Explorando a diversidade fúngica na Ilha da Trindade: Um estudo integrado revelando conexões ecológicas

Abstract

Chapter I presents an analysis of scale-free networks in biological taxonomic systems. Networks from the domains Archaea and Bacteria, as well as the kingdoms Fungi, Metazoa, and Viridiplantae, were investigated based on the methodology of Broido & Clauset (2019). Seven networks exhibited scale-free characteristics, mostly classified as "Weak," while the phylum Euryarchaeota was classified as "Super-Weak." These results reveal the existence of highly connected taxa (hub nodes), highlighting the structural importance of these groups for understanding biodiversity and their ecological and biotechnological implications. Chapter II conducted a systematic review, guided by PRISMA guidelines, on studies characterizing microbial communities on Trindade Island. The review included analyses based on shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA or ITS amplicons. Data showed that soils are dominated by Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteriota, and Ascomycota, while marine and coral environments exhibit high diversity of Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteria, and archaea. Evidence suggests that bacteria and fungi have bioremediation potential, particularly in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. Despite the observed microbial richness, taxonomic limitations persist, along with the need for greater sharing of raw data. Chapter III investigated fungal communities in Trindade Island’s soil through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Samples from four areas (Fazendinha, Praia dos Andradas, Platô da Gruta, and Sopé do Morro do Pão de Açúcar) revealed 1,708,856 fungal sequences, classified into 673 genera. The phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota were predominant. Functional analyses highlighted the role of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi, with soil physicochemical properties strongly influencing community composition. The observed metabolic adaptations reinforce the ecological and functional importance of the local mycobiome. These three chapters form an integrated approach, spanning from the global structure of taxonomic networks to a detailed characterization of fungal diversity on Trindade Island. The results underscore the island’s relevance as a model for microbial ecology studies, island ecosystem conservation, and future biotechnological applications. They also establish key foundations for future interdisciplinary research.