Spatial and temporal distribution of fungi and wood-borers in the coastal tropical waters of Goa, India

Marine wood-degrading fungi are believed to contribute to the settlement and growth of wood-borers in the sea. However, little information is available on the association between species of these two groups of organisms. In view of this, we studied the occurrence of marine lignicolous fungi and wood-borers in mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) panels submerged at three test sites along the Mandovi and Zuari estuarine systems in the coastal waters of Goa, India, during different seasons. A total of 33 fungi (20 Ascomycota, 1 Basidiomycota, 12 Mitosporic fungi) and 8 wood-borers (7 Teredinids and 1 Pholad) were recorded. A wide gamut of distribution patterns of fungi and wood-borers was found. A high frequency of occurrence (> 20%) and a broad spatial distribution was noticed in the case of four fungi. Two wood-borers, likewise, were prevalent at all three sites. Several other fungi were also very frequent, but were restricted in their site distribution. Twenty-three fungi were rare or found infrequently (< 8%). Four of the eight wood-borers recorded were also of sporadic occurrence. The fungi Periconia prolifica and Antennospora quadricornuta and the wood-borers Martesia striata and Lyrodus pedicellatus were present on the wood throughout the year. On the contrary, growth of most fungi and five species of wood-borers was adversely affected during the low salinity monsoons. Two fungi and one wood-borer colonized wood preferentially during the monsoon season. Contrary to earlier observations, more fungi appeared as early colonizers on wood during the first month of submergence than later. Our study indicates that in Goa waters, Periconia prolifica and Antennospora quadricornuta and the wood-borers Martesia striata and Lyrodus pedicellatus are highly versatile in their occurrence and were present throughout the year, at all sites. The numerous variations in distributional patterns observed in this study highlight the need to examine the response of marine fungi to physico-chemical parameters at the individual species level.