Molds on the Southern California deserts

Mold plate studies were done simultaneously in two Southern California desert communities about thirty-five miles apart. The most common molds found were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Fusarium and Aspergillus. Alternaria was more common in the high desert (altitude 3500 feet and usually about 10 degrees F cooler) and Cladosporium in the low desert (altitude 470 feet). There were more molds in the high desert during the hot summers and more in the low desert during the cooler winters. Total counts were less than half of those found in a similar study done previously in Indianapolis, Indiana.