Aquatic fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling in ecosystems. They help improve the quality of leaf litter for other organisms by adjusting the ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The growth rates of fungi may influence their elemental ratios, but more research is needed to confirm this. Fungi have different nutrient requirements compared to bacteria, which affects how they interact in aquatic environments. Overall, understanding the stoichiometry of aquatic fungi can provide insights into how nutrients and energy flow through aquatic ecosystems.