Root associated fungi in Arctic Glacier Forlands raw sequences

Climate change causes Arctic glaciers to retreat faster, exposing new
areas for colonization. Several pioneer plants likely to colonize recent
deglaciated, nutrient-poor areas depend on fungal partners for successful
establishment. Little is known about general patterns or characteristics
of facilitating fungal pioneers and how they vary with regional climate in
the Arctic. The High Arctic Archipelago Svalbard represents an excellent
study system to address these questions, as glaciers cover ∼60% of the
land surface and recent estimations suggest at least 7% reduction of
glacier area since 1960s. Roots of two ectomycorrhizal
(ECM) plants (Salix polaris and Bistorta vivipara ) were sampled in eight
glacier forelands. Associated ECM fungi were assessed using DNA
metabarcoding. About 25% of the diversity was unknown at family level,
indicating presence of undescribed species. Seven genera dominated based
on richness and abundance, but their relative importance varied with local
factors. The genus Geopora showed surprisingly high richness and
abundance, particularly in dry, nutrient-poor forelands. Such forelands
will diminish along with increasing temperature and precipitation, and
faster succession. Our results support a taxonomical shift in pioneer ECM
diversity with climate change, and we are likely to lose unknown fungal
diversity, without knowing their identity or ecological importance.