Aquatic hyphomycetes were discovered 50 years ago by C.T.
Ingold. They remained a relatively obscure group until their
role as intermediaries between deciduous leaves and stream
invertebrates was established some 20 years ago. This book,
for the first time, provides a comprehensive summary and
critical evaluation of the biology and ecology of these
organisms. Aspecial effort was made to evaluate the
potential and actual insight that have been or will be
derived from work in related disciplines such as the ecology
of other fungal groups, stream ecology, or population
ecology. The topics treated include the basic life history
of the fungi and the potential role of wood, a discussion of
how the fungi have adjusted to life in running water, their
interactions with invertebrates, the attachment and
germination of their spores, what is known about sexual
reproduction, how water chemistry may influence their
distribution and activity, how they react to human
degradation of their environment, and a summary of the
research done on the Indian subcontinent. The volume is of
special interest to mycologists and stream ecologists and
should facilitate the entry of new workers into this
exciting area.