Molecular approaches applied to aquatic hyphomycetes

Since aquatic hyphomycetes were discovered in 1942, much has been learned about their taxonomy and biology, their seasonal and geographic distribution, responses to pollutants and potential connections between diversity and ecological functions. Aquatic hyphomycetes are now recognized as essential intermediaries in food webs of streams. Despite these advances, the inability of identifying the metabolically active phase, mycelium, continues to impede progress. Molecular methods do not rely on the presence of reproductive stages to identify taxa. Their application has modified or refined our understanding of many aspects of the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic hyphomycetes, and makes accessible entirely new avenues of research.