Comparison of aquatic hyphomycetes communities between lotic and lentic environments in the Atlantic rain forest of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Riparian forests are important to aquatic ecosystems and produce large quantities of organic matter that are recycled by the microbial community that includes microscopic fungi. The aim of this study was to unveil and compare the diversity of aquatic hyphomycetes associated to submerged leaf litter of tropical lotic and lentic environments in the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil. Six sampling events were carried out in six points of two study areas: Biological Reserve “Mata da Chuva” (MC) and Environmental Protection Area “Lagoa da Mata” (LM), in Pernambuco, Brazil. Twenty three taxa of hyphomycetes were identified resulting in 87 occurrences. In the lake LM, 13 taxa of hyphomycetes were identified with 34 occurrences and in the MC (stream), 20 taxa with 53 occurrences. Ten species were common to both areas. Diversity indices and fungal biomass (ergosterol) were mostly higher in the lotic system. The fungal community analysis did not show any structure regarding sampling periods or sampling points within an area, however the two areas are different. Although the turbulence of the water is considered important for the development of these aquatic fungi, it is possible to find a diverse community of hyphomycetes and considerable fungal biomass in the lentic environment.