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Saprophytic fungal communities change in diversity and species composition across a volcanic soil chronosequence at Sierra del Chichinautzin, Mexico

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Abstract

Saprophytic fungi are one of the most active decomposers of forest litter, and their diversity may be influenced by the spatial heterogeneity of substrates. We examined the changes in saprophytic community structure and composition across a volcanic soil chronosequence, at Sierra del Chichinautzin, Mexico. Saprophytic fungi were collected for three consecutive years at three sampling sites with contrasting soil properties in a volcanic soil chronosequence ranging from 1,835 years B.P. to 10,000 years B.P. Although no significant differences were found in terms of abundance and richness between the three sites, Shannon diversity was higher at the youngest, less-fertile site. The high percentage of site-exclusive species showed that species composition was strongly dependent on the site and therefore on soil parameters. Different saprophytic species had divergent responses to soil variables, but most fungal taxa correlated negatively with the edaphic factors we measured. The highest diversity found at the young, less fertile site may represent an “insurance” mechanism against harsh conditions, since different species are likely to play various ecological functions which may lead to a more efficient degradation of recalcitrant substrates.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Project numbers IN 225703, 230507 and 119609). We thank the representatives of Topilejo and Cuajomulco communities for authorizing the field work and all the persons that helped with the sporocarp sampling during three years. Víctor Peña-Ramírez and Christina Siebe provided the soil results and Kumiko Shimada helped with the soil characterization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510, México, DF, México

    Frédérique Reverchon & Pilar María del Ortega-Larrocea

  2. Microbiología, Edafología, Colegio de Posgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Km36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, 56230, Montecillo, México

    Jesús Pérez-Moreno

  3. Departamento de Edafología, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Apartado Postal 70-296, 04511, México, DF, México

    Frédérique Reverchon

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  1. Frédérique Reverchon
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  2. Pilar María del Ortega-Larrocea
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  3. Jesús Pérez-Moreno
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Correspondence to Frédérique Reverchon.

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Reverchon, F., María del Ortega-Larrocea, P. & Pérez-Moreno, J. Saprophytic fungal communities change in diversity and species composition across a volcanic soil chronosequence at Sierra del Chichinautzin, Mexico. Ann Microbiol 60, 217–226 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0030-7

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