Dataset Information

Isolation and Characterization of Halotolerant Soil Fungi from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma.

ABSTRACT: The Great Salt Plains (GSP) of Oklahoma is an inland terrestrial hypersaline environment where saturated brines leave evaporite crusts of NaCl. The current report examines the fungal community, complementing earlier reports on the bacterial and archaeal communities. Twenty-five fungal isolates from GSP soils were obtained on medium containing 10% NaCl and characterized. Based on 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis, all of the isolates fall within the Ascomycetes, with a predominance of Trichocomaceae, represented by Aspergillus, Eurotium, and Penicillium species. Representatives of Anthrinium, Cladosporium, Debaryomyces, Fusarium, and Ulocladium also were isolated. Overall the isolates were widely halotolerant, with best growth observed at lower salinities and no halophilism. The fungal genera observed were all cosmopolitan, without strong specialization. Taken together, these results support the conclusion that hypersaline environments do not have a characteristic community, in contrast to what was observed at the GSP for bacteria and archaea.

SUBMITTER: Evans S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4170020 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Isolation and Characterization of Halotolerant Soil Fungi from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma.

Evans Sarah S Hansen Ryan W RW Schneegurt Mark A MA

Cryptogamie. Mycologie 20131201 4

The Great Salt Plains (GSP) of Oklahoma is an inland terrestrial hypersaline environment where saturated brines leave evaporite crusts of NaCl. The current report examines the fungal community, complementing earlier reports on the bacterial and archaeal communities. Twenty-five fungal isolates from GSP soils were obtained on medium containing 10% NaCl and characterized. Based on 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis, all of the isolates fall within the Ascomycetes, with a predominance of Trichocomacea ...[more]

PMID: 25249710

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Project description:Decomposing vertebrates impact ecosystems by stimulating animal, insect, and microbial scavengers, perturbing biogeochemical cycles, and transferring elements back to the environment. Most studies exploring the impacts of vertebrate decomposition focus on surface decay scenarios over timescales of days to years. Accordingly, our knowledge of ecosystem impacts of vertebrate decomposition in burial contexts and over longer time scales is limited. In 2000, six animal carcasses were buried in a shallow grave (<1.0 m) and allowed to decompose naturally until partial excavation in 2021, enabling evaluation of long-term soil biogeochemical responses to decomposing vertebrates. Soils were sampled along three vertical transects from the surface to the bone-bearing layer (~40 cm depth) and below. Comparison of the physical and chemical properties of the grave and control soils from equivalent depths indicate significant perturbations even 21 years after burial. Notably, soil pH was significantly more acidic in grave soils (p = 0.0296), and conductivity was significantly elevated (p = 0.0009). Grave soils were significantly enriched with respect to nitrogen stable isotopes, exhibiting δ15N values of 10.48 ± 3.6‰, which is ~5‰ greater than controls. Carbon and nitrogen content was also disrupted in the burial, with five times more nitrogen in the bone-bearing layer and almost double the carbon. Water and acid-based extractions of soils revealed significant differences between grave and control soils, driven largely by calcium, phosphorus (P), magnesium, and iron concentrations. P concentrations in acid extracts were significantly enriched at the bone-bearing layer, suggesting release of P from the bones. This study demonstrates that decomposition may result in long-lived impacts to burial environments and soil biogeochemistry, even after soft tissues decay. While not typically considered in ecosystem models, buried remains contribute to soils for decades or longer, and soil biogeochemistry serves a critical role in facilitating or preventing the long-term preservation of bone.

Dataset Information

Isolation and Characterization of Halotolerant Soil Fungi from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma.

Publications

Isolation and Characterization of Halotolerant Soil Fungi from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma.

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