Fungi from dead arthropods and bats of Gomantong Cave, northern Borneo, Sabah (Malaysia) (original) (raw)
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Mycology
The island of Borneo is a global biodiversity hotspot. However, its limestone caves are one of its least-studied ecosystems. We report for the first time the fungal species richness, diversity and abundance from Madai cave, situated in northeastern Borneo. Environmental samples from inside the cave environment were collected (guano, speleothem, and cavern water) via opportunistic sampling. The dilution method was performed for isolation of fungi. Morphological characterisation and molecular analysis of the ITS region were utilised for the identification of isolates. Fifty-five pure cultures of fungi were attained, comprising 32 species from 15 genera, eight orders, and two divisions, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Ascomycetes dominated the fungal composition, accounting for 53 (96%) out of 55 total isolates. Penicillium spp. accounted for more than 47.1% of fungal abundance in all sample types. However, Aspergillus spp. had the highest occurrence rate, being isolated from all environmental samples except one. Purpureocillium lilacinum was isolated most frequently, appearing in five separate samples across all three substrates. Annulohypoxylon nitens, Ganoderma australe, Pyrrhoderma noxium, and Xylaria feejeensis were discovered and reported for the first time from the cave environment. This study provides additional data for further research on the mycoflora of Sabah's various ecosystems, especially limestone caves.
Living in the dark: Bat caves as hotspots of fungal diversity
PLoS ONE, 2020
Bat caves are very special roosts that harbour thousands of bats of one or more species. Such sites may hold an incredible "dark fungal diversity" which is still underestimated. We explored the culturable fungal richness in the air, on bats, and in the guano in a bat cave in Brazil's Caatinga dry forest. Fungal abundance was 683 colony-forming units (CFU) in the guano, 673 CFU in the air, and 105 CFU on the bats. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, and TUB2 sequences, fungal isolates of 59 taxa belonging to 37 genera in the phyla Ascomycota (28 genera, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Talaromyces), Basidiomycota (eight genera, including Rhodotorula and Schizophyllum), and Mucoromycota (only Rhizopus) were identified. The fungal richness in the air was 23 taxa (especially Aspergillus taxa), mainly found at 15 m and 45 m from the cave entrance; on the bodies of bats it was 36 taxa (mainly Aspergillus taxa), especially on their wing membranes (21 taxa, nine of which were exclusively found in this microhabitat); and in guano 10 fungal taxa (especially Aspergillus and Penicillium) were found. The fungal richness associated with guano (fresh and non-fresh) was similar from bats with different eating habits (insectivorous, frugivorous, and haematophagous). Sampling effort was not sufficient to reveal the total fungal taxa richness estimated. Eight (21.6%) of the 37 genera and 17 (53.1%) of the 32 identified fungal species are reported for the first time in caves. Our results highlight bat caves in Brazil as hotspots of fungal diversity, emphasizing the need to protect such special roosts.
Fungal Diversity of Mandeepkhol Cave in Chhattisgarh, India
Fungi are an important microflora found in well diversified ecological condition including cave. In Chhattisgarh state of India one beautiful cave is found in mountain range of Salewara nearly 100 k.m. away from Durg district. The cave is multi channel with temperature range 26ºC-28ºC, humidity 80-90% and with complete dark zone beside twilight zone. The floral and faunal diversity of cave is a matter of interest. Present paper deals with the fungal diversity of the cave with 54 reported species. Out of total reported species, 4 species (3 genera) belong to Zygomycotina, 2 species (2 genera) belong to Ascomycotina and 48 species (12 genera) belong to Deuteromycotina. Maximum numbers of species were isolated from guano deposits followed by leaf litter and log and twig deposits. INTRODUCTION Caves are divided into different zones based on the prevailing light and temperature [1]. According to Poulson and White, each cave has three zones: (i) twilight zone which is located at the entrance area; (ii) middle zone in which relative darkness prevails with fluctuating temperature; and (iii) dark zone in which total darkness and constant temperature prevails [2, 3]. It has been observed that there is an increased interest in cave microbiology since last few years. The study of cave microbiology deals with the microscopic creatures/ organisms that are inhabitants of caves. The science of cave microbiology has similarly mirrored the meteoric rise of microbiology as a science with a new insight suggesting that cave microorganisms may be involved in processes as varied as speleothem deposition to cavern enlargement [4, 5]. There are many important roles of cave microorganisms. Microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate ecological