Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Multivariate Analysis of Soil Yeasts Isolated from a Latitudinal Gradient

  • Published:
Microbial Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Yeast isolates from soil samples collected from a latitudinal gradient (>77°S to >64°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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Babyeva, IP, Chernov, IYu (1995) Geographic aspects of yeast ecology. Physiol Gen Biol Rev 9: 1–54

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barnett, JA, Payne, RW, Yarrow, D (2000) Yeasts: Characteristics and Identification, 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, pp 1139

    Google Scholar 

  3. Beadle, CL, Long, SP, Imbamba, SK, Hal, DO, Olembo, RJ (1985) Photosynthesis in relation to plant production in terrestrial environments. Published for the United Nations Environment Programme by Tycooley Publ., Oxford, England

  4. Chernov, IYu (1997) Microbial diversity: new possibilities of an old method. Microbiology 6: 91–96

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fell, JW, Boekhout, T, Fonseca, A, Scorzetti, G, Statzell-Tallman, A (2000) Biodiversity and systematics of basidiomycetous yeasts as determined by large-subunit rDNA D1/D2 domain sequence analysis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50: 1351–1371

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fonseca, A, Scorzetti, G, Fell, JW (2000) Diversity in the yeast Cryptococcus albidus and related species as revealed by ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. Can J Microbiol 46: 7–27

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Friedmann, EI, McKay, CP, Nienow, JA (1987) The cryptoendolithic microbial environment in the Ross Desert of Antarctica: satellite-transmitted continuous nanoclimate data, 1884–1986. Polar Biol 7: 273–287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ito, A, Oikawa, T (2004) Global mapping of terrestrial primary productivity and light-use efficiency with a process-based model. In: Shiyomi, M, Kawahata, H, Koizumi, H, Tsuda, A, Awaya, Y (Eds.) Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, TERRAPUB, Japan, pp 343–358

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guffogg, SP, Thomas-Hall, S, Holloway, P, Watson, K (2004) A novel psychrotolerant member of the Hymenomycetous yeasts from Antarctica: Cryptococcus watticus sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54: 275–277

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Gross, S, Robbins, E (2000) Acidophilic and acid-tolerant fungi and yeasts. Hydrobiologia 433: 91–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Klingler, JM, Vishniac, HS (1988) Water potential of Antarctic soils. Polarforschung 58(2/3): 231–238

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kurtzman, CP, Robnett, C (1998) Identification and phylogeny of ascomycetous yeasts from analysis of nuclear large subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA partial sequences. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 73: 331–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lisichkina, GA, Bab'eva, IP, Sorokin, DYu (2003) Alkalitolerant yeasts from natural biotopes. Microbiology 72(5): 618–620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McKay, CP, Friedmann, EI, Gomez-Silva, B, Caceres-Villanueva, L, Andersen, DT, Landheim, R (2003) Temperature and moisture conditions for life in the extreme arid region of the Atacama Desert: four years of observations including the El Niño of 1997–1998. Astrobiology 3: 393–406

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Middelhoven, WJ, Scorzetti, G, Fell, JW (2004) Systematics of the anamorphic yeast genus Trichosporon Behrend with the description of five novel species Trichosporon vadense, T. smithiae, T. dehoogii, T. scarabaeorum and T. gamsii. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54: 975–986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nagahama, T, Hamamoto, M, Nakase, T, Takaki, Y, Horikoshi, K (2003) Cryptococcus surugaensis sp. nov., a novel yeast species from sediment collected on the deep-sea floor of Suruga Bay. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53: 2095–2098

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nakase, T, Suzuki, M, Hamamoto, M, Takashima, M, Hatano, T, Fukui, S (1996) A taxonomic study on cellulolytic yeasts and yeast-like microorganisms isolated in Japan. II. The genus Cryptococcus. J Gen Appl Microbiol 42: 7–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Økland, RH, Eilertsen, O (1994) Canonical correspondence analysis with variation partitioning: some comments and an application. J Veg Sci 5: 117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Økland, RH (1999) On the variation explained by ordination and constrained ordination techniques. J Veg Sci 10(1): 131–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Phaff, HJ, Miller, MW, Mrak, EM (1978) The Life of Yeasts, 2nd ed. Revised & Enlarged, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp 341

