Abstract:Fumarolic activity supports the growth of mat-like photoautotrophic communities near the summit (at 6,051 m) of Socompa Volcano in the arid core of the Andes mountains. These communities are isolated within a barren, high-elevation landscape where sparse vascular plants extend to only 4,600 m. Here, we combine biogeochemical and molecular-phylogenetic approaches to characterize the bacterial and eucaryotic assemblages associated with fumarolic and nonfumarolic grounds on Socompa. Small-subunit rRNA genes were … Show more
“…The first report showing this dominance came from the culture-independent study of Volcán Socompa conducted by Costello et al (2009). They collected tephra samples (0 to 10 cm depth) in March, 2005 along a 1-kilometre transect at 5,235 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: Landscape Patterns Of Naganishia Distributionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Note the low pH values at these sites.Mountain(el. )elevationm.a.s.l.pH% C% N% H 2 OrefLlullaillaco60344.20.017<dl a 0.24Lynch et al 201263304.60.005<dl0.25Lynch et al 2012Saírecabur39815.4nd b ndndPulschen et al 201550474.3ndndndPulschen et al 2015Socompa52355.20.03<dl<dlCostello et al 200958205.10.06<dl3.4Solon et al 201760304.8ndnd0.67Solon et al 2017Navajo38784.50.850.0910.7King et al 2010 a below detection limits b not determined10.1080/21501203.2017.1344154-F0001Figure 1.Map showing the location of the three volcanoes discussed in this paper. From south to north, microbial communities on Llullaillaco (6723 m) and Socompa (6051 m) have been studied extensively via culture-independent and culturing approaches (Costello et al …”
Section: The Environmental and Biogeochemical Settingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…From south to north, microbial communities on Llullaillaco (6723 m) and Socompa (6051 m) have been studied extensively via culture-independent and culturing approaches (Costello et al 2009; Lynch et al 2012, Vimercati et al 2016; Solon et al 2017), whereas Naganishia and other yeasts have been cultured (Pulschen et al 2015) from moderately high slopes of Saírecabur (5971 m). Map is redrawn from Costello et al (2009). 10.1080/21501203.2017.1344154-F0002Figure 2.Photograph taken on Volcán Llullaillaco in February, 2009 looking down from 5800 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: The Environmental and Biogeochemical Settingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…and combined the samples to make a clone library using Sanger sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene (primer pair 515F and 1391R). This library was overwhelmingly dominated (61%) by Naganishia friedmannii and included only six other 18S OTUs (Costello et al 2009). On a subsequent expedition in February 2009, samples (0 to 4 cm depth) were collected at six locations spanning elevations of 6030 to 6330 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: Landscape Patterns Of Naganishia Distributionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…soil-like environments on Earth are dominated by basidiomycetous yeasts in the former Cryptococcus albidus clade most closely related to Naganishia friedmannii (Costello et al 2009; Lynch et al 2012; Solon et al 2017). In addition, these same yeasts are fairly easy to isolate from soils at elevations from 5000 (Pulschen et al 2015) to over 6000 m.a.s.l.…”
Here, we review the current state of knowledge concerning high-elevation members of the extremophilic Cryptococcus albidus clade (now classified as the genus Naganishia). These fungi dominate eukaryotic microbial communities across the highest elevation, soil-like material (tephra) on volcanoes such as Llullaillaco, Socompa, and Saírecabur in the Atacama region of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Recent studies indicate that Naganishia species are among the most resistant organisms to UV radiation, and a strain of N. friedmannii from Volcán Llullaillaco is the first organism that is known to grow during the extreme, diurnal freeze-thaw cycles that occur on a continuous basis at elevations above 6000 m.a.s.l. in the Atacama region. These and other extremophilic traits discussed in this review may serve a dual purpose of allowing Naganishia species to survive long-distance transport through the atmosphere and to survive the extreme conditions found at high elevations. Current evidence indicates that there are frequent dispersal events between high-elevation volcanoes of Atacama region and the Dry Valleys of Antarctica via “Rossby Wave” merging of the polar and sub-tropical jet streams. This dispersal hypothesis needs further verification, as does the hypothesis that Naganishia species are flexible “opportunitrophs” that can grow during rare periods of water (from melting snow) and nutrient availability (from Aeolian inputs) in one of the most extreme terrestrial habitats on Earth.
