Colonisation of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Rhizophora mucronata wood by marine fungi

Split wood blocks of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Rhizophora mucronata were submerged in the intertidal zone at five mangrove sites in Mauritius and 61 higher marine fungi were identified. Retrieval of the blocks over regular intervals revealed no distinct colonisation patterns that were common to all study sites or either of the hosts. A few taxa were dominant during particular stages of colonisation. Cumulospora marina was strictly an early coloniser. Cirrenalia pygmea and Lulworthia species were more common as early colonisers. Lignin-cola laevis was more common as an early to intermediate coloniser. Periconia prolifica occurred throughout the experimental period at three of the sites, while Dactylospora haliotrepha, and Coelomycete sp. 20 were late colonisers. A relatively high percentage of the fungi colonising the test blocks were mitosporic fungi.