Succession of fungi on dead and live wood in brackish water in Brunei

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Assessment of wood decay, fungal interactions and colonisation

Marine mycology: a practical approac

Species abundance patterns of two wood decay basidiomycete communities

Wood decay basidiomycetes from fallen Eucalyptus branches were sampled from two patches of native Australian vegetation over two years. Thirty-six species were identified at two sites. Species richness was higher at the site with dense vegetation and higher moisture levels. Species abundance curves are consistent with a community influenced by many unknown factors.link_to_OA_fulltex

Distribution of fungi on wood in the Totong River, Brunei

Five sites along the Tutong river and its tributary, the Sungai Kelakas, were sampled for fungi on decaying wood. Sixty-six taxa were found including two new genera and two new species. Nearly half of these (48%) are new records for Brunei. Although common taxa were generally not unique to any particular site, species distributions were correlated to the salinity gradient. These findings are consistent with previous studies showing that some marine fungi are tolerant to less saline conditions and that some freshwater species are tolerant to more saline conditions. Some species could be potentially classified as brackish water species. The ratio of ascomycetes to anamorphic fungi was higher in marine than freshwater sites. A checklist of fungi found in aquatic habitats in Brunei is included.link_to_OA_fulltex

Evidence of in situ competition between fungi in freshwater

Five species of fungi, isolated from submerged wood collected from a Brunei peat swamp forest, were tested for their competitive ability. Annulatascus velatisporus, Beverwykella pulmonaria, Dactylella sp., Monodictys pelagica and Pleurophragmium sp. were paired in all possible combinations on wood and agar in the laboratory. In addition, autoclaved wood blocks were inoculated with these isolates and placed back into water in the peat swamp forest. On agar, there was a competitive hierarchy of Dactylella sp. > Pleurophragmium sp. > A. velatisporus > B. pulmonaria > M. pelagica. In the inoculated blocks exposed in the peat swamp forest however, M. pelagica, A. velatisporus and B. pulmonaria were the only species to significantly reduce the colonisation of other fungi, showing a strong disparity between field and laboratory results. Laboratory studies on wood revealed that A. velatisporus reduced the reproductive capability of other fungi. This study demonstrates the influence of interspecific competition in fungal colonisation of submerged wood.link_to_OA_fulltex

The effect of human disturbance on fungal diversity in the tropics

An understanding of the effect of human disturbance on fungal diversity in the tropics is of paramount importance if we are to conserve renewable resources effectively. Sustainable development may provide renewable resources, but what is the effect of sustainable practices on fungal diversity? Are the fungi of a secondary rainforest as diverse as those found in a pristine forest? Do agriculture practices conserve fungal diversity? What is the effect of water pollution on aquatic fungi? In this paper an attempt is made to examine the effect of human disturbance on fungal diversity in the tropics. The fundamental lack of even basic knowledge of fungi in the tropics means that it is very difficult to explore this question and only a limited number of studies are available to provide relevant data. Fungal diversity appears to be related to plant diversity and therefore, loss of the plant diversity is likely to result in loss of fungal diversity. Fungal diversity may also be related to disturbance. Fungi on palms in a tropical pristine forest are a diverse assemblage. Fungi on agricultural palms or palms in botanical gardens, on the other hand, lack diversity and comprise a probable fungal weed component. We present the need for organized studies to look at the effect of human disturbance on fungal diversity.link_to_OA_fulltex