Indicator species and community structure of gasteroid fungi (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) in ecosystems of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil

Abstract

Fungi are import organisms in tropical ecosystems. However, there is little information about their community structure and dynamics in these environments. This study aimed to evaluate the structure and presence of indicator species of epigeous Gasteromycetes in distinct ecosystems (lowland rain forest, Araucaria forest, and semideciduous forest) of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. Samplings were carried out during the summer and autumn of 2014 and 2015 involving ten transects (50 × 4 m). Forty-seven species were identified, of which 48% belong to Geastrum. An ANOVA showed a significant difference in diversity of gasteroid fungi among the forest types and the two evaluated seasons. An ordination nonparametric analysis to assess the composition of species of the forest types revealed a stress value of 0.12. In total, 13 species were classified as indicator species by an IndVal analysis. Our results reject our hypothesis, which we infer, that a greater diversity of gasteroid fungi would be in areas of lowland rain forest.In this sense, leading us to rethinking techniques and new approaches for ecological studies of gasteroid fungi in Brazil. However, the study underscores the importance of understanding the relationships of fungal communities in forest environments.