution patterns of Dikarya in arid and semiarid soils of Baja California,Mexico

Approximately four-fifths of the land area of Baja California (BC) in Mexico are occupied by arid and semiarid soils, the mycobiota of which is virtually uncharacterized. In the first culture-independent study of the mycobiota of BC, we collected soil from five different locations in the region and constructed a Dikarya-specific gene library for the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Clones were analyzed by RFLP, were sequenced for phylogenetic analyses, and diversity and similarity indices were calculated. The ascomycete Penicillium dipodomyicola was the most frequent fungus found in soil at the most arid location studied, and the basidiomycete Coprinellus radians was the most frequent at the location receiving the highest rainfall. Other frequent members of the soil mycobiota were identified as Alternaria spp., Ceratobasidium sp., Coniozyma leucospermi, Nematoctonus robustus, Penicillium griseofulvum, Tulostoma kotlabae and uncultured members of the Dikarya. Several sequences were identified as those of uncultured fungi, one of which was previously reported from other hot deserts. Arid soils and the transitional zones between arid and semiarid soils had the most similar fungal diversity, with the former soils having a community from which basidiomycetes were absent, and the soil receiving the highest precipitation having a community dominated by basidiomycetes.