Spatial and temporal diversity of macrofungi in the western ghat forests of India

Abstract

This study presents results of macrofungal inventory in the Western Ghat forest of Karnataka (reserve forest, shola forest, sacred grove and coffee agroforest) during wet season (June—November). A total of 157 species belonging to 87 genera was recovered. A maximum of 53 species was found in the coffee agroforest with highest diversity, exclusive (confined to a specific forest: 42 sp.) and core-group (frequency of occurrence, ≥10%: 17 sp.) species. Irrespective of forest, the species richness attained peaks during June and September. Rarefaction indices of species against sporocarps also showed the highest expected number of species in coffee agroforest. Of a total of 9256 sporocarps, the coffee agroforest consists of highest sporocarps than other forests (3715 vs. 1676—2999). Two-way ANOVA revealed significant spatial difference in richness of species (P < 0.01) as well as sporocarps (P < 0.05) without significant difference temporally. Low species similarity among forests surveyed (2.4—8.5%) depicts uniqueness of macrofungi in these forests. This survey yielded 45 new records to the Western Ghats and 47 economically valuable core-group fungi (edible, medicinal and ectomycorrhizal). Maintenance of suitable edaphic conditions along with enrichment organic matter (woody and leaf litter) in coffee agroforests seems to maximize economically viable macrofungi.