AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF FUNGAL ASSEMBLAGES IN THE MUTHUPETTAI MANGROVE REGION

Diversity Of Fungi In The Muthupettai Mangrove Along The East Coast Of Tamil Nadu Was Studied In Relation To Mangrove Vegetation At Koraiyar (S1), Korimunai (S2), Manakkattu (S3), Lagoon (S4), And Kadalmunai (S5) Estuarine Systems During April To August (2003). The Highest Diversity (60 Species) Was Recorded In Samples Collected From Manakkattu (S3), While The Least (51 Species) Was Observed At Koraiyar (S1). Among The 160 Species Isolated, 156 Were Facultative And The Remaining Four Were Obligate Marine Forms, Namely Varicosporina Ramulosa, Halosphaeria Maritima, Didymosphaeria Maritima, And Pleospora Aquatica. A Total Of 102 Species Were Isolated From Sediment Samples, 95 From Water, 64 From Sea Foam, And 47 From Natural Substrata. Seasonal Variation Showed That 137 Fungal Species Were Enumerated During The Pre-Monsoon Period Compared To 88 Species During Summer. The Baiting Technique Alone Enabled The Recovery Of 21 Species. Among The Genera Identified, Aspergillus Was The Most Dominant With 28 Species, Followed By Curvularia (13 Species), Alternaria (12 Species), And Penicillium (7 Species).