Aquatic fungi growing on feathers of wild and domestic bird species in limnologically different water bodies

The mycoflora developing on the feathers of wild and domestic bird species in the water of 6 limnologically different water bodies was investigated under laboratory conditions. 97 zoosporic fungus species were found to grow on the feathers investigated, including 21 Chytridiomycetes, 1 Hyphochytriomycetes, 74 Oomycetes and 1 Zygomycetes fungus. The most common fungus species included Chytriomycetes annulatus, Rhizophydium keratinophilum, Blastocladiopsis parva, Catenaria anguillulae, Catenophlyctis variabilis, Aphanomyces helicoides, Aphanomyces irregularis, Leptolegniella piligena, Pythium afertile, Pythium aquatile, Pythium echinulatum, Pythium intermedium and Pythium tenue. The most fungi were noted growing in water from Cypisek spring (64), the fewest in the ponds Akcent (45) and Fosa (47 species). Out of these 97 species, 17 are known as parasites or necrotrophs of fish. 13 fungus species were recorded for the first time in Poland.