Fungal diversity in soil affected by cadaver decomposition in the Arctic tundra of Svalbard

Cadavers of large mammals can function as biodiversity hotspots and facilitate many interactions between many species. Little is known, however, about carrion ecology in the Arctic, and how such cadavers impact the fungal community in the Arctic is not known. Using both an experimental and observational approach, I will collect soil samples at cadaver decomposition sites and nearby control sites and analyze the genetic diversity of the fungal community in the samples using DNA metabarcoding. This will allow assessing the 'cadaver' effect on the fungal community. My results will also provide background data on the fungal diversity in soils in Svalbard in general and increase the current knowledge about carrion ecology in the Arctic.