Ecological niche drives fungal and bacterial diversity in endolithic and epilithic communities inhabiting granites in Victoria Land, Antarctica
Author(s)
Date Issued
December 22, 2024
Type
article
Volume
48
Issue
1
ISSN
0722-4060
1432-2056
Journal
Abstract
The Antarctic continent harbors unique ecosystems, including diverse microbial communities inhabiting rocky substrates.
Despite extensive research on Antarctic microbial ecology, a gap in knowledge persists regarding the comparative analysis
of microbial communities associated with Antarctic granite rocks and the microenvironment created by the thalli of the
epilithic lichens growing on them. The present study addresses this gap. Using high-throughput sequencing approaches we
conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of fungal and bacterial communities colonizing endolithic and epilithic
niches on granites in Antarctica. Our results revealed distinct differences between endolithic and epilithic communities in
terms of diversity and composition. Lecanoromycetes was the most frequent fungal class in both groups, which accounts for
78.5% in the endolithic and 53.5% in the epilithic samples, respectively. The prevalence of lichenized fungi in both habitats
suggests their pivotal role in shaping the diversity and composition of the Antarctic microbial communities. Endolithic communities
exhibited higher bacterial diversity, most probably influenced by a combination of environmental factors and the
complex interplay between lichens and other microorganisms. Stress-resistant bacterial taxa, as the radioresistant Truepera
and Rubrobacter species were specifically found in the endolithically colonized specimens, suggesting that the endolithic
lifestyle promotes a more specific ability to adapt throughout environmental extremes. Moreover, the endolithic niche in
granites seems to positively select cyanobacteria, as they were found to play a significant role in endolithic communities,
demonstrating their adaptability to low-light conditions and their importance in nutrient cycling. Overall, our findings shed
light on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities in extreme environments and highlight the importance of further
research to elucidate their roles in Antarctic ecosystems.
Subjects
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