Diversity and distribution of hidden cultivable fungi associated with marine animals of Antarctica. Issue 7 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Godinho, Valéria Martins; de Paula, Maria Theresa Rafaela; Silva, Débora Amorim Saraiva; Paresque, Karla; Martins, Aline Paternostro; Colepicolo, Pio; Rosa, Carlos Augusto; Rosa, Luiz Henrique
• Is Part Of: Fungal biology. Volume 123:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 507
• Page End: 516
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Antarctic ocean -- Extremophiles -- Marine fungi -- Taxonomy; Mycology -- Periodicals; Fungi -- Periodicals; 579.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-6146

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, we surveyed the distribution and diversity of fungal assemblages associated with 10 species of marine animals from Antarctica. The collections yielded 83 taxa from 27 distinct genera, which were identified using molecular biology methods. The most abundant taxa were Cladosporium sp. 1, Debaryomyces hansenii, Glaciozyma martinii, Metschnikowia australis, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Thelebolus cf. globosus, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Tolypocladium tundrense, Metschnikowia australis, and different Penicillium species. The diversity, richness, and dominance of fungal assemblages ranged among the host; however, in general, the fungal community, which was composed of endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa distributed across the different sites of Antarctic Peninsula, displayed high diversity, richness, and dominance indices. Our results contribute to knowledge about fungal diversity in the marine environment across the Antarctic Peninsula and their phylogenetic relationships with species that occur in other cold, temperate, and tropical regions of the World. Additionally, despite their extreme habitats, marine Antarctic animals shelter cryptic and complex fungal assemblages represented by endemic and cosmopolitan cold-adapted taxa, which may represent interesting models to study different symbiotic associations between fungi and their animal hosts in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: We surveyed the distribution and diversity of fungi associated with marine animals from Antarctica. The collections yielded 83 taxa from 27 distinct genera. The fungal community was composed of endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa.