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Exploring fungal diversity and their ecological roles in the coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, India
Mayuri Chopra, Swarnaprava Behera, Loganathan Jagadeesan, Vivek Rachuri, Belle Damodara Shenoy
MycoAsia 2024/01.
https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2024-01
Abstract
The coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, India, present a unique ecosystem for exploring fungal diversity and ecological roles, yet have been underexplored in mycological studies. This study utilizes amplicon sequencing targeting the fungal ITS region from environmental DNA to fill this knowledge gap. Our findings reveal a predominant presence of Ascomycota, with Candida and Aspergillus being the most abundant genera. Notably, Candida tropicalis emerged as the most prevalent species, followed by Candida hyderabadensis and Aspergillus penicillioides. This study not only contributes new fungal records for the marine environments of Visakhapatnam but also offers insights into the ecological functions of these fungi, as interpreted from the FUNGuild database. By highlighting the abundance, diversity, and potential ecological impacts of fungi in the coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, this research provides valuable insights into coastal ecosystem dynamics and the contributions of fungal communities to marine biodiversity.
Plain Language Summary
This study explores the under-researched fungal diversity in the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam’s Ramakrishna Beach. Using modern DNA sequencing on water samples, researchers created a snapshot of the local fungal community. The findings show a dominance of fungi from the group Ascomycota, with the genera Candida and Aspergillus being most abundant. Specifically, Candida tropicalis was the most common species found. This work provides crucial new fungal records for our local marine environment and offers insights into the ecological roles these fungi play, highlighting the rich biodiversity hidden in our coastal waters.
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