Interactions between abundant fungal species influence the fungal community assemblage on limestone

PLoS One. 2017 Dec 6;12(12):e0188443. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188443. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The assembly of fungal communities on stone materials is mainly influenced by the differential bioreceptivity of such materials and environmental conditions. However, little is known about the role of fungal interactions in the colonization and establishment of fungal species. We analyzed the effects of intra- and interspecific interactions between 11 species of fungi in oligotrophic and copiotrophic media and on limestone coupons. In a previous study, these species were the most frequently isolated in the epilithic biofilms of limestone walls exposed to a subtropical climate. In the culture media, we found a greater frequency of intra- and interspecific inhibitory effects in the oligotrophic medium than in the copiotrophic medium. On the limestone coupons, all fungi were able to establish; however, the colonization success rate varied significantly. Cladosporium cladosporioides had a less extensive colonization in isolation (control) than in dual interactions (coexistence) with other species. Phoma eupyrena exhibited the highest colonization success rate and competitive dominance among all tested species. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses revealed that Pestalotiopsis maculans and Paraconiothyrium sp. produced calcium oxalate crystals during their growth on coupon surfaces, both in isolation and in dual interactions. Our results demonstrate that interactions between abundant fungal species influence the fungal colonization on substrates, the biomineralization and the fungal community assemblage growing in limestone biofilms.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Carbonate*
  • Culture Media
  • Fungi / classification
  • Fungi / isolation & purification*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Species Specificity
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Calcium Carbonate

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by El Colegio de la Frontera Sur; Universidad Autónoma de Campeche; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Fronteras de la Ciencia 138); Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología for the doctoral scholarship granted to SGC (239290). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.