singapore mangrove flora: fungi

CONTENTS

Fauna index

Fungi

Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)

In the mangrove forest proper

A large number of obligate marine fungi thrive on mangrove wood, pneumatophores and submerged mangrove leaf litter. While the majority belong to the Ascomycotina, some belong to the Basidiomycotina and the Oomycotina. The Ascomycotina and Basidiomycotina are lignolytic, while the Oomycotina are 'sugar fungi' and are among the first to colonise freshly fallen leaves with their residual sugars.

Cross-section of
fruit body in
wood tissue,
with spores

A few of these marine fungi form fruiting bodies large enough to be seen with a good hand-lens, such as Halocyphina villosa, Hypoxylon oceanicum, Verruculina enalia, Nia vibrissa, Antennospora quadricornuta, Lulworthia spp. and also Aigialus parvus.

Unfortunately, most marine fungi are microscopic, and are best observed after incubating some mangrove twigs in a laboratory. The fruiting bodies and their spores can then be observed under the microscope.

*Halocyphina villosa* is a marine Basidiomycotina common on mangrove substrata. Tends to form large numbers of small, whitish and more or less globose fruiting bodies that can be seen with the naked eye or with a hand-lens. A large number of tiny basidiospores can be seen under the microscope when the fruiting body is squashed.	*Halocyphina villosa*
Verruculina enalia, a marine Ascomycotina consists of black and carbonaceous fruiting bodies on branches and twigs at both low and high water marks. It is one of the most dominant marine fungi to colonise woody mangrove substrata. When the fruiting bodies are squashed, a large number of elongated asci (spore sacs) each containing 8 brown ascospores can be observed.	*Verruculina enalia*
Lutworthia sp. is a marine Ascomycotina usually associated with leafy mangrove substrata. Other species have been observed on submerged and marine driftwood. The black membraneous fruiting bodies are oval or lens-shaped, and can be seen dotting an infected grass or leaf blade. Ascospores are filamentous and packed 8 to an ascus.	Lulworthia sp.

About fungi above the tide line.

What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
Biotic

Value
Intro
Products
Indirect uses
Potential uses

About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation

From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre