In depth review of the ecology of arenicolous marine fungi

Abstract

As an ecotone, sandy beaches exist within a multi-dimensional mesh of environmental gradients, shaped by numerous parameters (e.g. temperature, humidity, wave action, sand particle size and salinity). These limit the proliferation of a narrow group of fungal species. Obligate arenicolous marine fungi are an ecological assemblage of sand-associated heterotrophs that inhabit sandy beaches. These organisms have evolved to cope with dynamic beach conditions, having a cosmopolitan distribution across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Herein we provide an overview of published works relating to the fungi of sandy beaches, focusing on the past half-century. We outline a broad range of topics in ecology including fungal adaptive traits to intertidal conditions at the morphological and genetic levels, temporal and spatial patterns in community structure, and species variations in substrate preference. Collectively, these concepts should encourage marine mycologists to embrace a holistic set of perspectives to shape the outlook for beach ecology.