The ecology of the lower marine fungi, namely the thraustochytrides, in the Fladen Ground area (FLEX box) and other parts of the North Sea was studied during 5 cruises in 1975 and 1976. The number of fungi/liter and the number of species showed seasonal fluctuations in the surface water samples from all the stations. A high number was found in September 1976 and a lower number in March 1976. These numbers, however, revealed no seasonal fluctuations in the underlying sediments. In both the surface waters and the sediments, a consistingly low number of fungi was recorded for certain stations and a high number of fungi for others, the reason for this beeing unknown. The sediments revealed a very high number of fungi/liter. Observations on the distribution of various species are presented. Certain species occured more frequently at some stations than at others; certain species occured more in the water column, e.g. Ulkenia minuta, and still others in the sediments, e.g. Thraustochytrium multirudimentale.

Supplement to: Gaertner, Alwin; Raghu Kumar, S (1980): Ecology of the Thraustochytrids (lower marine fungi) in the Fladen Ground and other parts of the North Sea. Meteor Forschungsergebnisse, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Reihe A Allgemeines, Physik und Chemie des Meeres, Gebrüder Bornträger, Berlin, Stuttgart, A22, 165-185