“…The first report showing this dominance came from the culture-independent study of Volcán Socompa conducted by Costello et al (2009). They collected tephra samples (0 to 10 cm depth) in March, 2005 along a 1-kilometre transect at 5,235 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: Landscape Patterns Of Naganishia Distributionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Note the low pH values at these sites.Mountain(el. )elevationm.a.s.l.pH% C% N% H 2 OrefLlullaillaco60344.20.017<dl a 0.24Lynch et al 201263304.60.005<dl0.25Lynch et al 2012Saírecabur39815.4nd b ndndPulschen et al 201550474.3ndndndPulschen et al 2015Socompa52355.20.03<dl<dlCostello et al 200958205.10.06<dl3.4Solon et al 201760304.8ndnd0.67Solon et al 2017Navajo38784.50.850.0910.7King et al 2010 a below detection limits b not determined10.1080/21501203.2017.1344154-F0001Figure 1.Map showing the location of the three volcanoes discussed in this paper. From south to north, microbial communities on Llullaillaco (6723 m) and Socompa (6051 m) have been studied extensively via culture-independent and culturing approaches (Costello et al …”
Section: The Environmental and Biogeochemical Settingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…From south to north, microbial communities on Llullaillaco (6723 m) and Socompa (6051 m) have been studied extensively via culture-independent and culturing approaches (Costello et al 2009; Lynch et al 2012, Vimercati et al 2016; Solon et al 2017), whereas Naganishia and other yeasts have been cultured (Pulschen et al 2015) from moderately high slopes of Saírecabur (5971 m). Map is redrawn from Costello et al (2009). 10.1080/21501203.2017.1344154-F0002Figure 2.Photograph taken on Volcán Llullaillaco in February, 2009 looking down from 5800 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: The Environmental and Biogeochemical Settingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…and combined the samples to make a clone library using Sanger sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene (primer pair 515F and 1391R). This library was overwhelmingly dominated (61%) by Naganishia friedmannii and included only six other 18S OTUs (Costello et al 2009). On a subsequent expedition in February 2009, samples (0 to 4 cm depth) were collected at six locations spanning elevations of 6030 to 6330 m.a.s.l.…”
Section: Landscape Patterns Of Naganishia Distributionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…soil-like environments on Earth are dominated by basidiomycetous yeasts in the former Cryptococcus albidus clade most closely related to Naganishia friedmannii (Costello et al 2009; Lynch et al 2012; Solon et al 2017). In addition, these same yeasts are fairly easy to isolate from soils at elevations from 5000 (Pulschen et al 2015) to over 6000 m.a.s.l.…”
Here, we review the current state of knowledge concerning high-elevation members of the extremophilic Cryptococcus albidus clade (now classified as the genus Naganishia). These fungi dominate eukaryotic microbial communities across the highest elevation, soil-like material (tephra) on volcanoes such as Llullaillaco, Socompa, and Saírecabur in the Atacama region of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Recent studies indicate that Naganishia species are among the most resistant organisms to UV radiation, and a strain of N. friedmannii from Volcán Llullaillaco is the first organism that is known to grow during the extreme, diurnal freeze-thaw cycles that occur on a continuous basis at elevations above 6000 m.a.s.l. in the Atacama region. These and other extremophilic traits discussed in this review may serve a dual purpose of allowing Naganishia species to survive long-distance transport through the atmosphere and to survive the extreme conditions found at high elevations. Current evidence indicates that there are frequent dispersal events between high-elevation volcanoes of Atacama region and the Dry Valleys of Antarctica via “Rossby Wave” merging of the polar and sub-tropical jet streams. This dispersal hypothesis needs further verification, as does the hypothesis that Naganishia species are flexible “opportunitrophs” that can grow during rare periods of water (from melting snow) and nutrient availability (from Aeolian inputs) in one of the most extreme terrestrial habitats on Earth.
How multiple, interacting components of complex soil communities assemble within forefields of receding glaciers is still largely unknown, especially at high-elevation sites (>5000 m a.s.l.) where plant succession is very slow. To examine succession of soil communities across different trophic levels, we investigated four major soil groups: bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and other non-fungal non-nematode microbial eukaryotes at the Puca Glacier in the Peruvian Andes spanning 9-, 24-, and 89-year-old deglaciated soils. This is the first study of microbial communities, other than bacteria, at a high-elevation chronosequence in the Andes Mountains. In addition, we characterized soil biogeochemical properties (e.g., C, N, moisture, and pH) and rates of microbial enzyme activities associated with C, N, and P acquisition. We found significantly correlated increases in estimated richness and high species turnover in all soil groups along the chronosequence. These shifts in soil communities were significantly correlated with microbial enzyme activities and measures of C, N, moisture, and pH. Stoichiometric comparisons of enzyme activities showed phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) limitation of microbial activity across the entire chronosequence with no hint of nitrogen (N) limitation. Taken together, the observed shifts in soil communities and biogeochemistry indicate coordinated increases in trophic complexity and ecosystem functioning during the initial 90 yr of microbial succession along the post-glacial chronosequence of the Puca Glacier.
The Sairecabur volcano (5971 m), in the Atacama Desert, is a high-altitude extreme environment with high daily temperature variations, acidic soils, intense UV radiation, and low availability of water. Four different species of yeasts were isolated from this region using oligotrophic media, identified and characterized for their tolerance to extreme conditions. rRNA sequencing revealed high identity (>98%) to Cryptococcus friedmannii, Exophiala sp., Holtermanniella watticus, and Rhodosporidium toruloides. To our knowledge, this is the first report of these yeasts in the Atacama Desert. All isolates showed high resistance to UV-C, UV-B and environmental-UV radiation, capacity to grow at moderate saline media (0.75–2.25 mol/L NaCl) and at moderate to cold temperatures, being C. friedmannii and H. watticus able to grow in temperatures down to −6.5°C. The presence of pigments, analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, correlated with UV resistance in some cases, but there is evidence that, on the natural environment, other molecular mechanisms may be as important as pigmentation, which has implications for the search of spectroscopic biosignatures on planetary surfaces. Due to the extreme tolerances of the isolated yeasts, these organisms represent interesting eukaryotic models for astrobiological purposes.
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