A survey of marine fungi on wood in South Australia

A survey of driftwood and mangrove wood in South Australia revealed a high diversity of marine fungi. Across eight sites there were 43 species of marine fungi, of which 42 are new records for South Australia, 11 new records for Australia and 12 taxa currently of uncertain status likely to be new species. Sites had distinctive species compositions with the largest difference attributable to substrate type (beach driftwood vs. mangrove wood). However, even between mangrove sites, species assemblages were distinctly different with only the more common species occurring at all mangrove sites. More intensive surveys across a broader range of habitats and geographic locations should reveal significantly more species.