Waterways are ideal pathways for Phytophthora dispersal and potential introduction to terrestrial ecosystems. While many Phytophthora species from phylogenetic clades 6, 9 and 10 are predominant oomycetes in watercourses due to their adaptation to a lifestyle as saprotrophs and opportunistic pathogens of riparian plants, species from clades 2, 7 and 8 are predominantly soil- or airborne using aquatic habitats as temporal niches for spreading and invading terrestrial sites along the watercourses. In contrast to forest ecosystems, knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in watercourses in Central Europe is limited. Between 2014 and 2019 extensive surveys of streams and rivers were undertaken across Austria, in South Moravia, Czech Republic and Žilina province, Slovakia to unveil the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora and related oomycetes. In addition, in Austria riparian forests of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alder (A. incana) in lowlands and in the Alps were examined. A variety of Phytophthora species from clades 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were isolated, with clade 6 species showing the widest distribution and abundance. Furthermore, interspecific clade 6 hybrids and other oomycetes such as Halophytophthora fluviatilis and undescribed Nothophytophthora spp. were also obtained. In riparian alders, symptoms of Phytophthora infections were associated with species from the P. × alni complex and P. plurivora. Phytophthora plurivora was most common in alder stands whereas P. uniformis was the oomycete species occurring at the highest altitude in alpine riparian areas.

水道是疫霉菌传播和潜在引入陆地生态系统的理想途径。虽然来自系统发育分支 6、9 和 10 的许多疫霉属物种是水道中的主要卵菌，因为它们适应作为河岸植物的腐生菌和机会性病原体的生活方式，但来自分支 2、7 和 8 的物种主要利用水生生境通过土壤或空气传播。作为沿着水道传播和入侵陆地地点的临时生态位。与森林生态系统相比，对中欧水道疫霉多样性的了解有限。 2014年至2019年间，对奥地利、捷克共和国南摩拉维亚省和斯洛伐克日利纳省的溪流和河流进行了广泛调查，以揭示疫霉属和相关卵菌的多样性和分布。此外，还对奥地利低地和阿尔卑斯山的黑桤木（ Alnus glutinosa ）和灰桤木（ A. incana ）河岸森林进行了检查。分离出2、6、7、8、9和10支多种疫霉属物种，其中6支物种分布范围最广，丰度最高。此外，种间进化枝 6 杂种和其他卵菌，如盐疫霉和未描述的Nothophytophthora spp。也获得了。在河岸桤木中，疫霉菌感染的症状与P. × alni复合体和P. plurivora的物种有关。多食疫霉 (Phytophthora plurivora)在桤木林中最常见，而P.uniformis是高山河岸地区海拔最高的卵菌物种。