Thermophilous fungi of birds' nests

Summary

Twenty seven species of thermophilous fungi were found on plant debris in the nests of twelve passerine bird species in Nottinghamshire of whichDactylomyces thermophilus, Humicola insolens, Penicillium duponti, Stilbella thermophila andTorula thermophila are new records for Britain.

Certain species, such asAspergillus fumigatus, Chaetomium thermophile, Coprinus delicatulus, Humicola insolens, Thermoidium sulphureum andThermomyces languinosus were present in most of the 54 nests surveyed, usually at a high frequency.

The species populations of thermophilous nest fungi are similar to those on plant debris on the soil surface and in the grassland vegetation. They are closely related to thermophilous floras known from various composts. The relatively high frequency of strictly thermophilic species found on organic debris of the various nests indicates that nests are warmed up by the birds while using the nests, and, probably, also by the sun and air during the summer months.

The number of thermophilous species and their frequency on the plant debris of the nests varies considerably in the twelve bird species. The number of species as well as their frequency was exceptionally low in Sandmartin's nests but the nests of Blackbird, Hedge Sparrow and of the Thrushes were rich in thermophilous fungi.

All the 27 thermophilous fungi recorded from the birds' nests may be regarded a) as saprophytes with no known harmful relationships to birds and other animals, such asAllescheria terrestris, Botryotrichum species,Chaetomium thermophile, Coprinus delicatulus, Humicola insolens, Penicillium duponti, Sporotrichum thermophile, Stilbella thermophila, Thermoidium sulphureum, Thielavia sepedonium andTorula thermophila, or b) as saprophytes on the plant debris of the nests but with known potential pathogenicity to birds, other animals and man, e.g.,Absidia ramosa, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus, Dendrostilbella boydii (=conidialAllescheria boydii),Emericella nidulans, Endomyces lactis, Mucor pusillus, Paecilomyces varioti, Rhizopus arrhizus, R. cohnii andThermomyces lanuginosus.