Species Composition and Distribution of Macrofungi in Mount Malimumu, Pantaron Range, San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines
Species Composition and Distribution of Macrofungi in Mount Malimumu, Bukidnon, Philippines
Keywords:
Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, fungal diversity, mushrooms, Polyporaceae, Southeast AsiaAbstract
Macrofungi are crucial in recycling organic matter needed for the growth and survival of living organisms, including humans, and are essential for maintaining biodiversity. Despite their ecological importance, there is limited documentation on the macrofungi species composition and their distribution in several mountain ecosystems in the Philippines, particularly in Mount Malimumu, Pantaron Range, San Fernando, Bukidnon in Mindanao. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the composition and distribution of macrofungi in Mount Malimumu, through repeated transect walks during the 3-day field survey at two identified sites: tropical lower montane (I) and tropical upper montane rainforests (II), along with an opportunistic sampling method outside the belt transect. A total of 33 macrofungi taxa were collected in the two sampling sites (Site I has 22 and Site II has 11 taxa). The recorded taxa belong to 12 families and 19 genera, representing 0.83% of the Philippine macrofungi taxa. Most macrofungi taxa were from the family Polyporaceae with 49% (16 taxa) and least in families Stereaceae, Rigidoporaceae, Auriculariaceae, Calostomataceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Irpicaceae, Mycenaceae, Physalacriaceae, and Pleurotaceae with 3% (1 taxon for each family). Macrofungi taxa were identified based on their morphological characteristics. They were observed in different habitats and substrates, such as decomposing logs (37%), fallen branches and twigs (33%), ground soil (15%), tree trunks (9%), leaf litter (3%) and others, such us roots of trees (3%). Overall, the results of this study could be a basis for more studies to be conducted on macrofungi taxa in Mount Malimumu and adjacent areas, and determine their importance in the decomposition process of the organic forest material.References
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