Page 105 - 《水产学报》2025年第12期

李雪珽，等 水产学报, 2025, 49(12): 129308

Species and community diversity of fungi associated with gorgonians in
the Zhongjieshan Islands

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1
1
1
1,2*
LI Xueting , LIANG Jun , WU Junyi , LIAN Boyuan , FENG Huiqi ,
1,2
ZHOU Yongdong , XU Kaida 1,2
1. Zhejiang Marine Fisheries Research Institute,
Marine and Fisheries Institute of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316021, China;
2. Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources for Key Fishing Grounds,
Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Technology Research for Fishery Resource of Zhejiang Province,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhoushan 316021, China

Abstract: Under the escalating pressures of global warming and ocean acidification, gorgonian coral resources are experien-
cing continuous degradation. Gorgonian-associated fungal communities, which sensitively reflect coral health status, exhibit
close correlations with the ecological conditions of their hosts. However, the diversity and taxonomic composition of these
fungal symbionts in the East China Sea remain unreported. To elucidate the taxonomic and community diversity characteristics
of gorgonian-associated fungi across different habitats in the Zhongjieshan Islands, 24 gorgonian samples were collected from
six stations spanning three habitat types (artificial, mixed natural, and single natural habitats). Fungal isolates were obtained via
dilution plate and streak plate methods, followed by molecular identification using ITS and 26S rDNA sequencing to construct
phylogenetic trees for taxonomic classification. Functional guilds of the isolated fungi were predicted using the FUNGuild data-
base, and diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener, Margalef, and Pielou) were employed to assess fungal community diversity, rich-
ness, and evenness across habitats. A total of 54 fungal strains were isolated and purified, belonging to 31 genera, 25 families,
20 orders, 8 classes, and 2 phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). Dominant genera included Penicillium (11.11%), Cla-
dosporium (9.26%), and Aspergillus (5.56%). Notably, strains A1, A22, and A53 showed low sequence similarities (92.87%,
90.26%, and 93.04%, respectively) to their closest relatives in the NCBI database, suggesting that 5.56% of isolates represent
potential new species. Habitat type significantly influenced fungal community structure: artificial habitats exhibited the highest
Shannon-Wiener diversity (2.20) and Margalef richness (2.98), while mixed natural habitats showed the highest Pielou even-
ness (0.94). In contrast, single natural habitats displayed the lowest diversity metrics. These results demonstrate pronounced
habitat specificity and diversity in gorgonian-associated fungal communities within the Zhongjieshan Islands, with artificial
habitats likely enhancing fungal colonization through increased environmental complexity. The discovery of potential novel
species underscores the region’s untapped fungal resource potential. This study provides foundational data for assessing gorgo-
nian health and formulating targeted ecological restoration strategies, offering critical insights into marine microbial ecology
and habitat management.
Key words: gorgonians; symbiotic fungi; strain isolation; diversity; Zhongjieshan Islands
Corresponding author: LIANG Jun. E-mail: jliang@zjou.edu.cn
Funding projects: National Key R & D Program of China (2023YFD2401905); Blue Granary Science and Technology Innova-
tion Project of National Key R & D Program (2019YFD0901205); National Natural Science Foundation of China (31702346)

https://www.china-fishery.cn 中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries
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