Life on top: cryptoendolithic ascomycetes and microalgae isolated from over 6000 m altitude

Rocks are among the oldest terrestrial niches hosting a multiplicity of life forms, which diversity has been only partially uncovered. Endolithic metacommunities comprise all major groups microorganisms, such as chemo-organotrophic, chemo-lithotrophic and phototrophic, represented by bacteria, microalgae microfungi. Their is often difficult to describe may remain underestimated. Furthermore, knowledge about microorganisms colonizing rocks in peculiar even poorer due difficulty retrieve environmental specimens. Here, we report phylogenetic phenotypic characterization few endolithic fungi algae isolated from rock fragments collected at high elevation, i.e., on top two mountains over 6000 m altitude, Muztagh Ata (China) Cerro Mercendario (Argentina). The identity strains was confirmed sequencing nuclear ITS LSU, plastidial rbcL loci morphological analysis. Three fungal belonging class Dothideomycetes one algal strain genus Trebouxia were Ata, while six order Chaetothyriales four Myrmecia Mercedario. detected species discussed an evolutionary ecological context.