Fungal diversity in soils across a gradient of preserved Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

The preserved Cerrado from Northeastern Brazil presents different physicochemical properties and plant diversity, which can influence the fungal communities. Therefore, we evaluated the fungal diversity in preserved sites, at Sete Cidades National Park, across a gradient of vegetation that included Campo graminoide, Cerrado stricto sensu, Cerradao, and Floresta decidual. Of all of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) obtained, the Floresta decidual presented the highest richness. Ascomycota were the most abundant phylum (45%), followed by Basidiomycota (32%). Basal fungi and other phyla accounted for 23% of the total dataset. Agaricomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Lecanoromycetes, Basidiobolus, Dothideomycetes, and Taphrinomycetes were the most abundant classes of fungi found across the gradient of Cerrado vegetation. In conclusion, our study suggests that the Brazilian Cerrado from Sete Cidades National Park presents a high fungal diversity and includes sources of new fungal species for biotechnological purposes.

Protist species richness and soil microbiome complexity increase towards climax vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…This is in line with patterns observed for other microbiome components, i.e. bacteria 13 , 15 , 18 , archaea 16 and fungi 17 , 18 . These patterns can be attributed to abiotic differences, such as lower fertility and soil moisture, but higher acidity and soil temperature, in the grass compared to the tree zone.…”

“…These patterns can be attributed to abiotic differences, such as lower fertility and soil moisture, but higher acidity and soil temperature, in the grass compared to the tree zone. Abiotic differences were shown to drive above-ground plant community-dynamics across the Cerrado 39 , 40 , and therefore likely also belowground communities 13 , 16 , 17 . In line with other studies, we show that a combination of multiple abiotic factors drive protist communities, with soil moisture being the principle factor 28 , 29 .…”

“…Increasing knowledge on soil biodiversity is obtained from more agriculture dominated regions, especially Europe and North America 11 , 12 , while the soil biodiversity in southern hemisphere soils, such as the tropical Cerrado, is much less studied. Only recently have microbial groups, including bacteria 13 – 15 , archaea 16 and fungi 17 , 18 , been investigated in the Cerrado. These studies have revealed differences in the community composition of microbial groups between the four vegetation zones with diversity increasing from primary grass to climax tree vegetation.…”

Short‐term impact of fire on the total soil microbial and nitrifier communities in a wet savanna

“…In particular, the impact of fires on treegrass coexistence has thoroughly been studied (Bond et al, 2005;N'Dri, 2012;Sankaran et al, 2008). The impacts of fires on both soil properties and soil microorganisms are also widely acknowledged but have not been fully documented especially in African savannas (but see Belmok et al, 2019;Ferreira De Araújo et al, 2017). In the long-term, the cumulative short-term impacts of fires on mineral nutrient, C cycling and plant growth alter soil organic C concentration, pH, mineral nutrient concentrations, texture and structure, and water infiltration (Francos et al, 2018).…”

Neotropical seasonally dry forests: response of soil fungal communities to anthropogenic actions

“…The diversity index values suggested by Ferreira de Araujo et al, 41 were higher than the ones shown by 53. Pereira de Castro et al, 42 and a higher fungal diversity was observed in campo graminoide than in Cerrado forests.…”