REGISTRY OF AQUATIC HYPHOMYCETES IN MOUNTAIN COAST RIVERS, VENEZUELA

Aquatic hyphomycetes are microscopic imperfect fungi and are the principal decomposers of the submerged organic matter in rivers. Consequently, they are involved in the cycling of nutrients and energy provision at the first trophic level of the lotic system. Although this group of fungi have an ample geographic distribution, few studies have been performed in Venezuela. Therefore, a monthly registry of the hyphomycetes species in three rivers of the Mountain Coast (Cabriales River, Cupira River and Quebrada Tocome) was carried out. The results indicate that the flora of aquatic hyphomycetes is varied in each river and the same fluctuated in number of species during the study, nevertheless, a seasonal tendency was not observed during the year.