Zoosporic fungi from Australian and New Zealand tree-canopy detritus

Abstract

The canopy of rainforest trees is an example of a species-rich habitat; however, most of the species known are invertebrates. Zoosporic fungi live in water and soils throughout the world, but have not been reported from the organic detritus of the rainforest canopy. I added water and baits to samples of Australian and New Zealand canopy detritus, and recovered zoosporic fungi representing three major phylogenetic groups, the Chytridiomycota, Oomycota and Hyphochytriomycota. Queensland samples yielded seven chytrid species, a hyphochytrid species and two members of the Saprolegniales. New Zealand samples yielded five chytrids and one member of the Saprolegniales. Most of these fungi were species that have been reported from terrestrial soils or that belong to typically soil-inhabiting groups. Most of the chytrids were isolated into pure cultures and illustrations of their developmental stages are included.