Fungal ITS gene sequencing from elevation and depth gradient soils at two geologically different Austrian Alpine sites.

Unlike plants and animals, knowledge about the variation in soil fungal communities along elevation gradients is very little. Therefore, fungal diversity along three elevation and depth gradient soils was assessed at two Austrian alpine sites that differed in bedrock properties. Furthermore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effects of climate and vegetation changes on soil fungal diversity and community structure, using high-throughput metagenomic sequencing of fungal ITS gene.