Occurrence of higher marine fungi on marine animal substrates of some beaches along the west coast of India

Abstract

Mycological examination of calcareous shells of three species (balanids, bivalves and <i>Turritella</i>), cuttle fish 'bone', exoskeleton of crabs and feathers accumulated on the sandy beaches yielded six ascomycetes, one basidiomycete and three deuteromycetes. Cuttle fish 'bone' harboured maximum species (8) followed by shells of bivalves (4). Among the ascomycetes, arenicolous fungi were dominant (5) and at least one species was recorded on each substrate. Except for feathers <i>Corollospora maritima</i> was most prevalent. Mean ascocarp densities (no/cm²) of substrate collected from Mangalore coast were highest on exoskeleton of crabs (225) but it was least on feathers (<1). Months of incubation required for fruit body production by ascomycetes was highest for feathers (23), whereas it was least for exoskeleton of crabs (7). The extent of growth and sporulation of filamentous marine fungi on dead marine animal substrates suggests that they are capable of exploiting the organic materials of animal substrates.