Seasonal trends in mycoplankton diversity and finction in Lake Bonney of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Karsten Ferreyro, E.A. (2025). Seasonal trends in mycoplankton diversity and finction in Lake Bonney of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. MSc Thesis. Miami University: Oxford. ix, 62 pp.
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Document type: Dissertation
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| Abstract |
Interactions between phytoplankton and the microbial loop impact carbon fluxes within aquatic ecosystems. Some aquatic fungi represent phytoplankton parasites and drive a parasite-mediated pathway known as the mycoloop, which allows for enhanced access to phytoplankton resources. This is important in systems which rely heavily on phytoplankton for carbon, such as the polar lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV). The polar winter is a poorly studied season in the MDVs. Further, little is known about the contribution of fungi to the MDV microbe-dominated ecosystem, much less their seasonal patterns. Here, we explore how the diversity and activity of fungi changes across seasonal scales and the impacts that changes in fungal activity may have on the ecosystem. We found that fungal communities in Lake Bonney are dominated by parasitic Chytridiomycota and Rozellomycota, which display higher abundance in the winter. Co-occurrence networks revealed winter communities are smaller and better connected, with Rozellomycota & Chytridiomycota enhancing connectivity in the winter. Together, this suggests higher activity of the mycoloop in the winter. The co-occurrence networks also identified potential predator/prey associations which differ seasonally. Our work suggests that the mycoloop is an important part of the MDV lake ecosystems, displaying complex interactions which differ seasonally. |
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