Fungal diversity in Boulder Clay glacier (Antarctica)

Although the presence of extreme conditions apparently makes difficult its habitability, Antarctica is inhabited by a plethora of psychrophilic and psychrotolerant microorganisms, including yeast and filamentous fungi. These peculiar microorganisms have evolved specific physiologic and metabolic adaptations to overcome the adverse effects of the extreme low temperature on cellular systems. The mycobiota of different Antarctic ecosystems has been studied using a culture-independent approach. Samples, including saline brines, buried ice and permafrost, were collected from one perennially frozen lakes (Boulder Clay) in Northern Victoria Land (East Antarctica). Fungal diversity and community structure were investigated via NGS targeting the ITS region. Globally, an unexpected high alpha-diversity has been found. Beta-diversity analysis revealed a high phylogenetic differentiation among samples even at the small scale level.