Forest Soil Yeast Diversity

The diversity and function of uncultured soil microbial communities remains a current focus of microbial ecology research. Fungi, and among them yeasts, are Eukaryotic microbes with predictably much higher taxonomic diversity than previously described. Initial studies of undisturbed Austrian forest soils revealed a high number of primarily basidiomycete yeast fungi. In order to further understand the function of soil yeasts, and to protect and utilize this untapped diversity, further exploratory studies within the existing network DIANA are planned. Since yeasts appear to be a ubiquitous component of all soils, this exploration will add significant knowledge on the correlation of microbial biodiversity with ecosystem dynamics. The study will identify suites of yeast taxa potentially usable as indicators for forest soil types, health, and nutrient turnover, as well as allow comparison with biodiversity of prokaryotic microbes. Using a variety of culture-independent methods and enrichment strategies for rarer phylotypes, we will complement the known yeasts. In addition, we will further improve phylogenetic resolution of fungi by adding additional genes targeted by a subset of primers previously developed for a deep phylogeny of animals and fungi. Also, we will correlate fungal biomass as estimated by lipid biomarkers with yeast diversity. The project will complement the methodological expertise of the Austrian host institution which is already well established in the isolation, physiological, and phylogenetic characterization of yeasts. In addition, it will support the building of international soil microbiology networks by maintaining collaboration with the applicant`s current host institution, the University of Wisconsin at Madison.