Biodiversity of Macrofungi: A Literature Review

Abstract

Macrofungi are known to be heterotrophic eukaryotes that dwell in rotten wood, decaying matter, grassy ground, and other substrates. Most of them are saprotrophs or decomposers. They provide a big contribution to nutrient cycling as primary producers. The diversity of macrofungi are studied across the globe yet 10% of the species are only identified. This review aimed to provide a systematic information of the diverse species of macrofungi that were collected in the selected sample sites of the Philippines specifically in Catanduanes, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Northen Samar, and Camarines Sur. A total of 250 macrofungal taxaspecies were collected from the five different sample sites. 25 species were found to be present in Nueva Vizcaya, 71 species in Laguna, 81 species in Catanduanes, 39 species in Northern Samar, and 35 species in Camarines Sur. The top 5 families with the most number of species are Psathyrellaceae, Marasmiaceae, Tricholomataceae, Agariceae, and Polyporaceae. The family with the highest number of species collected was known to be Polyporaceae with a total of 62 species and are present in each sample site. Thus, the dominance of this species is evident as it corresponds to the climate and substrate in the country. To maintain the species richness in the area, regular monitoring of macrofungi should be implemented. It is also recommended that more studies of macrofungal biodiversity should be conducted in the Philippines.