| Survey/Project Number: | 1184 Total No. of Sites: 10 |
| Survey/Project Name: | Marine and freshwater fungi of Australia |
| Abstract: | Fungi are an essential component of many ecosystems, including marine and freshwater. They decompose large organic molecules such as ligno-cellulose in wood. They are plant pathogens, animal pathogens, and symbionts (endophytes, lichens and mycorrhizae). Worldwide there are over 1100 species of marine fungi in marine habitats and over 1000 species of freshwater fungi. Within Australia, there has been a scarcity of research on marine and freshwater fungi, resulting in a lack of knowledge on which species occur here and their distribution. The aim of this project is to document the marine and freshwater fungi and to map their distribution. This is a long-term project. |
| Start Date: | 29/03/2014 End Date: 01/01/2020 |
| Survey Type: | Vegetation Only |
| Study Area Description: | Statewide |
| Objectives | |||
| Vegetation: | Refer to Abstract. | ||
| Fauna: | *** No fauna survey objectives recorded | ||
| Methodology | |||
| Vegetation: | Sampling is done either from a kayak or by wading out into marine or freshwater habitats. Small pieces of organic material, usually wood, are picked up and placed individually into zip-lock plastic bags. Samples are then taken to the laboratory where they are incubated at room temperature for up to 12 months. Samples are examined regularly for fungi (using a dissecting microscope) that appear on the surface, or just under the surface of the substrate. Any fungi are then described, photographed and cultured. New taxa have DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis and published. All specimens, once processed will be deposited at the State Herbarium of SA. | ||
| Fauna: | *** No vertebrate methodology recorded | ||
| Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
| Project Basis: | Vegetation : Baseline Survey of flora and/or fauna - Standard Biol Survey of SA survey methodology not used. |
| Information Authority: | Flinders University of SA |