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Assemblage of aquatic hyphomycetes and their colonization of leaf litter in a tropical lateritic cave stream
Nekkarekadu Ramya, Kodandoor Sharathchandra, Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar
MycoAsia 2024/05.
https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2024-05
Abstract
Investigations on occurrence of aquatic hyphomycetes in lateritic cave streams in India are meager. This study examined the assemblage, diversity and leaf litter colonization of aquatic hyphomycetes in a cave stream in southwest India. Physicochemical features of water samples, the occurrence of conidia in water, foam, colonization of aquatic hyphomycetes in naturally submerged leaf litter and introduced sterile leaf discs (banyan and cashew) were assessed during the post-monsoon season. Naturally submerged leaves were found to possess the highest species richness compared to water, foam and introduced leaf discs. The Shannon diversity was also the highest in naturally submerged leaf litter than other samples. Among the five samples assessed, three aquatic hyphomycetes, Anguillospora longissima, Flagellospora curvula and Lunulospora curvula were common in the top five species. Helicomyces collegatus, Lunulospora cymbiformis, Phalangispora bharathensis, Synnematophora constricta, Tetracladium marchalianum and Trisulcosporium acerinum are new records for southwest India. This study provides valuable insights on the occurrence and capability of colonization of leaf litter by aquatic hyphomycetes in artificial cave streams.
Plain Language Summary
This study investigated fungi, known as aquatic hyphomycetes, in a cave stream in southwest India—an area with little previous research. Scientists analyzed water, foam, and decaying leaves to understand the fungal community. They found the greatest variety of fungal species on naturally submerged leaves. Among the many species identified, three were most common across all sample types. The research also discovered six fungal species that were previously unknown in this region. This work provides new insights into the diversity of fungi in cave streams and their vital role in breaking down leaf litter.
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