Dispersal of microfungi in the Thames River Estuary of Eastern Long Island Sound

Abstract

The use of microfungi as an indicator of mass water movement in the Thames River Estuary of Eastern Long Island Sound was shown from a study over a two year period. The fungi, of terrestrial origin, were obtained from surface and bottom water samples taken in the river and from surface water samples in the sound. Seasonal variation in colony forming units revealed that the greatest number of fungi at any station occurred during the interval November–May and the lowest number during the interval June–September for both 1974–1975 and 1975–1976. The seasonal variation occurred in both surface and bottom water samples of stations in the river, although fewer colonies were produced from bottom samples than from surface samples. Correlations between salinity and colony forming units in the Thames River and near shore stations and lack of correlations at the off-shore stations in Long Island Sound indicate movement and dispersion of microfungi during the mixing of the water from the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Analysis of temperature, precipitation, salinity and river discharge data indicate that fluctuations in river discharge and mixing processes are the major factors that affect the dispersion of microfungi in this estuary.