[Microbial communities in regions of arctic settlements]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Mycology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Arctic ecosystems are sensitive to environmental changes.
• Microbial communities play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and material degradation.
• Understanding microbial composition in human-impacted Arctic areas is vital for ecological and health assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the species composition and structure of microscopic fungi in Arctic settlements.
• To identify dominant fungal species and their distribution in soils and anthropogenic substrates.
• To assess the influence of human activity on Arctic microbial communities.

Main Methods:

• Mycological analysis of soil and man-made samples from five Arctic regions.
• Molecular genetic identification of fungal species.
• Assessment of microbial distribution in living, working, and adjacent areas of polar stations.

Main Results:

• 117 species of microscopic fungi were identified, predominantly Ascomycotina, with Penicillium showing the highest diversity (24 species).
• Black-colored, extremotolerant fungi were dominant in many samples.
• A significant overlap (53.9%) in species composition was observed between contaminated soils and anthropogenic substrates.

Conclusions:

• Human activity significantly influences Arctic soil microbiota, promoting the spread of cosmopolitan and opportunistic fungi.
• Microbial communities in Arctic soils and man-made materials exhibit considerable compositional similarity.
• Some identified microorganisms contribute to material erosion through organic acid production.