Seasonal variability and transport of suspended microfungi in a southeastern salt marsh

Tidally induced fluctuations and transports of microfungi were investigated. Samples were collected at three depths from three stations positioned at a transect in a large salt marsh creek. Samples were taken every 1.5 h for 50 consecutive h during neap tides and 50 consecutive h during the corresponding spring tides. In each season, microfungi concentrations fluctuated out of phase with the tides during both neap and spring tides. Mean concentrations of suspended microfungi did not vary appreciably throughout the year. Fungi were exported from the marsh during the majority of the tidal cycles studied. The results suggest that microfungi may serve as indicators of water mass movements.