Macrofungal diversity in Colombian Amazon forests varies with regions and regimes of disturbance

Carlos A. López-Quintero,Gerben Straatsma,Teun Boekhout,A. Esperanza Franco-Molano

doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0280-8

Abstract

Here we present the results of fungal biodiversity studies from some selected Colombian Amazon forests in relationship to plant biodiversity and successional stages after slash and burn agriculture. Macrofungal diversity was found to differ between forests occurring in two regions (Araracuara vs Amacayacu) as well as between flooded forests and terra firme forests in the Amacayacu region. Macrofungal biodiversity differed between regeneration states of different age in the Araracuara region. Suitable substrates, especially dead wood that occurred as a result of recent slash and burn agriculture, resulted in the formation of many sporocarps of wood-inhabiting species. Putative ectomycorrhizal species were found in a dipterocarp forest. Fifty two percent of the macrofungal species could not be identified to the species level, but could be assigned to a genus, and it is likely that a significant portion of these represent species new to science. Long term studies are needed to obtain a comprehensive and complete understanding of the diversity and functioning of mycobiota in Amazon forest ecosystems.

Highlights

Fungi are an essential functional component of terrestrial ecosystems as decomposers, symbionts and pathogens (Mueller et al 2007) and they represent one of the most biodiverse groups of organisms on earth (Hawksworth 1991, 2001)
Here we present the results of fungal biodiversity studies from some selected Colombian Amazon forests in relationship to plant biodiversity and successional stages after slash and burn agriculture
On the fallen leaves substrate we found 1,534 sporocarps, mostly from species of Marasmius; 560 sporocarps were recorded on twigs, and the lowest productivity was noted for fungi that grew on insects belonging to the families Fulgoridae, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera and on which only 13 sporocarps were observed

Summary

Introduction

Fungi are an essential functional component of terrestrial ecosystems as decomposers, symbionts and pathogens (Mueller et al 2007) and they represent one of the most biodiverse groups of organisms on earth (Hawksworth 1991, 2001). Our knowledge of their diversity and ecological function in Neotropical lowland forests is limited. The ecological interaction of macrofungi with other organisms in these forests is poorly understood due to the largely unexplored, but likely huge, fungal diversity, as well as the cryptic and ephemeral nature of many fungal species. The diversity of macrofungi in tropical forests as assessed by Lodge et al (1995) showed that the highest diversity in the Neotropics occurred in the Amazon basin with aphyllophoralean, pyrenomycetous, xylariaceous and hyphomycetous fungi being most species rich

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Conclusion