Occurrence of fungi and fungus-like organisms in the Horodnianka River in the vicinity of Bialystok, Poland.

Studies of fungi and fungus- like organisms in the northeastern Poland have mainly concentrated on running waters in the vicinity of Bialystok, including the Horodnianka River. The main objective was to investigate biodiversity of fungi and fungus-like organisms which take part in decomposition of organic matter commonly found in inland waters. To obtain a complete picture of species composition of fungi and fungus-like organisms in running waters we decided to explore representative sites of the Horodnianka River such as Olmonty, Hryniewicze and Horodniany with close localization of landfill. Fungal species were isolated using baiting technique. Baits of onion skin (Alium cepa), hemp-seeds (Cannabis sativa), impregnated cellophane and snake skin (Natrix natrix) were applied to isolate fungi from water of the Horodnianka River. The fungal community consists of 26 species, 10 species of fungi belonging to class Chytridiomycetes (3), anamorphic fungi (6), and Zygomycetes (1). 16 species belong to fungus-like organisms from class Oomycetes. Most of the recognized species have already been found in other running waters. From all the examined habitats the fungi belonging to 26 species of 18 genera Achlya, Alternaria, Aphanomyces, Aspergillus, Catenophlyctis, Dictyuchus, Fusarium, Karlingia, Lagenidium, Leptomitus, Olpidiopsis, Penicillium, Phlyctochytrium, Pythium, Saprolegnia, Scoliognia, Thraustotheca and Zoophagus were obtained. Certain fungal species like Aphanomyces laevis, Fusarium aqueductum, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, Leptomitus lacteus, Saprolegnia feax and S. parasitica were found at all the study sites. Among fungi potentially pathogenic and allergogenic for humans the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Lagenidium and Penicillium have already been described. However, the species Lagenidium giganteum and Achlya androgyna are new in the fungal biota of Poland. The greatest number of fungal species occurred in Olmonty (24), the smallest in Horodniany (13). Presence of fungi such as Leptomitus lacteus, Fusarium aqueductum in the water of the Horodnianka River offers the possibility of using them as indicators of water quality.

[Water fungi occurence in the River Suprasl-bath Jurowce near Bialystok]. / Grzyby wodne wystkpujace w rzece Suprasl-kapielisko Jurowce obok bialegostoku.

Studies on the occurrence of aquatic fungi in the bathing sites of the Suprasl River in Jurowce village were collected in years 2000-2003. Hydrochemical analysis was performed using standard methods. Bait method was used to isolate the fungi. In the Suprasl River at Jurowce village 36 fungi species were identified, among them fish pathogens Achlya orion, Aphanomyces laevis, Dictyuchus monosporus, Saprolegnia ferax, Saprolegnia monoica, S. parasitica, human pathogens Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Lagenidium humanum, Penicillium mycetomagenum, Rhizophydium keratinophilum and Trichosporon cutaneum, phytopathogens Achlya racemosa, Phytophthora gonapodoides, Pythium butleri, P. myriotylum and P. debaryanum. Physicochemical parameters of waters in Suprasl River-bathing sites had no important effect on the occurrence of fungi.

Comparison of the Ames test and a newly developed assay for detection of mutagenic pollution of marine environments.

A new assay for detection of mutagenic pollution of marine environments, based on the use of a series of genetically modified Vibrio harveyi strains, was developed recently. Here, we compared this assay with a commonly used Ames test, employing mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We found that survival of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in artificial marine water and in different samples of marine water is dramatically reduced relative to that of V. harveyi strains. This indicates that V. harveyi strains are significantly more useful in testing samples of marine water. Moreover, sensitivity of both assays was compared. We found that using the V. harveyi assay it is possible to detect significantly (from a few to several times) lower concentrations of typical chemical mutagens than employing the Ames test. Although the higher sensitivity of the V. harveyi test relative to the Ames assay may be of minor importance when testing mutagenicity of certain chemicals in their pure form under laboratory conditions, this feature is very important in testing samples of marine water. Therefore, we assume that the V. harveyi assay may be an adequate test for detection of mutagenic pollution of marine environments.

Further studies on aquatic fungi in the River Narew within the Narew National Park.

Zoosporic and conidial fungi species and environmental factors in 10 various sites of River Narew in the Narew National Park were studied. Samples of water were collected in autumn 1999 and spring 2000 for hydrochemical analysis and the order to determine the number of fungal species. Buckwheat-seeds, hemp-seeds, cellophane and snake exuviae were used as bait during the exposure in laboratory. 198 lower aquatic fungus species were found in various sites of River Narew. 13 species were recorded for the first time from Poland.