Vertical Divergence of Cultured Microfungal Communities at the Hallamish Dune Field, Western Negev Desert, Israel

We examined the depthwise distribution of microfungi through 0–40 cm of sandy profiles under bare surface and different shrub species at the Nizzana research site (NRS) in the Negev Desert, Israel. A total of 125 species from 61 genera were isolated using the soil dilution plate method. At the topsoil of all profiles melanin-containing species with large multicellular conidia predominated. In the middle depths at the majority of the profiles, mesic group of microfungi, Penicillium spp. substantially increased in abundance. Density of microfungal isolates decreased with depth under shrubs and did not substantially vary in the nonshaded profiles, highly positively correlating with electrical conductivity and organic matter (OM) content. Substantial increase in isolate densities at the undercanopy habitats, especially in the interdune depression with higher substrate stability raising the accumulation of OM, highlights the role of shrubs as “islands of fertility” for microfungal communities at NRS.