Molecular Characterization of Fungal Communities in Sandstone

Deirdre B. Gleeson, Karrie Melville, Frank McDermott, Nicholas Clipson, Geoffrey M. Gadd

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    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This study investigated the fungal community structure present in chemically distinct sandstone horizons. Community fingerprinting (intergenic spacer analysis) and cloning techniques were utilized, in addition to an analysis of the cultivable fungal population, to assess the nature and extent of fungal diversity present on sandstone surfaces. The mineralogical composition of sandstone horizons was found to be poorly defined with each horizon showing a high degree of similarity. Fungal populations were not so strictly confined to a single horizon and sandstone characteristics were not strong enough to drive community structure to the same extent as seen in recent studies (Gleeson et al. 2005; Hutchens et al. 2010). Because sandstone communities inhabit a less-restrictive locale, it would be fitting that community members have not had to adapt to such strong and controlling environments.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)559-571
    Number of pages13
    JournalGeomicrobiology Journal
    Volume27
    Issue number6-7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • community structure
    • fungi
    • geochemistry
    • molecular ecology
    • sandstone
    • WEATHERED PEGMATITIC GRANITE
    • MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES
    • MICROCOLONIAL FUNGI
    • DIVERSITY
    • MINERALS
    • GEOMICROBIOLOGY
    • BIOREMEDIATION
    • MICROORGANISMS
    • SPECIFICITY
    • SURVIVAL

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