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Swash zone interstitial water is a reservoir of fungal micro-organisms on a Mediterranean beach (Genoa City, Italy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2009

Luigi Vezzulli ,
Mirca Zotti ,
Valentina Marin ,
Mariapaola Moreno ,
Elisabetta Pezzati  and
Mauro Fabiano
Luigi Vezzulli*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology (DIBIO), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Mirca Zotti
Affiliation:
Department for Study of Territory and its Resources (DIP.TE.RIS.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Valentina Marin
Affiliation:
Department for Study of Territory and its Resources (DIP.TE.RIS.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Mariapaola Moreno
Affiliation:
Department for Study of Territory and its Resources (DIP.TE.RIS.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Elisabetta Pezzati
Affiliation:
Department for Study of Territory and its Resources (DIP.TE.RIS.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Mauro Fabiano
Affiliation:
Department for Study of Territory and its Resources (DIP.TE.RIS.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: L. Vezzulli, Department of Biology (DIBIO), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy email: luigi.vezzulli@unige.it
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Abstract

The swash zone interstitial water (SZIW) which occupies interstices, or spaces between sand grains at the shoreline is suspected of accumulating microbes and thus of posing a health risk for beach users. In this study we examined the presence and concentrations of filamentous fungi and yeasts in SZIW and compared the results with the fungal densities found in the beach sand at three sampling locations along a Mediterranean beach (Sturla Beach, Genoa City, Italy). Unexpectedly SZIW had the highest counts of total filamentous fungi and yeasts while sand samples always displayed lower counts. The SZIW also harboured a high fungal diversity with ten genera and 74 different strains isolated from this matrix while only eight genera and 47 different strains were isolated from the beach sand samples. Overall data from this study suggest that SZIW may constitute an important reservoir of fungal micro-organisms in the beach environment.

Keywords

fungibeachswash zoneMediterranean Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e19
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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References

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