FUNGI OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. III. THE DISTRIBUTION OF WOOD‐INHABITING ASCOMYCETES AND FUNGI IMPERFECTI OF THE PATUXENT RIVER

Abstract

The effects of changes in salinity and temperature on the distribution of wood‐inhabiting Ascomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti in the Patuxent River were studied. Forty‐one species of Ascomycetes and 83 species of Fungi Imperfecti were collected; Pyrenomycetes and dematiaceous Hyphomycetes predominated. Salinity was the most important factor affecting the distribution of fungi, and the major change in species composition occurred where freshwater and saltwater mix. The ratio of Ascomycetes to Fungi Imperfecti increased with increasing salinity, while the number of species collected generally decreased. Triadelphia heterospora Shearer and Crane was collected only at low temperatures and appears to be the only regularly occurring species whose distribution was affected by temperature. The interaction of temperature and salinity did not affect the distribution of four species that occurred regularly at wide ranges of temperature and salinity. Species composition differed between two limnetic stations, one above and the other below the discharge points of two sewage treatment plants.