ANTHROPOGENIC INVASION OF MICROMYCETES TO UNDESTURBED ECOSYSTEMS OF LARSEMANN HILLS OASIS (EAST ANTARCTICA)
Antarctic station Progress is the largest Russian Antarctic station. The anthropogenic impact on primary soils in the area of this station is reflected in the chemical structure of soils and the structure of microbial communities. The article shows a multiple increase in the number of microorganisms (especially microscopic fungi) in contaminated soils around the Progress station. Anthropogenic impact changes the structure of complexes of soil microorganisms. The percentage of mesophilic microorganisms increases significantly. In the samples of primary soils and anthropogenic substrates, 53 species of micromycetes from 28 genera were identified. Their diversity decreases from anthropogenic soils and anthropogenic substrates to control soils. It was shown that an increase in the number of species on the polar station area is the result of the invasion of new species of micromycetes connected with human activity. Some native species of micromycetes are able to adapt to anthropogenic substrates and can be destructors of different materials. Among micromycetes from polluted soils and anthropogenic substances, more than 56% and 70%, respectively, can be referred to potentially pathogenic species. Thus, the invasive processes change the structure of micromycetes complexes in soil, which can serve as an indicator of anthropogenic impact on ecosystems in the Larsemann Hills oasis of East Antarctica.