Summary
Global fungal diversity is estimated to range in the millions, yet it remains severely underexplored, especially in extreme environments. Fewer than 5% of species have been officially identified and characterised. Estimates suggest that 70%–90% of soil fungi remain uncultivable, often referred to as 'fungal dark taxa'. This study shows a comprehensive assessment of the fungal diversity in Robinson Ridge, East Antarctica using both culturing and non-culture dependent methods. The soil community was assessed by ITS gene sequencing of 93 subsoil and 93 surface soils collected along 3?×?300?m long transects. Strains were isolated from soil following enrichment cultivation under oligotrophic conditions supplemented with excess hydrogen gas. Landscape heterogeneity significantly influenced the composition, diversity, and functionality of the communities. A high relative abundance of lichen-associated fungi was recorded in areas with low levels of nutrients and moisture. One hundred and thirty fungal strains were isolated, mainly comprising the classes Eurotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes. A large proportion of fungal ASVs were not shared between techniques, with an overlap of only 1.9% of the total produced sequences. Our study underscores the value of integrating culture-dependent and independent approaches to gain a more comprehensive understanding of fungal distribution, diversity, and functional potential.