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The Pelagic Ecosystem

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Fungi in Coastal and Oceanic Marine Ecosystems

Abstract

More than 50 species of phytoplankton are infected and killed by “parasitoid protists” as well as fungi belonging to oomycetes and chytrids. Many fungal parasites are biotrophic, obligate parasites and may regulate phytoplankton populations. Commensalistic, mutualistic, and parasitic fungi, including yeasts, oomycetes, and thraustochytrids, are found in mesozooplankton, fish, and mammals. Fungi, particularly thraustochytrids, are active and abundant in the water column and display seasonal dynamics. Yeast diversity is high in coastal waters and decreases in the oceans. Several metagenomic studies have revealed novel fungal lineages in the pelagic, many of which may be picoeukaryotic. Thraustochytrid populations vary widely from <1 to 600 × 103 celles L−1 seawater. They achieve peak densities towards the end of productive seasons and are related to POC. Actively growing fungal hyphae are found in pelagic POM. Yeast populations may be related to phytoplankton blooms. Abundance of thraustochytrids, as well as filamentous fungi, displays a “boom or bust” phenomenon. Their biomass is often negligible but may occasionally rival that of bacteria. Thraustochytrids and aplanochytrids in the water column might serve as important sources of nutrition for zooplankton. Fungi may be highly active in shallow water benthic.

In one drop of water are found all the secrets of the Ocean

Kahlil Gibran

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  1. Formerly of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Vainguinnim Valley, Dona Paula, Goa, India

    Seshagiri Raghukumar

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Raghukumar, S. (2017). The Pelagic Ecosystem. In: Fungi in Coastal and Oceanic Marine Ecosystems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54304-8_11

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