Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities
Fungi are one important group of eukaryotic microorganisms in a diverse range of ecosystems, but their diversity in groundwater ecosystems is largely unknown. We used DNA-based pyro-tag sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene to investigate the presence and community str...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00666/full |
| _version_ | 1819088926270291968 |
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| author | Ali eNawaz Ali eNawaz Witoon ePurahong Robert eLehmann Martina eHerrmann Kirsten eKüsel Kirsten eKüsel Kai Uwe Totsche François eBuscot François eBuscot Tesfaye eWubet Tesfaye eWubet |
| author_facet | Ali eNawaz Ali eNawaz Witoon ePurahong Robert eLehmann Martina eHerrmann Kirsten eKüsel Kirsten eKüsel Kai Uwe Totsche François eBuscot François eBuscot Tesfaye eWubet Tesfaye eWubet |
| author_sort | Ali eNawaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fungi are one important group of eukaryotic microorganisms in a diverse range of ecosystems, but their diversity in groundwater ecosystems is largely unknown. We used DNA-based pyro-tag sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene to investigate the presence and community structure of fungi at different sampling sites of two superimposed limestone aquifers ranging from 8.5 to 84 m depth in the newly established Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory (Hainich CZE). We detected a diversity of fungal OTUs in groundwater samples of all sampling sites. The relative percentage abundance of Basidiomycota was higher in the upper aquifer assemblage, whilst Ascomycota dominated the lower one. In parallel to differences in the hydrochemistry we found distinct fungal communities at all sampling sites. Classification into functional groups revealed an overwhelming majority of saprotrophs. Finding taxa common to all analyzed groundwater sites, point to a groundwater specific fungal microbiome. The presence of different functional groups and, in particular plant and cattle pathogens that are not typical of subsurface habitats, suggests links between the surface and subsurface biogeosphere due to rapid transportation across the fracture networks typical of karstic regions during recharge episodes. However further studies including sampling series extended in both time and space are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:59:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f13df4f0f0e7405d8ff7a0373aaa3673 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:59:48Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f13df4f0f0e7405d8ff7a0373aaa36732022-12-21T18:48:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2016-05-01710.3389/fmicb.2016.00666192280Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communitiesAli eNawaz0Ali eNawaz1Witoon ePurahong2Robert eLehmann3Martina eHerrmann4Kirsten eKüsel5Kirsten eKüsel6Kai Uwe Totsche7François eBuscot8François eBuscot9Tesfaye eWubet10Tesfaye eWubet11Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZUniversity of LeipzigHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZFriedrich Schiller University JenaFriedrich Schiller University JenaFriedrich Schiller University JenaGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigFriedrich Schiller University JenaHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigFungi are one important group of eukaryotic microorganisms in a diverse range of ecosystems, but their diversity in groundwater ecosystems is largely unknown. We used DNA-based pyro-tag sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene to investigate the presence and community structure of fungi at different sampling sites of two superimposed limestone aquifers ranging from 8.5 to 84 m depth in the newly established Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory (Hainich CZE). We detected a diversity of fungal OTUs in groundwater samples of all sampling sites. The relative percentage abundance of Basidiomycota was higher in the upper aquifer assemblage, whilst Ascomycota dominated the lower one. In parallel to differences in the hydrochemistry we found distinct fungal communities at all sampling sites. Classification into functional groups revealed an overwhelming majority of saprotrophs. Finding taxa common to all analyzed groundwater sites, point to a groundwater specific fungal microbiome. The presence of different functional groups and, in particular plant and cattle pathogens that are not typical of subsurface habitats, suggests links between the surface and subsurface biogeosphere due to rapid transportation across the fracture networks typical of karstic regions during recharge episodes. However further studies including sampling series extended in both time and space are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00666/fullGroundwaterpyrosequencingkarstfungal communitiesITS geneUpper Muschelkalk |
| spellingShingle | Ali eNawaz Ali eNawaz Witoon ePurahong Robert eLehmann Martina eHerrmann Kirsten eKüsel Kirsten eKüsel Kai Uwe Totsche François eBuscot François eBuscot Tesfaye eWubet Tesfaye eWubet Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities Frontiers in Microbiology Groundwater pyrosequencing karst fungal communities ITS gene Upper Muschelkalk |
| title | Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| title_full | Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| title_fullStr | Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| title_short | Superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| title_sort | superimposed pristine limestone aquifers with marked hydrochemical differences exhibit distinct fungal communities |
| topic | Groundwater pyrosequencing karst fungal communities ITS gene Upper Muschelkalk |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00666/full |
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