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5 - Mineral transformations and biogeochemical cycles: a geomycological perspective
- from II - Functional ecology of saprotrophic fungi
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- By Geoffrey M. Gadd, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Euan P. Burford, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Marina Fomina, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Karrie Melville, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee
- Edited by Geoffrey Gadd, University of Dundee, Sarah C. Watkinson, University of Oxford, Paul S. Dyer, University of Nottingham
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- Book:
- Fungi in the Environment
- Published online:
- 03 November 2009
- Print publication:
- 12 April 2007, pp 77-111
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Summary
Introduction
Rocks and minerals represent a vast reservoir of elements, many of them are essential to life. Bulk biological metals, such as Na, K, Mg and Ca, are among the eight most abundant elements in the Earth's crust and together make up 11.06% of crustal rock (Fraústo da Silva & Williams, 1993; Gadd, 2004). Rocks and minerals also include essential metals (e.g. Mn, Mo, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) and, crucial for microbial and plant growth, phosphorus. Many elements have essential functional potential for the synthesis of biological macromolecules and energy capture (e.g. C, N, H, O, P, S), for the transmission of information (e.g. Na, K, Ca), for catalysis (e.g. Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo), for transfer of electrons (e.g. Fe), and for building solid structures (e.g. Ca, P, Si) (Fraústo da Silva & Williams, 1993). All these elements must be released into bioavailable forms that can be assimilated by the biota. Their release occurs via weathering of rock substrates and their mineral constituents through physical (mechanical), chemical and biological processes (Burford et al., 2003). Near-surface weathering of rocks and minerals (sub-aerial and sub-soil environments) often involves an interaction between all three types (White et al., 1992). In addition to mobilization of essential nutrients during lithospheric weathering, non-essential toxic metals (e.g. Cs, Al, Cd, Hg, Pb) may also be mobilized (Gadd, 1993, 2001a, b).
10 - Fungal dissolution and transformation of minerals: significance for nutrient and metal mobility
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- By Marina Fomina, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK, Euan P. Burford, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK, Geoffrey M. Gadd, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK
- Edited by Geoffrey Michael Gadd, University of Dundee
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- Book:
- Fungi in Biogeochemical Cycles
- Published online:
- 10 December 2009
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- 04 May 2006, pp 236-266
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Summary
Introduction
Fungi are chemoheterotrophic organisms, ubiquitous in subaerial and subsoil environments, and important as decomposers, animal and plant symbionts and pathogens, and spoilage organisms of natural and man-made materials (Gadd, 1993, 1999; Burford et al., 2003a). A fungal role in biogeochemical cycling of the elements (e.g. C, N, P, S, metals) is obvious and interlinked with the ability to adopt a variety of growth, metabolic and morphological strategies, their adaptive capabilities to environmental extremes and their symbiotic associations with animals, plants, algae and cyanobacteria (Burford et al., 2003a; Braissant et al., 2004; Gadd, 2004). Fungal polymorphism and reproduction by spores underpin successful colonization of different environments. Most fungi exhibit a filamentous growth habit, which provides an ability for adoption of either explorative or exploitative growth strategies, and the formation of linear organs of aggregated hyphae for protected fungal translocation (see Fomina et al., 2005b). Some fungi are polymorphic, occurring as both filamentous mycelium and unicellular yeasts or yeast-like cells, e.g. black meristematic or microcolonial fungi colonizing rocks (Sterflinger, 2000; Gorbushina et al., 2002, 2003). Fungi can also grow inside their own parental hyphae utilizing dead parts of the colony under the protection of parental cell walls (Gorbushina et al., 2003). The ability of fungi to translocate nutrients through the mycelial network is another important feature for exploring heterogeneous environments (Jacobs et al., 2002, 2004; Lindahl & Olsson, 2004).
The earliest fossil record of fungi in terrestrial ecosystems occurred during the Ordovician period (480 to 460 MYBP) (Heckman et al., 2001).
Fungal roles and function in rock, mineral and soil transformations
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- By Geoffrey M. Gadd, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK, Marina Fomina, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK, Euan P. Burford, Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK
- Edited by Geoff Gadd, University of Dundee, Kirk Semple, Lancaster University
- Hilary Lappin-Scott, University of Exeter
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- Book:
- Micro-organisms and Earth Systems
- Published online:
- 06 July 2010
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- 13 October 2005, pp 201-232
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
The most important perceived environmental roles of fungi are as decomposer organisms, plant pathogens and symbionts (mycorrhizas, lichens), and in the maintenance of soil structure through their filamentous growth habit and production of exopolymers. However, a broader appreciation of fungi as agents of biogeochemical change is lacking and, apart from obvious connections with the carbon cycle, they are frequently neglected within broader microbiological and geochemical research contexts. While the profound geochemical activities of bacteria and archaea receive considerable attention, especially in relation to carbon-limited and/or anaerobic environments (see elsewhere in this volume), in aerobic environments fungi are of great importance, especially when considering rock surfaces, soil and the plant root-soil interface (Gadd, 2005a). For example, mycorrhizal fungi are associated with ∼ 80 % of plant species and are involved in major mineral transformations and redistributions of inorganic nutrients, e.g. essential metals and phosphate, as well as carbon flow. Free-living fungi have major roles in the decomposition of plant and other organic materials, including xenobiotics, as well as mineral solubilization (Gadd, 2004). Lichens (a symbiosis between an alga or cyanobacterium and a fungus) are one of the commonest members of the microbial consortia inhabiting exposed subaerial rock substrates, and play fundamental roles in early stages of rock colonization and mineral soil formation.
Geomycology: fungi in mineral substrata
- EUAN P. BURFORD, MARTIN KIERANS, GEOFFREY M. GADD
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- Journal:
- Mycologist / Volume 17 / Issue 3 / August 2003
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 March 2004, pp. 98-107
- Print publication:
- August 2003
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‘Geomycology’ can be defined as the impact of fungi on geological processes, including the alteration and weathering of rocks and minerals, the accumulation of metals and their role in nutrient cycling and influence on proliferation of microbial communities in mineral substrates. Although many studies on microbial interactions with minerals have been published in recent years, the main focus of geomicrobiology has been on prokaryotes. Recently, it has become apparent that epi- and endolithic fungi comprise a significant component of the microflora in a wide range of rocks including siliceous types (silica, silicates and aluminosilicates), sandstone, granite, limestone, marble and gypsum. However, to date little is known about their in situ growth patterns or biogeochemical roles in such an environment. The aim of this article is to highlight our recent work on the biogeochemical roles of fungi inhabiting limestone (CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) rocks and to emphasise the importance of fungi as agents of geological change.
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