Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar
Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, Email: [email protected]

Abstract
Freshwater aquatic hyphomycetes play a crucial role in global nutrient cycling, mineral balancing, and productivity in flowing water systems. These fungi are keys to several ecological functions in various aquatic systems. They regulate organic waste breakdown, support nutrient recycling, and produce biologically active compounds. Remarkably, they can deliver these ecological services even in unconventional or severe environments due to their adaptive capabilities. Their resilience is further underscored by their presence in extreme habitats and their knack for colonizing distinctive materials. These fungi process exotic plant detritus, combat eutrophication, thrive in polluted habitats, protect plants by suppressing pathogens, enhance plant growth, solubilize phosphate, produce bioactive natural products, and degrade xenobiotics. For such processes, both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi play a key role in litter breakdown in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. Although aquatic hyphomycetes are a polyphyletic group belonging to Eumycota, there is a knowledge gap on the occurrence and functions of aquatic hyphomycetes outside the water column. Thus, this review addresses the occurrence, colonization, and ecosystem services of aquatic hyphomycetes under unusual or unexpected conditions, with specific examples.

Sridhar KR (2024) Aquatic hyphomycetes beyond their preferred habitats and ecosystem services. MycoIndia 2024/03.
Received: 31.07.2023. Accepted: 01.02.2024. Published: 01.02.2024.
Handling Editor: Dr. Belle Damodara Shenoy
Reviewers: Dr. Huzefa Raja, Dr. Nattawut Boonyuen, Dr. Rohit Sharma

Copyright: ©2024 Sridhar KR. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution, or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution, or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.