The Occurrence and Distribution of Some Aquatic Phycomycetes on Ross Island and the Dry Valleys of Victoria Land, Antarctica

SUMMARYWater, soil, and alga samples collected on Ross Island and the dry valleys of Victoria Land during January and February, 1971, were found to contain monocentric chytridiaceous fungi, a blastocladiaceous fungus, and filamentous Oomycetes. Of the alga-infesting chytrids, only Scherffelliomyces appendiculatus and Chytridium versatile could be identified with certainty. Saprophytic chytrids which grew on baits were represented by Rhizophlyctis rosea, and two new species, Rhizophydium proliferum and Phlyctochytrium recurvastomum. Catenophlyctis variabilis occurred as a saprophyte of keratinous substrata. The Oomycetes were represented by Pythium tenue and an undetermined sterile species of Pythium. Aside from unverified observations of Aphanomyces, members of the Saprolegniaceae were lacking. The low diversity of aquatic Phycomycetes with frequent reoccurrence of a few species is noted and commented upon.