ABSTRACT A new species of Mahabalella B. Sutton & S. D. Patil was isolated from decaying leaves of an unidentified plant, during a survey in the Charles Darwin Ecological Refuge in Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brazil, in June 2018. The new species is morphologically distinguishable from the other Mahabalella species by the size of their conidia, conidiogenous cells and setae. In this study, the morphological descriptions, illustrations and cultural characteristics for Mahabalella pernambucana are provided, as well as a key to species of this genus. Total DNA from the isolate was extracted, and four genes were partially sequenced (nLSU, ITS cluster, TEF1 alpha, and beta tubulin). Based on the nLSU analysis, the phylogenetic position of the new species was determined within the Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota, as a sister genus to Neotracylla, in the Tracyllaceae family.

ABSTRACT Brejos de Altitude are enclaves of higher altitude humid forests in the semiarid lowlands of the North-eastern of Brazil. They present unique characteristics in terms of soil and air humidity, temperature, vegetation cover, and biodiversity. Due to these conditions, many cattle ranchers and farmers develop activities that have caused habitat loss and fragmentation of biodiversity. In this study, we aimed to describe the diversity of conidial fungi that occur in the leaf litter of the riparian vegetation in a Brejo de Altitude in Pernambuco, Brazil. Decomposing leaf material was collected from the forest floor in the dry and rainy periods of 2019, incubated in moist chambers and observed daily for fungal structures, for up to 45 days, under dissecting microscope and light microscope. Eighty-four taxa of fungi were identified, totaling 335 occurrences. The air and soil temperature, and precipitation showed an influence on the fungal community. Species richness was greater in the dry period and abundance was greater in the rainy period. The multivariate analyses revealed differences in the conidial fungi community between the dry and rainy periods. A high richness of leaf litter conidial fungal was uncovered in this area of humid forest surrounded by the semiarid vegetation of Caatinga.

Resumo: Objetivo A Mata Atlântica é um bioma brasileiro cuja biota desempenha um papel fundamental na preservação da qualidade da água. Os hifomicetos têm um papel importante nos ecossistemas aquáticos, pois são capazes de decompor a matéria orgânica e, consequentemente, contribuem com a ciclagem de nutrientes, mantendo a vida aquática. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a diversidade e composição da comunidade de hifomicetos aquáticos em duas áreas de Mata Atlântica no estado de Pernambuco (Refúgio Ecológico de Charles Darwin) e Alagoas (Reserva Biológica de Pedra Talhada), além de comparar essas comunidades com os fatores abióticos da água. Métodos Para isso, foram realizadas quatro coletas de folhas submersas em decomposição, para avaliação da comunidade de fungos, e água para aferição dos parâmetros: acidez, alcalinidade, cloretos, condutividade elétrica, coliformes totais, cor, DBO, DQO, OD, nitrogênio total, pH, sólidos totais, sulfatos, temperatura e turbidez, e cálculo do Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA). As coletas foram realizadas entre julho/2018 e maio/2019, em seis pontos ao longo de um riacho em cada área de estudo. Resultados Foram identificados 53 táxons e registradas 1926 ocorrências em 2592 fragmentos foliares. Houve predomínio de Blodgettia aquatica, Blodgettia indica, Flagellospora penicillioides, Flagellospora sp., Mycoleptodiscus disciformis, Triscelophorus monosporus e Xylomyces acerosisporus, havendo similaridade dessas e de outras espécies entres as áreas estudadas. No período chuvoso houve maior ocorrência de hifomicetos aquáticos nas duas áreas, porém, a diversidade de fungos foi maior no Refúgio Charles Darwin. Fatores abióticos como temperatura, OD e pluviosidade influenciam na ocorrência de hifomicetos, no entanto, nenhuma estrutura de comunidade foi detectada ou fortemente correlacionada com as variáveis abióticas estudadas. Conclusões As áreas apresentaram valores adequados para as variáveis indicativas da qualidade da água e alta riqueza de espécies de hifomicetos, demonstrando a importância da proteção legal para conservação de áreas naturais.

Abstract: Aim The Atlantic Forest is a Brazilian biome whose biota plays a fundamental role in the preservation of water quality. Hyphomycetes play an important role in aquatic ecosystems as they can decompose organic matter and, consequently, contribute to nutrient cycling, maintaining aquatic life. The aim of this work was to determine the diversity and composition of the aquatic hyphomycetes community in two areas of Atlantic Forest in the state of Pernambuco (Charles Darwin Ecological Refuge) and Alagoas (Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve), in addition to comparing these communities with the water abiotic factors. Methods For this, four collections of submerged decomposing leaves, for evaluation of the fungi community, and water for measuring the parameters: acidity, alkalinity, chlorides, electrical conductivity, total coliforms, color, BOD, COD, DO, total nitrogen, pH, total solids, sulfates, temperature and turbidity, and calculation of the Water Quality Index (WQI) were carried out. The samplings took place between July/2018 and May/2019, at six points along a stream in each study area. Results Fifty-three taxa were identified, and 1926 occurrences were recorded in 2592 leaf fragments. There was a predominance of Blodgettia aquatica, Blodgettia indica, Flagellospora penicillioides, Flagellospora sp., Mycoleptodiscus disciformis, Triscelophorus monosporus and Xylomyces acerosisporus, with similarity of these and other species between the studied areas. In the rainy season, there was a greater occurrence of aquatic hyphomycetes in both areas; however, the diversity of fungi was greater in the Charles Darwin Refuge. Abiotic factors such as temperature, DO and rainfall influence the occurrence of hyphomycetes, however, no community structure was detected or strongly correlated with the studied abiotic variables. Conclusions The areas presented adequate values for the variables indicative of water quality and high richness of hyphomycetes species, demonstrating the importance of legal protection for the conservation of natural areas.