Soil micromycetes of Evolution Canyon, Lower Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel National Park, Israel

The soil micromycetes found in Evolution Canyon, Mt Carmel National Park, Israel, were studied. Collections were made on the north facing and the south-facing slopes as well as the canyon floor. The south-facing slope receives up to 300% more solar radiation compared with the mild, more stable, north-facing slope. A total of 105 species of soil micromycetes belonging to 52 genera were isolated. Species distribution included Zygomycetes (11.4%), Pyrenomycetes and Plectomycetes (6.7%), Hyphomycetes (78.1%), and Coelomycetes (3.8%). Botryotrychum piluliferum and Fusarium solani were the most common species. Species richness was much higher on the north-facing slope than on the south-facing slope. Aphanocladium album, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Sepedomium chrysospermum, Ulocladium botrytis, Fusarium acuminatum, Phoma exiqua, were found on the valley floor and not on either slope.