Fungal Community Shift Along Steep Environmental Gradients from Geothermal Soils in Yellowstone National Park

Geothermal soils offer unique insight into the way extreme environmental factors shape communities of organisms. However, little is known about the fungi growing in these environments and in particular how localized steep abiotic gradients affect fungal diversity. We used metabarcoding to characterize soil fungi surrounding a hot spring-fed thermal creek with water up to ~85 C and pH ~10 in Yellowstone National Park. No soil variable we measured determined fungal community composition. However, soils with pH >8 had lower fungal richness and different fungal assemblages when compared to less extreme soils. Saprotrophic fungi community profile followed more closely overall community patterns while ectomycorrhizal fungi did not, highlighting potential differences in the factors that structure these different fungal trophic guilds. In addition, in vitro growth experiments in four target fungal species revealed a wide range of tolerances to pH levels but not to heat. Overall, our results documenting fungal communities within a few hundred meters suggest stronger statistical power and wider sampling are needed to untangle so many co-varying environmental factors affecting such diverse species communities.

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Fungi from Geothermal Soils in Yellowstone National Park

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.65.12.5193-5197.1999 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 65 (12) ◽

pp. 5193-5197 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Regina S. Redman ◽

Anastassia Litvintseva ◽

Kathy B. Sheehan ◽

Joan M. Henson ◽

Rusty J. Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Root Zone ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Sparse Vegetation ◽

Perennial Plant ◽

Ph Values ◽

Geothermal Soils

ABSTRACT Geothermal soils near Amphitheater Springs in Yellowstone National Park were characterized by high temperatures (up to 70°C), high heavy metal content, low pH values (down to pH 2.7), sparse vegetation, and limited organic carbon. From these soils we cultured 16 fungal species. Two of these species were thermophilic, and six were thermotolerant. We cultured only three of these species from nearby cool (0 to 22°C) soils. Transect studies revealed that higher numbers of CFUs occurred in and below the root zone of the perennial plant Dichanthelium lanuginosum (hot springs panic grass). The dynamics of fungal CFUs in geothermal soil and nearby nongeothermal soil were investigated for 12 months by examining soil cores and in situ mesocosms. For all of the fungal species studied, the temperature of the soil from which the organisms were cultured corresponded with their optimum axenic growth temperature.

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Molecular Community Analysis of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Roots of Geothermal Soils in Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Microbial Ecology ◽

10.1007/s00248-008-9384-9 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 649-659 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Susann Appoloni ◽

Ylva Lekberg ◽

Michael T. Tercek ◽

Catherine A. Zabinski ◽

Dirk Redecker

Keyword(s):

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Community Analysis ◽

Geothermal Soils ◽

Molecular Community Analysis

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Ultrastructural Localization of Phycocyanin in the Acidophilic, Thermophilic Alga, Cyanidium Caldarium

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100072757 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 462-463

Author(s):

M. R. Edwards ◽

J. D. Mainwaring

Keyword(s):

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Ultrastructural Localization ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Cyanidium Caldarium ◽

Taxonomic Rank ◽

Thin Sections ◽

Standard Methods ◽

Laboratory Cultures

Although the general ultrastructure of Cyanidium caldarium, an acidophilic, thermophilic alga of questionable taxonomic rank, has been extensively studied (see review of literature in reference 1), some peculiar ultrastructural features of the chloroplast of this alga have not been noted by other investigators.Cells were collected and prepared for thin sections at the Yellowstone National Park and were also grown in laboratory cultures (45-52°C; pH 2-5). Fixation (glutaraldehyde-osmium), dehydration (ethanol), and embedding (Epon 812) were accomplished by standard methods. Replicas of frozenfracture d- etched cells were obtained in a Balzers apparatus. In addition, cells were examined after disruption in a French Press.

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