Abstract
SummaryWe used amplicon sequencing and isolation of fungi from in‐growth mesh bags to identify active fungi in three earliest stages of soil development (SSD) at a glacier forefield (0–3, 9–14, 18–25 years after retreat of glacial ice). Soil organic matter and nutrient concentrations were extremely low, but the fungal diversity was high [220 operational taxonomic units (OTUs)/138 cultivated OTUs]. A clear successional trend was observed along SSDs, and species richness increased with time. Distinct changes in fungal community composition occurred with the advent of vascular plants. Fungal communities of recently deglaciated soil are most distinctive and rather similar to communities typical for cryoconite or ice. This indicates melting water as an important inoculum for native soil. Moreover, distinct seasonal differences were detected in fungal communities. Some fungal taxa, especially of the class Microbotryomycetes, showed a clear preference for winter and early SSD. Our results provide insight into new facets regarding the ecology of fungal taxa, for example, by showing that many fungal taxa might have an alternative, saprobial lifestyle in snow‐covered, as supposed for a few biotrophic plant pathogens of class Pucciniomycetes. The isolated fungi include a high proportion of unknown species, which can be formally described and used for experimental approaches.
Highlights
Since the last Little Ice Age around 1858, glaciers are receding all over the world (Abermann et al, 2009)
Soil microbial community (SMC) composition and primary succession is strongly influenced by soil development in the glacier forefield (Jumpponen, 2003; Tscherko et al, 2005), and especially, active fungal community composition changes over soil developmental stages (Rime et al, 2016a; Rime et al, 2016b)
We especially address fungi actively growing underneath the snow cover by using a combination of in-growth mesh bags (MBs) (Wallander et al, 2001) with both, cultivation as well as amplicon sequencing
Summary
Since the last Little Ice Age around 1858, glaciers are receding all over the world (Abermann et al, 2009). Glacier forefields provide valuable areas for studying the development and colonization of newly exposed soils. Biological soil crusts consist of typical pioneer organisms (bacteria including cyanobacteria, fungi, algae and lichens) colonizing the soil surface and subsurface. They perform a key role in stabilizing mobile surfaces, protecting soil from erosion and cryoturbation (Bu et al, 2015). Soil microbial community (SMC) composition and primary succession is strongly influenced by soil development in the glacier forefield (Jumpponen, 2003; Tscherko et al, 2005), and especially, active fungal community composition changes over soil developmental stages (Rime et al, 2016a; Rime et al, 2016b)
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