Comparación de la biodiversidad de hongos psicrófilos y psicrótrofos presentes en ecosistemas glaciares de la Antártida y el Chimborazo.

Abstract

From samples of Antarctic and Chimborazo glaciers ecosystems, 89 fungi were isolated in pure culture. 51 fungi were isolated from Antarctica soil. 9 were isolated from Antarctica sand and 29 were isolated from Chimborazo soil. The study factors used were the sample origen, the culture medium and the temperature of isolation. From isolated fungi, 56 are classified as psychrotrophic, 23 as mesophilic and 10 as psychrophilic. 139 phenotypic data were used to calculate the isolated fungi similarity, using Simple Matching Coefficient (SSM). The dendrogram based on the results of similarity, divided the 89 fungi in 30 species-groups, some of whom were members of both Antarctic and Chimborazo, and others seem to be endemic to each place. The comparison of the species-groups showed 13 endemic species from Antarctica and 7 from Chimborazo. This show the great diversity of fungi that can withstand the extreme conditions of these ecosystems. It is likely that many of these species-groups found in this investigation would lead to the discovery of new species of fungus, which can be useful in biotechnology.