Microfungi of volcanic thermal environments of Avachinsky volcano (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East)

Studying the biodiversity of volcanic environments can help reveal the potential for microbial survival, adaptation, and widespread habitat in extreme conditions of life on Earth. 15 species from 11 genera were isolated and identified from different habitats of Avachinsky volcano. The species Acidomyces acidothermus , Alternaria alternata , Daldinia loculata , Penicillium velutinum , Simplicillium aogashimaense , Talaromyces helicus and Verruconis gallopava were isolated at temperatures of 35–45 °C and can be considered thermophilic and thermotolerant species. Acidomyces acidothermus and Aspergillus sydowii were isolated in high abundance from sulfurous fumaroles with extremely acidic conditions. Microbial diversity analyses show that the richness and abundance of microfungi decrease with increasing temperature, and that physicochemical parameters play an important role in the formation of microfungal communities. Most microfungal cultures isolated isolates from volcanic thermal habitats showed bactericidal activity as well as antagonistic activity against the studied bacteria which deserves attention and further study. The microfungi showed high levels of amylolytic and cellulolytic activity. The ability to produce organic acids and the lignolytic activity was somewhat lower. These results may be useful for assessing the potential of cultured species from volcanic habitats as a source of new strains producing thermostable enzymes.