Fungi are one of the most diverse carbon source-assimilating organisms, living as saprobes, parasites and symbionts; they play an important role in carbon cycling in the ecosystem. A lichen thallus provides habitats for many non-lichenized fungi and usually contains large quantities of polyols. However, research has not been undertaken to identify carbon sources of lichen-inhabiting fungi. In this study, we isolated various lichen-inhabiting fungi from surface-sterilized Ramalina spp., Flavoparmelia caperata and Peltigera degenii, and demonstrated their ability to assimilate carbon sources, namely glucose, ribitol and mannitol. Several isolates efficiently assimilated mannitol and ribitol; however, most isolates could assimilate only mannitol or both ribitol and mannitol at low levels. It is suggested that there are different preferences and niche segregation of carbon sources among lichen-inhabiting fungi, and that this assemblage includes fungi with different lifestyles such as saprobes, endophytes and transient visitors.

中文翻译：

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地衣栖息真菌的多元醇同化能力

真菌是最多样化的碳源同化生物之一，以腐生菌、寄生虫和共生体的形式生活；它们在生态系统的碳循环中发挥着重要作用。地衣菌体为许多非地衣真菌提供栖息地，通常含有大量的多元醇。然而，尚未进行研究以确定地衣栖息真菌的碳源。在这项研究中，我们从表面灭菌的拉玛琳娜种，苦瓜和毛皮草，并证明了它们同化碳源的能力，即葡萄糖、核糖醇和甘露醇。几种分离物有效同化甘露醇和核糖醇；然而，大多数分离物只能吸收低水平的甘露醇或核糖醇和甘露醇。表明地衣栖息真菌之间存在不同的碳源偏好和生态位分离，并且该组合包括具有不同生活方式的真菌，例如腐生菌，内生菌和短暂的访客。