Exploring fungal diversity and their ecological roles in the coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, India

Abstract

The coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, India, present a unique ecosystem for exploring fungal diversity and ecological roles, yet have been underexplored in mycological studies. This study utilizes amplicon sequencing targeting the fungal ITS region from environmental DNA to fill this knowledge gap. Our findings reveal a predominant presence of Ascomycota, with Candida and Aspergillus being the most abundant genera. Notably, Candida tropicalis emerged as the most prevalent species, followed by Candida hyderabadensis and Aspergillus penicillioides. This study not only contributes new fungal records for the marine environments of Visakhapatnam but also offers insights into the ecological functions of these fungi, as interpreted from the FUNGuild database. By highlighting the abundance, diversity, and potential ecological impacts of fungi in the coastal waters of Ramakrishna Beach, this research provides valuable insights into coastal ecosystem dynamics and the contributions of fungal communities to marine biodiversity.