Distribution and diversity of zoosporic fungi from soils of four vegetation types in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Chytrids are common microfungi in soils, but their distribution and diversity in Australian soils is poorly described. In this study we analyzed chytrid distribution and diversity in soils from four collection sites representing a subtropical rain forest, wet sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll forest, and open heath, using a defined and reproducible sampling protocol. The greatest number of chytrid species was observed from dry sclerophyll forest soils, while the least number of species occurred in the open heath soils, although each soil sample of the open heath harbored more species per sample. Differences in patterns of distribution of chytrid species were statistically significant between subtropical rain forest and open heath. Patterns in other habitats differed but could not be verified statistically to be significant at the 5% level. Observed differences in chytrid distribution, diversity, and freqency indicate that their ecological strategies may be in response to environmental cues such as specific edaphic conditions and substrate availability, and their capacity to respond to the environment.Key words: Chytridiomycota, frequency, habitat, sampling.