Fungi are highly diverse, yet only a minor part of the total estimated species has been cultured and characterized. This might be especially true for Arctic, where studies on the fungal diversity are still scarce. For that reason, our aim was to analyze fungal diversity in the droppings of Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus. The samples of feces from 32 adult individuals were collected in the southern or central parts of the Wedel Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago) and assessed for micromycetes diversity using a combination of classical and molecular identification approaches. We found 16 fungal species, out of which three were described as mesophilic, two as psychrotolerant and eleven as psychrophilic. The identified Arctic fungi belonged to eleven genera out of which representatives of Naganishia genus (formerly belonging to Cryptococcus albidus clade) were the most abundant fungal species isolated. Additionally, to our knowledge, we firstly recorded Botrytis cinerea in polar areas. We conclude that droppings of R. tarandus platyrhynchus are a source of different fungal taxa, including fungi potentially pathogenic towards humans, plants and insects.

Bacterial, enzymatic and chemical analyses pointed to active microbiological mineralization and transformation of penguin excrements at "maritime Antarctic". The following physiological groups of bacteria were found: proteolitic, amonifying, nitrifying, lecithin degrading, Са3(Р04 ) 2 dissolving, chitin degrading and spore forming ones. The number of molds was not significant. The nitrate reducers and N2 — fixing bacteria were not detected. About 50% of С and N were volatilized during three weeks. Some parts of N — NH3 was oxidized to N — NO3 in surface layer of the soil. The content of P increased during degradation of penguin excrements. About 1/3 part of total organic carbon content in bird excrements residues was derived from chitin.