Abstract:
Knowledge of the occurrence and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in National Parks is essential for
the establishment of policies for conservation. Th e aim of this study was to characterize the AMF communities in
the Patagonian Altoandina region in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argen...
Abstract:
Knowledge of the occurrence and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in National Parks is essential for
the establishment of policies for conservation. Th e aim of this study was to characterize the AMF communities in
the Patagonian Altoandina region in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina. We surveyed AMF spores associated
with the rhizospheres of 9 plant species in the Patagonian Steppe (PS), Challhuaco Hill (ChH), Catedral Hill (CH), and
Tronador Hill (TH) regions and detected a total of 27 Glomeromycota species. Acaulospora laevis was dominant at
all sites. Th e AMF community was dominated by Acaulosporaceae, as regards the number of species and contribution
of each one to the total number of spores. Th ree Glomeromycota families were detected at PS, the site with the
lowest elevation; whereas five to six families were detected at ChH, CH, and TH. Cluster analysis indicated that the
AMF communities were grouped according to habitat. We concluded that certain patterns of the AMFcommunity
structure detected were equivalent to those of high-altitude environments from other studies, while others were
unique to the Patagonian region; thus suggesting that historical infl uences like dispersion and speciation played a
critical role in shaping AMF community composition in such high-altitude environments.
