The ecology of aero-aquatic fungi: Development of a bioassay system for pesticides present on water surfaces using propagules of the aero-aquatic anamorph Pseudoaegerita matsushimae

Field work was carried out at a small temporary pond in the Laurel Creek Conservation Area (Waterloo, Ontario.).; P. matsushimae was the least fastidious of the five fungi studied, exhibiting little preference for leaves of any particular age or species. This suggests it may be able to utilize a large range of substrates under a variety of conditions. P. matsushimae was the most common genus found on all leaves and appears to be the most abundant aero-aquatic fungus in this system.; In toxicological tests, P. matsushimae propagules were exposed to various biocides in water-immiscible carriers. Survival and subsequent germination of these propagules varied with type and quantity of pesticide to which they were exposed. We have used this to produce a bioassay system in which the "survival response" (% propagules germinated following exposure to pesticide) can be used to predict not only the levels but classes of pesticides present at the air-water interface. To the best of my knowledge this is the only system capable of assessing pesticides present in this zone. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...