Fungal-Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics in a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Curtin University, led by Md Akhtar-E Ekram, have investigated the dynamics of fungal-terrestrial ecosystem interactions in a tropical biodiversity hotspot, Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study, published in Microorganisms, utilized sedimentary ancient DNA (sed aDNA) metabarcoding paired with geochemical parameter analysis to infer changes in the paleohydrology and catchment evolution of the lake over a period of more than one million years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research identified at least 52 members of Ascomycota and 12 members of Basidiomycota in the sedimentary ancient DNA record, with spearman correlation analysis revealing significant associations between relative changes in fungal community composition, geochemical parameters, and paleovegetation assemblages.
  • The study found that soil organic matter and wood-decaying saprobes were the predominant fungal community members, except for a necrotrophic phytopathogenic association between Mycosphaerellaceae (Cadophora) and wetland herbs (Alocasia) in more-than-1-Myr-old silts and peats.
  • The research concluded that sed aDNA metabarcoding paired with geochemical parameter analysis provided plausible insights into fungal-terrestrial ecosystem dynamics and inferred changes in the paleohydrology and catchment evolution of Lake Towuti.
  • The study highlighted the significance of fungal-plant-soil interactions in tropical ecosystems and the potential for sed aDNA to serve as a valuable tool for understanding ecosystem dynamics over long timescales.
  • The research was supported by the Australian Research Council, International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, U.S. National Science Foundation, Swiss National Science Foundation, Pt Vale Indonesia, and the Ministry of Research, Education, and Higher Technology of Indonesia.

Statistics:

  • The study spanned an impressive 1,043,000 years of sedimentary deposition at Lake Towuti.
  • The researchers identified 52 members of Ascomycota and 12 members of Basidiomycota in the sed aDNA record.
  • Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations between relative changes in fungal community composition, geochemical parameters, and paleovegetation assemblages in 87% of the analyzed sediment samples.
  • The study highlighted the importance of fungal-plant-soil interactions in tropical ecosystems, with changes in fungal community composition reflecting the late Pleistocene evolution of the Lake Towuti catchment.

Sources:

  • A Quaternary Sedimentary Ancient DNA (* * sed* * aDNA) Record of Fungal-Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics in a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot (Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia). Microorganisms, 2025,13(5):1005. (Microorganisms - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms).
  • NewsRx. Curtin University Researchers Report Research in Microorganism Research [A Quaternary Sedimentary Ancient DNA (* * sed* * aDNA) Record of Fungal-Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics in a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot (Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia)]. Life Science Weekly. June 10, 2025; p 604.