Journal article icon

Journal article

Chytrid fungi distribution and co-occurrence with diatoms correlate with sea ice melt in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract:
Global warming is rapidly altering physicochemical attributes of Arctic waters. These changes are predicted to alter microbial networks, potentially perturbing wider community functions including parasite infections and saprotrophic recycling of biogeochemical compounds. Specifically, the interaction between autotrophic phytoplankton and heterotrophic fungi e.g. chytrids (fungi with swimming tails) requires further analysis. Here, we investigate the diversity and distribution patterns of fungi in relation to abiotic variables during one record sea ice minimum in 2012 and explore co-occurrence of chytrids with diatoms, key primary producers in these changing environments. We show that chytrid fungi are primarily encountered at sites influenced by sea ice melt. Furthermore, chytrid representation positively correlates with sea ice-associated diatoms such as Fragilariopsis or Nitzschia. Our findings identify a potential future scenario where chytrid representation within these communities increases as a consequence of ice retreat, further altering community structure through perturbation of parasitic or saprotrophic interaction networks.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

Actions


Access Document


Publisher copy:
10.1038/s42003-020-0891-7

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6081-3316
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2613-945X


Publisher:
Nature Research
Journal:
Communications Biology More from this journal
Volume:
3
Issue:
1
Article number:
183
Publication date:
2020-04-21
Acceptance date:
2020-03-09
DOI:
EISSN:
2399-3642
Pmid:
32317738


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1102405
Local pid:
pubs:1102405
Deposit date:
2020-06-04

Terms of use



Views and Downloads






If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record

TO TOP