Chytrids – investigating biodiversity in the Arctic and Antarctica

Abstract

Chytrids, belonging to the phylum Chytridiomycota, are unicellular fungi known for their significant role in aquatic ecosystems. They can cause “chytridiomycosis”, a devastating disease endangering amphibians worldwide. Chytrids were already described in early history and are also known today as saprobes (decomposers) and parasites on microalgae. Thus, they influence the ecological balance by affecting microalgal community structure and primary production considerably. Arctic and Antarctic coastal ecosystems, characterized by extreme conditions and very strongly influenced by climate change, harbour unique benthic communities – especially microphytobenthic diatoms which are important primary producers and preferred hosts for chytrid parasites. Although so far little explored, chytrid parasitism on these diatoms seems to be ecologically important – potentially causing cascading effects throughout entire polar aquatic ecosystems.