balance of the earth. They help in recycling of organic matters. They are helpful in preservation of ancient marble monuments and statues, where microorganisms could be used to deposit a veneer of calcite to protect ancient structures from continued erosion [6]. Fungi are remarkable for their antiquity, diversity, ubiquitous distribution and longevity [7]. Fungi are known to occur in almost all environments including caves [8]. Fungi play important role in breakdown of complex aromatic compound like benzothiazole and benzene sulfonic acid which are dangerous for environment. With help of these microbes such pollutants can be removed thereby restoration of natural habit can be maintained. Certain specific species of fungi are the engines of the process of decomposition, essential for natural recycling, helping to guarantee life on earth. In nature biodegradation is mainly carried out by thermophilic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi in anerobic microenvironment. Fungi play an important role in biodegradation as they break down tough organic materials like lignin and cellulose enabling bacteria to continue the decomposition process once most of the cellulose and lignin have been exhausted. Fungi are dominant decomposers and nutrient recyclers of forest litter and debris. Without decomposer fungi we would soon be buried in debris. The aim of this paper is to find out the diversity of fungi from Mandeepkhol cave which is a Dark cave with a constant temperature around 26 0 C-28 0 C.
Unravelling the hidden diversity of cave mycobiota in Thailand’s Satun Geopark
Scientific Reports
Karst caves are distinctive ecosystems that have limited nutrients, darkness, low to moderate temperatures, and high moisture levels, which allow for a diverse range of fungal communities to thrive. Despite their significance, little is understood about the fungi found in karst caves in Thailand. In 2019, we studied the cultured mycobiota from five substrate types (air, water, rock, soil/sediment, and organic debris) in two karst caves (Le Stegodon and Phu Pha Phet Caves) of the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, southern Thailand. A cumulative count of 829 distinct fungal morphological types was identified, encompassing 319 fungal culturable were observed. Based on preliminary analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence using BLAST searches, the most common phylum among the fungal morphotypes was Ascomycota, harboring 282 species in 91 genera, 93.4% of which were distributed in the classes Eurotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes, and Dothideomycetes. The most common fungal genera ...
Mycologia, 2011
The fungal diversity in areas accessible and not accessible to tourists at UNESCO World Heritagelisted Naracoorte Caves was investigated with culturedependent and culture-independent techniques for assistance in cave management protocol development. The caves were selected based on tourist numbers and configurations: Stick Tomato (open, high numbers), Alexandra (lockable openings, high numbers) and Strawhaven (control; no access). Culture-based survey revealed Ascomycota dominance irrespective of sampling area with Microascales (Trichurus sp.) being most frequently isolated. Some Hypocreales-like sequences belonging to Fusarium sp., Trichoderma sp. and Neonectria sp. (Stick Tomato) were cultured only from areas not accessible to tourists. These orders also were detected by DGGE assay irrespective of sampling area. The predominance of Ascomycota (especially Microascales) suggested their important ecological roles in these caves. Culture-independent analysis showed higher Shannon fungal diversity values (from ITS-based DGGE profiles) in tourist-accessible areas of these caves than in inaccessible areas with the fungal community banding patterns being substantially different in Stick Tomato Cave. Further investigations are needed to determine the cause of the differences in the fungal communities of Stick Tomato Cave, although caverelated factors such as use, configuration and sediment heterogeneity might have contributed to these differences.
Study and Survey of Fungal Diversity of Borra Caves Situated in Andhra Pradesh, India
International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy, 2016
As there is increasing interest in cave microbiology, the present study deals with study of fungal diversity and distribution in Borra cave situated in north of Vishakhapatnam in the Ananthgiri Hill Ranges of Eastern Ghats of India. It falls in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It is beautiful cave where the average temperature reported is 16°C. The sample taken from cave were guano deposits, soil and water. The period of study was during rainy and winter season. The samples were serially diluted and were inoculated in PDA media. A total of 65 fungal species were reported from Guano deposits and 53 from water, out of which maximum number of species belongs to Anamorphic fungi. The percentage frequency and distribution were also recorded. These isolated species will help in pursuing further studies like in biodegradation potency, etc.
