Antarctic Epilithic Lichens as Niches for Black Meristematic Fungi

Biology

Laura Selbmann²  Martin Grube¹  Silvano Onofri²  Daniela Isola² 

[1] Institute of Plant Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Holteigasse 6, A-8010 Graz, Austria; E-Mail:;Department of Ecological and BiologicalSciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, Viterbo 01100, Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: black meristematic fungi;    Dothideomycetes;    Eurotiomycetes;    lichen-associated fungi;    phylogeny;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biology2020784

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Sixteen epilithic lichen samples (13 species), collected from seven locations in Northern and Southern Victoria Land in Antarctica, were investigated for the presence of black fungi. Thirteen fungal strains isolated were studied by both morphological and molecular methods. Nuclear ribosomal 18S gene sequences were used together with the most similar published and unpublished sequences of fungi from other sources, to reconstruct an ML tree. Most of the studied fungi could be grouped together with described or still unnamed rock-inhabiting species in lichen dominated Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities. At the edge of life, epilithic lichens withdraw inside the airspaces of rocks to find conditions still compatible with life; this study provides evidence, for the first time, that the same microbes associated to epilithic thalli also have the same fate and chose endolithic life. These results support the concept of lichens being complex symbiotic systems, which offer attractive and sheltered habitats for other microbes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.