Continuing the deep molecular characterization of eukaryotic microorganisms´ diversity and community composition in forest soils and the canopy region using a metatranscriptomics approach (micDiv II)

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Tree canopies provide habitats for extremely diverse and until now, still poorly characterized communities of microbial eukaryotes (Protists). This is the major result of our first project phase. High-throughput sequencing of the two protist phyla Oomycetes (Stramenopiles) and Cercozoa (Rhizaria) revealed on average > 400 and > 700 OTUs, respectively. Additionally, we assessed in a first study the species richness and abundances of protists in air samples and found a high diversity of passively dispersed taxa. Subsequent targeted taxonomic studies showed that the genus Rhogostoma was prominant in air samples, tree crowns and leaf surfaces, respectively. Only five Rhogostoma species have been described to date, but we detected 23 new clades (!) in the genus Rhogostoma. We aim to quantify the mechanisms leading to the high diversity of protists in tree canopies such as neutral community assembly from passive dispersal and deterministic, niche-based processes.