Community Structure and Adaptive Strategies of Fungi in Geothermal Soils

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC, Seattle) | Format: URL

wfrc.usgs.gov — There are approximately 500,000 abandoned mines in the western US. Collectively, these mines pollute rivers, streams, and western reservoirs with millions of tons of metals annually that degrade aquatic habitat and water used by humans for drinking, recreation, and irrigation. However, there is great potential in decreasing or eliminating the flow More... There are approximately 500,000 abandoned mines in the western US. Collectively, these mines pollute rivers, streams, and western reservoirs with millions of tons of metals annually that degrade aquatic habitat and water used by humans for drinking, recreation, and irrigation. However, there is great potential in decreasing or eliminating the flow of metals into aquatic ecosystems using biological communities to either accumulate or remediate metals from the abandoned mine tailings. his project has involved analysis of free living and symbiotic fungi, and the establishment of food webs. Free living fungi from geothermal soils have been isolated and analyzed. This work was compiled in a peer-reviewed publication in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Several fungal symbionts have been isolated from plant species growing in the geothermal soils. Less...