Analysis of two southern hemisphere coprophilous fungus successions

Abstract

Studies were made of the fungus succession on kangaroo and rabbit dung collected from the same locality. The presence or absence of eight species was assessed over a 74-day incubation period in moist chambers and the reproductive output of 15 species was assessed over the same incubation period using a ‘window trap’ procedure. Although the fungal succession was similar on the two substrates, considerable differences were noted in the duration and profuseness of fruiting of species in the two habitats and the characteristic species pattern which has been drawn up for each substrate is based on reproductive output on that substrate.