Distribution And Abundance

Fungi are either terrestrial or aquatic, the latter living in freshwater or marine environments. Freshwater species are usually found in clean, cool water because they do not tolerate high degrees of salinity. However, some species are found in slightly brackish water, and a few thrive in highly polluted streams. Soil that is rich in organic matter furnishes an ideal habitat for a large number of species; only a small number of species are found in drier areas or in habitats with little or no organic matter. Fungi are found in all temperate and tropical regions of the world where there is sufficient moisture to enable them to grow. A few species of fungi live in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, although they are rare and are more often found living in symbiosis with algae in the form of lichens. About 144,000 species of fungi have been identified and described, but mycologists estimate that there may be between 2.2 million and 3.8 million total species.