Impact of parasitic fungi on the diversity and functional ecology of marine phytoplankton
The population structure and dynamics of phytoplankton are governed by complexinteractions between several biotic and abiotic factors. The importance of physical andchemical conditions and predation has been well-documented in the ecology ofphytoplankton. Parasitism, which was originally examined in mid-1970's, has also beenshown to play an important role in the population dynamics and ecology ofphytoplankton. Parasitic fungi are best known to infect large phytoplankton (e.g., diatomsand dinoflagellates), but their ecological function has been largely under-studied inmarine ecosystems. The currently described marine fungal parasites, including true fungiand fungal-like organisms, belong to 5 classes (Chytridiomycetes, Sordariomycetes,Dothideomycetes, Oomycetes, and Labyrinthulomycetes) and 11 orders. These fungiinfect and potentially influence the dynamics and community structure of diverse groupsof marine phytoplankton. Through their top-down effects, these fungal pathogens canalso alter material flows within the microbial food web in the marine ecosystem. Thischapter reviews findings on the diversity of parasitic fungi and what is currently knownabout their impact on the functional ecology of marine phytoplankton. © 2009 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
