Zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles assemblages from soil of Brazilian Cerrado areas

The influence of seasonal fluctuations and environmental factors on the occurrence and distribution of zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles in terrestrial ecosystems is poorly understood. This contribution analyses the species composition, frequency, abundance and diversity of zoosporic true fungi and heterotrophic straminipiles assemblages from two areas of Cerrado in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Samples of soil were collected at four dates during the rainy and dry seasons. Twenty-one abiotic factors were measured. The assemblages showed a high diversity and evenness and were represented by 30 taxa of Chytridiomycota and Oomycota. Some abiotic factors appeared to have influenced the patterns of distribution and occurrence of the taxa in different areas and/or seasons. Even so, the biotic factors (richness, diversity indices and evenness) and the Sorensen index showed high similarity between the assemblages.