Microscopic fungi on cadavers and skeletons from cave and mine environments
Czech Mycology
During long-term studies of microscopic fungi in 80 European caves and mine environments many cadavers and skeletons of animals inhabiting these environments and various animal visitors were found, some of them with visible microfungal growth. Direct isolation, the dilution plate method and various types of isolation media were used. The resulting spectrum of isolated fungi is presented and compared with records about their previous isolation. Compared to former studies focused mainly on bat mycobiota, this paper contributes to a wider knowledge of fungal assemblages colonising various animal bodies in underground environments. The most interesting findings include ascocarps of Acaulium caviariforme found abundant on mammals cadavers, while Botryosporium longibrachiatum isolated from frogs, Chaetocladium jonesiae from bats and Penicillium vulpinum from spiders represent the first records of these species from cadavers or skeletons.
International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy, 2016
Nowadays scientists are fascinated towards cave microorganisms which includes Bacteria, Fungi ,Actinomycetes etc. In Chhattisgarh state of India one unexplored cave naming Mandeepkhol is found in mountain range of Salewara nearly 100 k.m. away from Durg district. It is multi channel and temperature ranges from 26ºC-28ºC throughout the year with the humidity 80-90%. The cave is totally dark with less twilight zone. The microorganisms in a cave is a matter of interest. Present paper deals with the fungal diversity of the cave during post rainy season. 71 reported species with 24 genera and two sterile mycelia were isolated. Among them Deuteromycotina fungi dominated over the member of Ascomycotina and Zygomycotina. Out of total isolates 8 species (6 genera) belong to Zygomycotina, 4 species (4 genera) belong to Ascomycotina and 59 species (14 genera) belong to Deuteromycotina. Maximum numbers of species were isolated from guano deposits followed by leaf litter and log and twig deposits.
Molecular characterization of airborne fungi in caves of the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 2011
In this study, we analyzed air samples collected from several sites within the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China. The samples were collected each month from September 2008 to August 2009 from an open cave (OC), a semi-open cave (SC), a closed cave (CC), and the entrance (EN) of the Mogao Grottoes. Sampling was carried out using a six-stage Andersen FA-I sampler; then samples were cultured and fungal isolates were identified by partial sequencing of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Eleven different fungal genera were found, and the most prevalent was Cladosporium, followed by Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. The fungal community composition varied among the four sites. Fungal community structure was significantly related to site (r ¼ À0.293, p ¼ 0.039) and to time of year (r ¼ À0.523, p ¼ 0.000). The concentrations and abundance of airborne fungi varied greatly throughout the year at the four sampling sites. Meteorological parameters (e.g., temperature, relative humidity) and the number of visitors also influenced both abundance and community structure of airborne fungi in the Mogao Grottoes.
Bats (chiropteran) reported with Aspergillus species from Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia
A preliminary survey of chiropterans (bats) with potential zoonotic fungi was conducted as part of the Sowell-UNIMAS Expedition 2006. This survey was conducted at Kubah National Park, Matang, Sarawak from 14th to 16th August 2006. The main aim of this survey was to document variety of fungal isolates from bats external (ears) and internal (saliva and anal) swabs. All of the fungi species were subjected to both macroscopic and microscopic observations to characterize their morphology. Out of 23 species of bats observed, 13 (56.5%) species were found to contain 17 fungi isolates of the genus Aspergillus from five subgenera, five sections and six species. The fungi isolates were Aspergillus restrictus, A. sydowii, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. clavatus and A. japonicus. The highest numbers of isolates recorded was for A. restrictus with six isolates followed by A. fumigatus and A. sydowii with two isolates respectively. Where as, A. niger, A. clavatus and A. japonicus each recorded with one isolate only. Aspergillus fumigatus was the first record isolated from bats the samples (n = 64) from Sarawak. It was reported that this isolate is a pathogenic and thermophilic (able to grow up to 65°C) isolate which was found to be on a lesion near ear opening of Hipposideros cervinus. Further work should be done to discover potential mycoflora in wildlife mammals.