320 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XXI, July 1967 
Other methods of isolation, such as baiting 
(Johnson and Sparrow, 1961), spread-plate 
technique (Buck and Cleverdon, I960) and 
cellulose plates made by placing a piece of 
sterile filter paper over an agar plate before 
inoculating (Baker, 1964) were attempted on 
some samples. The pour-plate and millipore 
filter methods, however, proved superior for 
this study. 
Identification 
Some fungi were identified directly from 
the isolation plates by a technique employing 
pressure sensitive tape (clear acetate tape, 
Scotch No. 800, Minnesota Mining and Manu- 
facturing Co.). This method is described by 
Roth, Orpurt, and Ahearn (1964). Other 
fungi were transferred to various selective me- 
dia to encourage sporulation. Those used most 
successfully were Czapek-Dox agar (difco 
0339-01) and "V-8” juice agar (Wickerham 
et ah, 1946). 
RESULTS 
Populations in Water 
Variations in salinity and temperature for 
all water sample sites was slight, ranging be- 
tween 30 %o and 35 %o for salinity; between 
20° and 25 °C for temperature. Inasmuch as 
sampling was done over the period from June 
1964 to May 1965 this temperature range also 
reflects the slight variation characteristic of a 
tropical climate. 
All sample sites yielded fungus colonies 
(Table 1 ) ; 44 of the samples had counts of 
50 colonies or under, whereas only 15 gave 
counts over 50. The standard plate count was 
TABLE l 
Zonal Distribution of Fungi in Marine 
Waters and Coastal Sands 
AVERAGE 
AVERAGE 
NUMBER 
NUMBER 
NUMBER 
NUMBER 
OF 
ISOLATES 
OF 
ISOLATES 
WATER SAMPLES 
SAMPLES 
PER ML 
SAND SAMPLES 
SAMPLES 
PER GM 
Main Hawaiian islands 
Main Hawaiian islands 
Kauai 
Kauai 
Surf zone 
2 
.16 
Intertidal zone 
5 
218 
Oahu 
Oahu 
Surf zone 
9 
.10 
Supratidal zone 
3 
185 
Inshore neritic zone 
9 
.83 
Intertidal zone 
3 
6 
Inshore bay zone 
3 
.28 
Tidal pool zone 
2 
72 
Offshore neritic zone 
3 
.61 
Subtidal zone 
3 
14 
Polluted zone 
3 
3.18 
Maui 
Maui 
Intertidal zone 
1 
36 
Surf zone 
1 
.17 
Hawaii 
Hawaii 
Intertidal zone 
6 
77 
Surf zone 
3 
.09 
Leeward Hawaiian islands 
Inshore neritic zone 
5 
.43 
Kure 
Leeward Hawaiian islands 
Intertidal zone 
8 
41 
Midway 
Midway 
Surf zone 
1 
.20 
Supratidal zone 
1 
1000 
Inshore neritic zone 
4 
.031 
Intertidal zone 
6 
790 
Oceanic, Johnston Island 
9 
.066 
Other leeward 
Oceanic, Oahu 
7 
.029 
Hawaiian islands 
Intertidal zone 
12 
1220 
Surf zone total 
16 
.12 
Line Islands 
Inshore neritic zone total 
18 
.34 
Intertidal zone 
4 
150 
Inshore bay zone total 
3 
.28 
Phoenix Islands 
Offshore neritic zone total 
3 
.61 
Intertidal zone 
13 
80 
Oceanic zone total 
16 
.045 
Polluted zone total 
3 
3.18 
59 .14 total 67 
grand total 
