Fungal Biodiversity in Salt Marsh Ecosystems.

Mark S Calabon,Kevin D Hyde,Itthayakorn Promputtha,E B Gareth Jones

doi:10.3390/jof7080648

Abstract

This review brings together the research efforts on salt marsh fungi, including their geographical distribution and host association. A total of 486 taxa associated with different hosts in salt marsh ecosystems are listed in this review. The taxa belong to three phyla wherein Ascomycota dominates the taxa from salt marsh ecosystems accounting for 95.27% (463 taxa). The Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota constitute 19 taxa and four taxa, respectively. Dothideomycetes has the highest number of taxa, which comprises 47.12% (229 taxa), followed by Sordariomycetes with 167 taxa (34.36%). Pleosporales is the largest order with 178 taxa recorded. Twenty-seven genera under 11 families of halophytes were reviewed for its fungal associates. Juncus roemerianus has been extensively studied for its associates with 162 documented taxa followed by Phragmites australis (137 taxa) and Spartina alterniflora (79 taxa). The highest number of salt marsh fungi have been recorded from Atlantic Ocean countries wherein the USA had the highest number of species recorded (232 taxa) followed by the UK (101 taxa), the Netherlands (74 taxa), and Argentina (51 taxa). China had the highest number of salt marsh fungi in the Pacific Ocean with 165 taxa reported, while in the Indian Ocean, India reported the highest taxa (16 taxa). Many salt marsh areas remain unexplored, especially those habitats in the Indian and Pacific Oceans areas that are hotspots of biodiversity and novel fungal taxa based on the exploration of various habitats.

Highlights

Salt marsh ecosystems are known for their high productivity, exceeding primary production estimates of species rich ecosystems [1]
Few reports on salt marsh fungi are from the following hosts: Apiaceae: Crithmum maritimum, Typhaceae: Typha spp.; Compositae: Artemisia maritima; Caryophyllaceae: J
Most studies of fungi on salt marsh plants are from Spartina, Juncus, and Phragmites, probably due to the huge biomass generated by these taxa

Summary

Introduction

Salt marsh ecosystems are known for their high productivity, exceeding primary production estimates of species rich ecosystems (e.g., tropical rainforests, coral reefs) [1]. Halophytes are common in temperate and Mediterranean climates, and fewer both in the tropics and at high latitudes [3,4,5,6] The vegetation in these ecosystems shows the vertical zonation of different communities as tidal submergence decreases with increasing elevation, and species tolerance to changing gradient conditions. The active decomposition processes in salt marsh ecosystems reflects to the relatively high rates of primary production. The colonization of fungi on standing dead halophytes commences during the early stages of decomposition before leaf fall to the salt marsh sediment surface [20,21]. The decomposition of the senescent tissues of halophytes by salt marsh fungi is brought about by the direct penetration of the host cell wall and the production of enzymes active in degrading lignocellulosic compounds, such as lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose [22,23,24,25,26]. – – UK Argentina: Buenos Aires USA: Florida Canada: Bay of Fundy Argentina: Buenos Aires UK: England Canada: Bay of Fundy

Diversity of Fungi in Halophytes

Juncaceae

Other Families

Findings

Conclusions and Future Perspectives