Emerging from the ice-fungal communities are diverse and dynamic in earliest soil developmental stages of a receding glacier

Abstract

We used amplicon sequencing and isolation of fungi from in-growth mesh bags to identify active fungi in three earliest stages of soil development (SSD) at a glacier forefield (0–3, 9–14, 18–25 years after retreat of glacial ice). Soil organic matter and nutrient concentrations were extremely low, but the fungal diversity was high [220 operational taxonomic units (OTUs)/138 cultivated OTUs]. A clear successional trend was observed along SSDs, and species richness increased with time. Distinct changes in fungal community composition occurred with the advent of vascular plants. Fungal communities of recently deglaciated soil are most distinctive and rather similar to communities typical for cryoconite or ice. This indicates melting water as an important inoculum for native soil. Moreover, distinct seasonal differences were detected in fungal communities. Some fungal taxa, especially of the class Microbotryomycetes, showed a clear preference for winter and early SSD. Our results provide insight into new facets regarding the ecology of fungal taxa, for example, by showing that many fungal taxa might have an alternative, saprobial lifestyle in snow-covered, as supposed for a few biotrophic plant pathogens of class Pucciniomycetes. The isolated fungi include a high proportion of unknown species, which can be formally described and used for experimental approaches.