01369nas a2200157   4500008004100000020001400041245004200055210004200097300001200139490000700151520090000158100002101058700001901079700003301098856008001131       2005                        eng d  a0966-842X00aEndolithic fungi in marine ecosystems0 aEndolithic fungi in marine ecosystems  a229-2350 v133 aFungi are an important constituent of microbial endolithic assemblages in marine ecosystems. As euendoliths, they penetrate limestone, mollusk shells and other carbonate substrates, where they can exploit mineralized organic matter, attack their hosts, or engage in symbiotic relationships. They leave specific boring traces, which can be identified in the fossil record and described as trace fossils. Their distribution is independent of light and extends from the intertidal ranges to abyssal oceanic depths. Important, but insufficiently studied, is the role of aggressive endolithic fungi in skeletons of corals where they are ubiquitous and globally distributed. In healthy growing reef corals, the relationship between the coral coelenterate, endolithic algae and fungi is in a state of equilibrium, but can turn detrimental to coral health when reefs are exposed to environmental stress.1 aGolubic, Stjepko1 aRadtke, Gudrun1 aLe Campion-Alsumard, Therese  uhttps://reefichno.myspecies.info/content/endolithic-fungi-marine-ecosystems