Effects of surface fouling organisms on the occurrence of fungi on submerged pine blocks in Hong Kong coastal waters

During an investigation into the distribution of lignicolous marine fungi in Hong Kong coastal waters, pine blocks (Pinus massoniana Lambert) were used as one of the baiting substrates. The results from unscraped and scraped pine blocks showed that, in general, the presence of surface fouling organisms did not affect the pattern of occurrence of fungi either quantitatively or qualitatively. Apart from the presence of a few fungal species on the calcareous substrates provided by barnacles and shipworms, no other associations between fungi and fouling organisms were detected.