The diversity of microfungi in peatlands originated from the White Sea

Abstract

The diversity of culturable filamentous microfungi in peat and sediments of four peatlands at the coastal zone of Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea (Murmansk region, Russia) was studied by culture methods on standard and selective media. Annually 100 samples were collected from the bogs 2007–2010. Based on morphological, molecular markers and cultural features, 211 taxa were identified. Fungal communities observed at the peatlands were influenced mostly by their sea origin. We discovered a large difference between fungal communities from the peat and the sediments of the peatlands. In contrast to the sediments, the fungal community of the peat was found to be consistent throughout sampling sites. Fungi with specific ecophysiology, such as Sphagnum-decomposing species (Oidiodendron griseum, O. tenuissimum. Penicillium spinulosum, P. thomii, Talaromyces funiculosus), psychrotolerant and associated with insects species (Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Tolypocladium spp.), typical marine species (Acremonium spp.) were found. In addition, different types of sterile mycelia were characteristic for the researched peatlands.

• fungal diversity
• fungi decomposing Sphagnum
• fungi in sediments
• molecular identification
• psychrotolerants

Acknowledgments

We thank Alexander Tzetlin (director of the WSBS) for the opportunity to do this research, Elena Vortsepneva and Alexander Semenov for their help with sample collection, Bertha Koopmanschap, Marijke Slakhorst and Alex Grum-Grzhimaylo for technical assistance, and Denis Landin for image processing. The work was supported by Erasmus Mundus IAMONETRU and the Laboratory of Genetics at Wageningen University, the research grants from St Peterburg State University No. 1.0.134.2010 and RFBR grants No. 15-29-02553, No. 15-04-02722 (the field investigation and identification of the fungi), RSCF grant No. 14-50-00029 (the cultivation and collection of the fungi; Bilanenko, Grum-Grzhimaylo).