ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Aquatic Fungi Growing on Feathers of Wild
and Domestic Bird Species in Limnologically
Different Water Bodies
B. Czeczuga*, A. Godlewska, B. Kiziewicz
More details
Hide details
Department of General Biology, Medical University, Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2004;13(1):21-31
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The mycoflora developing on the feathers of wild and domestic bird species in the water of 6 limnologically
different water bodies was investigated under laboratory conditions. 97 zoosporic fungus species
were found to grow on the feathers investigated, including 21 Chytridiomycetes, 1 Hyphochytriomycetes,
74 Oomycetes and 1 Zygomycetes fungus. The most common fungus species included Chytriomycetes
annulatus, Rhizophydium keratinophilum, Blastocladiopsis parva, Catenaria anguillulae, Catenophlyctis
variabilis, Aphanomyces helicoides, Aphanomyces irregularis, Leptolegniella piligena, Pythium afertile,
Pythium aquatile, Pythium echinulatum, Pythium intermedium and Pythium tenue. The most fungi were
noted growing in water from Cypisek spring (64), the fewest in the ponds Akcent (45) and Fosa (47 species).
Out of these 97 species, 17 are known as parasites or necrotrophs of fish. 13 fungus species were
recorded for the first time in Poland.