Fungal diversity in bottom sediments of the Kara Sea

This is a first report on the fungal diversity of the Kara Sea, one of the most inclement seas off Russia. Eighteen bottom sediment samples taken from three different areas were examined. Using a direct plating method, I isolated 539 fungal strains (46 species in 24 genera of Zygomycota, Ascomycota and anamorphic fungi). Tolypocladium inflatum, Pseudogymnoascus roseus, Pseudeurotium zonatum and mycelia sterilia were the most frequent taxa in the samples.