Projects / Programmes
Biološka raznovrstnost in ekologija ekstremofilnih gliv na naravnih izvirih CO2 (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.01 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Agricultural plants |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.06 |
Natural Sciences |
Biological sciences |
Researchers (8)
Organisations (2)
Significance for science
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are present in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. They form symbiotic relationship with most of the terrestrial plants (over 90% of plant species are mycorrhizal) and have an ancient origin, since the relationship between plant and fungi has developed about 400 million years ago, when plants invaded the land. Thus, better understanding of these ubiquitous organisms and their ecological role can represent an important contribution to the understanding of biological equilibrium and ecosystem services in many ecosystems, and to maintaining biodiversity (both in plant communities and soil).
To our knowledge, apart from our initial study (Maček et al., AEM, 2011), there are no reports on diversity, ecology or function of AM or any other fungal group from mofette areas. In general, reports on any aspect of AM fungal biology from extreme habitats or hypoxic environment are relatively scarce. Hence, our research can contribute important new information on mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity and functional role at mofette areas with the possible extension of results to hypoxic soil environments in general (also wetlands). In this project recently developed metagenenomic approaches were used (GS FLX Titanium, 454 Life Sciences Roche). The technology used was new and connecting several fields: ecology, physiology, taxonomy, metagenomics and bioinformatics.
It is not known what primarily drives AM fungal community structure and biodiversity in the field and which mechanisms promote the high level of AM fungal diversity in natural environments. In this respect, extreme environments could serve as novel study systems to examine how long-term abiotic selection pressure drives natural fungal communities and their evolution and possibly result in new specialist and extremophilic taxa. In the frame of the project, a new species of yeast and two potentially new Penicillium species were isolated and identified from the mofette soil.
The project and research outputs are relevant to EU science research priorities, e.g.
conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development and climate change studies
(carbon cycling). In this respects our results present important and novel
information for scientific community.
Significance for the country
Soil fungi are a key component of soil biodiversity and function, and this project has enabled us to use the advanced metagenetic approaches for monitoring and research into soil biodiversity within Slovenia for the first time. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) should be considered as an important biotic factor, affecting ecosystem services, also in conservation schemes, especially appliable in the areas of special ecological value and areas with sustainable agricultute. For example, Ljubljana marsh (Natura 2000, protected area) is a wetland of high ecological importance with agricultural use. In this case, results on AMF ecological function in hypoxic soil and their benefits can be applied to sustainable agriculture practice (AMF inoculum as biofertilizer and AMF as biocontrol agent) and as a database source for the proper management of natural communities to support ecosystem services.
AMF exploitation is of high environmental economic relevance (as addressed in actions COST 870, COST FA1103; I. Maček is a member of Management Committees). To reach the goal of production of high quality inoculums, a question addressed ‘Which factors preferentially determine AMF community composition in the field?’ needs an answer. Mofettes proved to be a good system to test this.
Extreme environments are a source of specific organisms that can be used in biotechnology. Mofettes represent a big potential for isolation of hypoxia tolerant species, that can show some potential for application in industry or can even be identified as human pathogens; indeed, the paper Maček et al (2011 AEM 77:47704777) has been cited in a review paper investigating human fungal pathogenesis and hypoxia, Grahl et al 2012, Eukaryot. Cell 11:560570.
Mofettes have potential application to a wider stakeholder community as model systems that enable evaluation of the risks to native ecosystems of the geological carbon capture storage (CCS), as a mitigation technique for climate change, both within EU and internationally. Our data will be of use to researchers and policy makers assessing the value of this technology, and will inform the design of the future experiments and models (e.g. our existing mofette papers; Maček et al. 2011, AEM 77:47704777; Maček et al 2005, EEB 54:9099) have been cited in several papers addressing this problem (leakage from CCS systems, AlTraboulsi et al 2012, EEB 80:4353) and papers in theInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.
Intensive collaboration with international research groups has been established during this project, with University of York and University of Essex, UK, and Swiss Agroscope. The collaboration is supported with independent grants, the Royal Society International Joint Project (2011-2013) and a Swiss Contribution project (2012-2013).
Within the project scope, a web page was constructed, www.mycorrhiza-slovenia.com. Public has been informed on our results with lectures, publications and presentations in public media. Mofettes represent a charismatic extreme ecosystem, however relatively unknown to the broader public. General awareness about AMF is relatively low in Slovenia, although hidden to eyes, the symbiosis is present and important in many ecosystems.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
