Intertidal fungi in Mangalore Harbour, southern India

Seasonal occurrence and colonization of intertidal wood and introduced teak wood panels by marine fungi was investigated in Mangalore Harbour (west co ast of India). Of the 33 taxa encountered, 29 taxa were found on intertidal wood and 15 on teak. The most frequently collected species on intertidal w ood were: Trichocladium sp., Torpedospora radiata, Zalerion varium, Arenari omyces trifurcatus and Trichocladium alopallonellum (percent frequency: 15. 7-22.6). On teak panels Antennospora quadricornuta was most frequent (89.6% ) followed by Torpedospora radiata (23.5%). A maximum of seven taxa occurre d per intertidal wood sample, wheareas three taxa occurred on teak. The spe cies richness was highest during the monsoon period on intertidal wood, whi le it was highest during the summer on teak wood. More arenicolous species occurred on intertidal wood (9 taxa) than on teak panels (3 taxa). Among th em Arenariomyces trifurcatus was most frequent (15.7%). Arenariomyces majus culus, Didymosphaeria lignomaris and Nimbospora effusa are new records for the Indian coast. The significance of these observations with respect to th e earlier results on marine fungi in subtropics and tropics are discussed.