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Lignicolous marine fungi are a particular group of microorganisms that are typically found in mangroves, salt marshes, and estuaries, normally associated with driftwood or submerged wood. During investigations of lignicolous fungi occurring in the estuary Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, wood baits were submerged in a marina for 1 year. Seventeen distinct marine fungal species were identified, with the most abundant taxa belonging to the family Lulworthiaceae. Through single- and multilocus phylogenies based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (28S) and small subunit (18S) of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster in combination with morphological and physiological data, we describe Remispora submersa , sp. nov., and Zalerion pseudomaritima , sp. nov., as novel species. Additionally, we propose that Papulaspora halima , a species whose taxonomic placement has been somehow confusing, be transferred to the genus Paralulworthia as Paralulworthia halima .

Fungal communities associated with macroalgae remain largely unexplored. To characterize algicolous fungal communities using culture dependent methods, macroalgae were collected from different sampling sites in the Ria de Aveiro estuary, Portugal. From a collection of 486 isolates that were obtained, 213 representative isolates were selected through microsatellite-primed PCR (MSP-PCR) fingerprinting analysis. The collection yielded 33 different genera, which were identified using the ITS region of the rDNA. The results revealed that the most abundant taxa in all collections were Acremonium -like species: Alternaria , Cladosporium , Leptobacillium and Penicillium . The fungal community composition varied with macroalgae species. Through multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, tub2 , tef1-α and actA sequences, in addition to detailed morphological data, we propose Cladosporium rubrum sp. nov. (type strain=CMG 28=MUM 19.39) and Hypoxylon aveirense sp. nov. (type strain=CMG 29=MUM 19.40) as novel species.

Macroalgae of the genera Fucus, Ulva , and Enteromorpha are typically abundant in estuaries. Endophytic fungi may have beneficial effects on the hosts affecting their ability to cope with stress. They are also a source of biologically active compounds. However, little is known about the endophytic fungi that colonize these macroalgae. Endophytic isolates were obtained from macroalgae from various sites in the estuary Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), as well as from saline water and sponges. Six Acremonium -like species could not be affiliated to any known species. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA and β-tubulin ( tub2 ) and actin ( act1 ) genes placed these species in the genera Emericellopsis and Parasarocladium , but distinct from all currently known species. Although sharing morphological characteristics with the most closely related species, these genera differ in micromorphological and molecular characters. Thus, three novel species of Emericellopsis ( E. cladophorae , sp. nov., E. enteromorphae , sp. nov., and E. phycophila , sp. nov.) and three novel species of Parasarocladium ( P. aestuarinum , sp. nov., P. alavariense , sp. nov., and P. fusiforme , sp. nov.) are proposed.