Biodiversity of fungi on submerged wood in a stream and its estuary in the Tai Ho Bay, Hong Kong

Abstract

Decaying wood was collected from a stream and estuary in Tai Ho Bay, and was investigated for the biodiversity of saprobic fungi. Fifty-five taxa, including 33 ascomycetes and 22 anamorphic fungi were recorded. The common taxa were Aniptodera chesapeakensis, Ascosalsum unicaudata, Lignincola laevis, Lophiostoma bipolare and Neptunella longirostris. Fungal species composition differed greatly between the two sites: the freshwater stream that flowed into the sea and the other, an estuarine region located at the stream mouth that incorporated mangrove vegetation. The biodiversity of freshwater fungi and mangrove fungi from these sites is compared with previous studies. Interesting taxa, i.e. Aniptodera haispora, Ascosalsum unicaudata, Nemania cf. maritima and Pseudohalonectria longirostrum are discussed and illustrated.