SOIL FUNGI OF A COPPER SWAMP

Abstract

Microfungal and copper analyses were carried out on 35 soil samples derived from 10 profiles in and near a swamp containing cupriferous peat. Copper content varied from less than 1 to 68,000 parts per million (p.p.m.). While the fungus flora was generally sparse, populations of up to 9000 colonies/g of soil were found in peat horizons of high copper content, but fungi were very few or absent in leached inorganic horizons of low copper content. Thirty-one species of fungi were isolated: 12 hyphomycetes, 5 phycomycetes, 3 coelomycetes, 3 basidiomycetes, 2 pyrenomycetes, and 6 sterile forms. Thirteen species, including Penicillium ochro-chloron, the most prolific fungus encountered, were found exclusively in samples containing over 7500 p.p.m. of copper. Nine species, including the rare Mucor ambiguus, occurred only in samples containing less than 5 p.p.m. of copper. The distribution of the remaining nine species, which included several of the commoner soil saprophytes, was apparently unaffected by either high or low copper concentrations.