Diversity and abundance of lignicolous marine fungi from the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (Borneo Island)

We documented the diversity of marine fungi in various mangroves from the east and west coasts of Malaysia in the period May 2008-June 2009; we sampled at Cape Rachado, Morib, Redang Island, Bachok and Cape Layak-Layak. A total of 438 samples were examined. These comprised prop roots, pneumatophores, subterranean roots, rhizomes, overhanging branches and twigs of mangrove trees and driftwood. Seventy-seven higher marine fungal taxa were recorded, comprising 58 ascomycetes, two basidiomycetes and 17 anamorphic fungi. Among these, 38 were only partially identified/unidentified, indicating these might be new species. The most common species (> 10% occurrence) were Aigialus grandis, A. parvus, Dactylospora haliotrepha, Kallichroma tethys, Halocyphina villosa, Verruculina enalia and Ascocratera manglicola. Species diversity and richness were highest in Bachok, while Cape Layak-Layak had the highest species evenness. Sorenson's similarity indices between sites were low, implicating low similarity between fungal communities among the study sites.