Five Novel Freshwater Ascomycetes Indicate High Undiscovered Diversity in Lotic Habitats in Thailand

Author: mycolabadmin
2021-02-05
View Source

Summary

This research discovered five new species of fungi living in freshwater environments in Thailand. The findings suggest there are many more undiscovered fungal species in Thai rivers and streams. Understanding fungal diversity is important because fungi play crucial roles in ecosystem health and may have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps track biodiversity changes in aquatic ecosystems which affect water quality – Contributes to knowledge that could lead to discovery of new medicines or useful compounds – Improves understanding of decomposition processes in freshwater environments – Provides baseline data for monitoring environmental changes and ecosystem health – Advances scientific knowledge about Thailand’s natural heritage and biodiversity

Background

Freshwater fungi are a diverse and heterogenous taxonomic group occurring globally on various substrates. While marine fungi are estimated at 12,500 species, freshwater fungi numbers are lower at 3,069-4,145 species. Many freshwater habitats and substrates remain unexplored, suggesting freshwater fungi may be more numerous than marine fungi. In Thailand specifically, 173 species belonging to 112 genera were recorded from freshwater habitats as of 2010, with many additional novel taxa described since then.

Objective

To document and describe five novel freshwater ascomycete species discovered in Thailand through surveys of submerged wood in streams, combining morphological analysis and multi-loci phylogenetic approaches. The study aims to contribute to the ongoing documentation of fungal diversity in Thai freshwater habitats.

Results

The study identified and described five new taxa: one new monotypic genus (Neoxylomyces) and four new species (Camposporium dulciaquae, Brunneofusispora hyalina, Rattania aquatica, and Phaeoacremonium thailandense). Each taxon was characterized morphologically and phylogenetically, with detailed descriptions, illustrations, and molecular analyses provided. The findings add to the 129 novel species discovered from freshwater habitats in Thailand between 2015-2020.

Conclusion

The discovery of these five novel freshwater ascomycetes demonstrates the high undiscovered fungal diversity in Thai lotic habitats. The findings suggest that numerous new taxa await discovery as new freshwater habitats are explored. The study highlights the need for continued surveys of various lentic and lotic habitats and different substrates in Thailand’s freshwater environments to better understand overall fungal diversity.

Published in:Journal of Fungi,
Study Type:Taxonomic Research,
Source: 10.3390/jof7020117