BIODIVERSITY OF FRESH-WATER FUNGI

There are more than 600 species of freshwater fungi with more known fr om temperate, as compared to tropical regions. These include ca 340 as comycetes, 300 deuteromycetes, and a number of lower fungi which are n ot discussed here. Aniptodera, Annulatascus, Massarina, Ophioceras and Pseudohalonectria are common freshwater ascomycetes, which appear to be well adapted for this lifestyle either in their ascospore types or their competitive-degradative characters. The most common genera of wo od-inhabiting deuteromycetes include Cancellidium, Dactylaria, Dictyos porium and Helicomyces. They are categorized into four groups dependin g on their form and life style: the Ingoldian hyphomycetes; the aero-a quatic hyphomycetes; the terrestrial-aquatic hyphomycetes; and the sub merged-aquatic hyphomycetes. The adaptations of aquatic fungi for thei r dispersal and subsequent attachment to new substrates are discussed.