A Multivariate Analysis of Soil Yeasts Isolated from a Latitudinal Gradient

Abstract

Yeast isolates from soil samples collected from a latitudinal gradient (>77 degrees S to >64 degrees N) were subjected to multivariate analysis to produce a statistical foundation for observed relationships between habitat characteristics and the distribution of yeast taxa (at various systematic levels) in soil microbial communities. Combinations of temperature, rainfall (highly correlated with net primary productivity), and electrical conductivity (EC) could explain up to ca. 44% of the distribution of the predominant yeast species, rainfall and pH could explain ca. 32% of the distribution of clades in the most common orders (Filobasidiales and Tremellales), whereas vegetation type (trees, forbs, and grass) played the same role for orders. Cryptococcus species with appropriate maximum temperatures for growth predominated in most soils. Cryptococcus species in the Albidus clade of the Filobasidiales predominated in desert soils; Cryptococcus species of other clades in the Filobasidiales and Tremellales predominated in wetter and more-vegetated soils, with Tremellalean species favored in soils of lower pH or higher EC. The predominance of Cryptococcus species in soils has been attributed to their polysaccharide capsules, particularly important when competing with bacteria in arid soils.

Fungal diversity in the rhizosphere of endemic plant species of Tenerife (Canary Islands): relationship to vegetation zones and environmental factors

“…were also detected as the major fungal population in the soil of natural areas in some other studies too (Wuczkowski and Prillinger, 2004;Vishniac, 2006;Connell et al, 2008). The predominance of Cryptococcus species in soils has been attributed to the unique polysaccharide capsules surrounding those (McFadden et al, 2006) that aid in the assimilation of nutrients from soil and thus competing with bacteria and other fungi in arid soils (Vishniac, 2006). The functioning and stability of terrestrial ecosystems are determined by biodiversity and species composition (McCann, 2000).…”

ANaganishiain high places: functioning populations or dormant cells from the atmosphere?

“…Our working model is that the reservoir is the high elevation volcanoes discussed in this paper, because that is where we find the highest relative abundance of members of this group (see next section) on a global scale. The relative abundance of Naganishia species in microbial communities of the Dry Valleys of Antarctica is less clear because most studies have been based on culture-dependent approaches focusing solely on specific species (Vishniac and Hempfling 1979; Vishniac 1985a, 1985b, 2006). Two recent culture-independent studies of microbial communities indicated that Naganishia are rare in many Dry Valley soils (Fell et al 2006), but are quite common in several higher elevation sites (Dreesens et al 2014).…”

“…Broader and more general discussions of the biogeography of yeasts found in cold environments are available in the literature (e.g. Vishniac 2006; Buzzini et al 2012). …”

Biogeography of soil archaea and bacteria along a steep precipitation gradient

“…Nevertheless, our understanding of the spatial distribution patterns of bacterial diversity is limited, mainly because most studies are limited to local scales (Navarro-Gonzalez et al, 2003;Zhou et al, 2004). Recent large-scale surveys have revealed that different ecosystems support unique microbial populations (Zhou et al, 2002;Fierer and Jackson, 2006;Green and Bohannan, 2006;Vishniac, 2006;Adler and Levine, 2007), giving rise to the notion that microbial populations can exhibit geographic distribution. These emerging microbial distribution patterns suggest that the ecological rules followed by macroorganisms do not necessarily apply to microorganisms (Fierer and Jackson, 2006;Green and Bohannan, 2006;Bryant et al, 2008).…”