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Geomycology: fungi in mineral substrata

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2004

EUAN P. BURFORD ,
MARTIN KIERANS  and
GEOFFREY M. GADD
EUAN P. BURFORD
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK. Tel. +44 (0) 1382 344 765, Fax. +44 (0) 1382 348 216 email: e.p.burford@dundee.ac.uk, g.m.gadd@dundee.ac.uk
MARTIN KIERANS
Affiliation:
Centre for High Resolution Imaging and Processing, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK.
GEOFFREY M. GADD
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, Biological Sciences Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK. Tel. +44 (0) 1382 344 765, Fax. +44 (0) 1382 348 216 email: e.p.burford@dundee.ac.uk, g.m.gadd@dundee.ac.uk
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Abstract

‘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.

Keywords

epilithicendolithiclimestonedolomiterocksmineralsfungi
Type
Original Article
Information
Mycologist , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , August 2003 , pp. 98 - 107
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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