    Google Scholar 

  21. Polyakova, AV, Chernov, IYu, Panikov, NS (2001) Yeast diversity in hydromorphic soils with reference to a grass–sphagnum wetland in western Siberia and a hummocky tundra region at Cape Barrow (Alaska). Microbiology 70: 617–622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Roy, J, Saugier, B, Mooney, HA (Eds.) (2001) Terrestrial Global Productivity, Academic Press, New York, pp 573

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sampaio, JP (1994) Utilization of low molecular weight lignin-related aromatic compounds for the selective isolation of yeasts: Rhodotorula vanillica, a new basidiomycetous yeast species. Syst Appl Microbiol 17: 613–619

    Google Scholar 

  24. Sampaio, JP (1999) Utilization of low molecular weight aromatic compounds by heterobasidiomycetous yeasts: taxonomic implications. Can J Microbiol 45: 491–512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Scorzetti, G, Fell, JW, Fonseca, A, Stazell-Tallman, A (2002) Systematics of basidiomycetous yeasts: a comparison of large subunit D1/D2 and internal transcribed spacer rDNA regions. FEMS Yeast Res 2: 495–517

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Slavikova, E, Vadkertiova, R (2000) The occurrence of yeasts in forest soils. J Basic Microbiol 40(3): 207–212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ter Braak, CJF, Smilauer, P (2002) CANOCO Reference Manual and CanoDraw for Windows User's Guide: Software for Canonical Community Ordination (version 4.5), Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, NY, pp 500

    Google Scholar 

  28. Van Uden, N (1984) Temperature profiles of yeasts. Adv Microb Physiol 25: 195–251

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Vishniac, HS (1983) An enation system for the isolation of Antarctic yeasts inhibited by conventional media. Can J Microbiol 29: 90–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Vishniac, HS (1985a) Yeast biomass in Ross Desert soils: evaluation of quantitation methods and sample transport effects. Antarc J U S 19: 174–176

    Google Scholar 

  31. Vishniac, HS (1985b) Crvptococcus socialis sp. nov. and Cryptococcus consortionis sp. nov., Antarctic Basidioblastomycetes. Int J Syst Bacteriol 35: 119–122

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Vishniac, HS (1995) Simulated in situ competitive ability and survival of a representative soil yeast, Cryptococcus albidus. Microb Ecol 30: 309–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Vishniac, HS (2002) Cryptococcus tephrensis, sp. nov. and Cryptococcus heimaeyensis, sp. nov.; new anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast species from Iceland. Can J Microbiol 48(5): 463–467

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Vishniac, HS, Kurtzman, CP (1992) Cryptococcus antarcticus, sp. nov. and Cryptococcus albidosimilis sp. nov., Basidioblastomycetes from Antarctic soils. Int J Syst Bacteriol 42: 547–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Yarrow, D (1998) Methods for the isolation, maintenance and identification of yeasts. In: Kurtzman, CP, Fell, JW (Eds.) The Yeasts. 4th ed. Elsevier, New York, pp 77–100

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The patient assistance of Michael Palmer was helpful with statistical aspects of this article. Thanks are also due to Penelope Boston, E. Imre Friedmann, and Becky Johnson for expert assistance in collecting and transporting some soil samples and to Gianluigi Cardinali, Walter Hempfling, and Cletus Kurtzman for productive time spent in their laboratories.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Helen S. Vishniac

Authors
  1. Helen S. Vishniac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen S. Vishniac.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vishniac, H.S. A Multivariate Analysis of Soil Yeasts Isolated from a Latitudinal Gradient. Microb Ecol 52, 90–103 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9066-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9066-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation