Editing Endolith (section)

==Endolithic fungi and algae in marine ecosystems==
Although it is possible that endolithic fungi could play an important role in the health of [[coral reef]]s, only limited research has been conducted on the distribution and diversity of [[Marine fungi|marine endolithic fungi]].

Endolithic fungi have been discovered in shells as early as the year 1889 by Edouard Bornet and Charles Flahault. These two French phycologists specifically provided descriptions for two fungi: ''Ostracoblabe implexis '' and ''[[Lithopythium gangliiforme]]''. Discovery of endolithic fungi, such as ''Dodgella priscus'' and ''Conchyliastrum'', has also been made in the beach sand of Australia by George Zembrowski. Findings have also been made in coral reefs and have been found to be, at times, beneficial to their coral hosts.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Golubic |first1=Stjepko |last2=Radtke |first2=Gudrun |last3=Campion-Alsumard |first3=Therese Le |title=Endolithic fungi in marine ecosystems |journal=Trends in Microbiology |date=2005 |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=229–235 |doi=10.1016/j.tim.2005.03.007|pmid=15866040 }}</ref>

In the wake of worldwide [[coral bleaching]], studies have suggested that the endolithic algae located in the skeleton of the coral may be aiding the survival of coral species by providing an alternative source of energy. Although the role that endolithic fungi play is important in coral reefs, it is often overlooked because much research is focused on the effects of coral bleaching as well as the relationships between [[Coelenterate]] and [[Endosymbiont|endosymbiotic]] [[Symbiodinium|Symbiodinia]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fine |first1=Maoz |last2=Loya |first2=Yossi |title=Endolithic algae: an alternative source of photoassimilates during coral bleaching |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences |date=2002 |volume=269 |issue=1497 |pages=1205–1210 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2002.1983|pmid=12065035 |pmc=1691023 }}</ref>

According to a study done by Astrid Gunther endoliths were also found in the island of [[Cozumel]] (Mexico). The endoliths found there not only included algae and fungi but also included [[cyanobacteria]], [[sponges]] as well as many other microborers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Günther |first1=Astrid |title=Distribution and bathymetric zonation of shell-boring endoliths in recent reef and shelf environments: Cozumel, Yucatan (Mexico) |journal=Facies |date=1990 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=233–261 |doi=10.1007/bf02536953|s2cid=130403994 }}</ref>