Abstract
ABSTRACTSponge-associated fungi are the least explored marine fungal groups. It is only in recent years that fungal symbionts of marine sponges have received attention mainly due to the isolation of bioactive metabolites while not much attention was given to their specificity, biogeography and exact roles in marine sponges. The diversity of fungi associated with mangrove sponges (Axinella sp., Halichondria cf. panicea, Haliclona sp., Tedania sp.) collected from New Washington, Aklan, Philippines were investigated using morphological observation. A total of 110 species of sponge-associated fungi belonging to 22 genera of ascomycetes with 18 genera of asexual morphs whose sexual stage is unknown, 2 genera of basidiomycetes, 21 morphospecies of Mycelia sterilia, 1 unidentified yeast species and 11 unidentified hyphomycetes were isolated from four species of mangrove sponges. This is the first study that explored the diversity and ecology of sponge-associated fungi in mangrove habitats from the Philippines. The results of the study suggest host-preference by various fungal taxa and the development of fungi on these hosts appeared to be strongly influenced by the characteristics or nature of the immediate environment.
Highlights
Fungi have long been known to exist in the marine environment but considered to be the underexplored group in the oceans compared to bacteria, plants and animals (Jones and Pang 2012)
The present study aims to determine the diversity of fungi associated with different species of mangrove-associated sponges collected from the mangrove area of New Washington, Aklan, Philippines
A total of 110 species of sponge-associated fungi belonging to 22 genera of ascomycetes with 18 genera of asexual morphs whose sexual stage is unknown, 2 genera of basidiomycetes, 21 morphospecies of Mycelia sterilia, 1 unidentified yeast species and 11 unidentified hyphomycetes were isolated from four species of mangrove-attached sponges collected from New Washington, Aklan, Philippines (Table 1)
Summary
Fungi have long been known to exist in the marine environment but considered to be the underexplored group in the oceans compared to bacteria, plants and animals (Jones and Pang 2012). Over the past decade, a consensus has developed among experts that these novel natural products from sponge extracts are synthesised, either in part or in entirely, by the symbiotic microbes that are intimately associated with these marine metazoans (Konig et al 2006; Meenupriya and Thangaraj 2010). These microbes are thought to be involved in a variety of ecological functions including production of secondary metabolites that can contribute to their own ecological success and to that of their host (Höller et al 2000). It is only in recent years that the fungal symbionts of marine sponges have received attention
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