Bacterial complexes of Khibiny Mountains lichens revealed in Cladonia uncialis, C. portentosa, Alectoria ochroleuca, and Nephroma arcticum

Abstract

Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to investigate microbial communities of four lichen species collected in the Murmansk province. The maximal bacterial abundance was shown to depend on both the lichen species and the part of the thallus. Predominant groups of bacteria were revealed: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Criteria for assessment the facultative and obligatory presence of bacteria in lichen microbial communities were established, and approaches to classification of the lichen microbial communities were proposed based on the interdependence of various bacterial groups.