Abstract:
Marine sediments contain a wide range of unique microorganism not present in the
terrestrial environment. Although marine sediments are known for the abundance of
beneficial microorganisms such as fungi, there are only few reports concerning the
investigation of them. This study is mainly concerned on the isolation and
identification of fungi from marine sediments of Pulau Karah and Tanjung Berhala,
Pulau Bidong in Terengganu. Sediments were sampled and fungi isolated from both
sediments were cultured with essential growth factor. Each isolates were observed and
identified up to genus and species level based on microscopic and macroscopic
morphology. A total of 13 species of fungi were isolated from sediments at both sites.
Seven species were isolated from Pulau Karah which consists of Acremonium sp.,
Alternaria sp., Aspergillus flavus, Malbranchea sp., Basidiobolus ranarum and
Syncephalastrum sp. Fungi isolated from Tanjung Berhala are Malbranchea sp.,
Phialophora sp., Sepedonium sp., Tricophyton equinum and Rhizomucor pusillus. The
most abundant fungi are Malbranchea sp. and Sepedonium sp. while only
Malbranchea sp. is common for both sediments. Identified marine fungi were
considered dominant for Phylum Ascomycota (62.93%) followed by Phylum
Zygomycota (23.08%). Highest percentage of Ascomycetes is due to their ability to
tolerate fluctuating saline condition of wetland intertidal water. Amongst all, only
Alternaria sp. was classed as marine fungi while the rest were originated from
terrestrial habitat. This indicates that there is possibility fungi originated from
terrestrial habitat have been transported to marine sediment because fungi may be
transported to the sea in the form of hyphae growing on organic particles from land
and in the form of spores transported to the sea by wind. This experiment extends our
knowledge about marine fungi from sediment of Pulau Karah and Tanjung Berhala at
Pulau Bidong and helps to understand the diversity and similarity of marine fungi on
both different sources.
