The distribution of polypore fungi in endemism centres in Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract

Abstract Amazonia is covered by the largest, best-preserved tropical forest in the world, almost 50% of which is in Brazil. The Amazonian region has the highest biodiversity of the planet, distributed, at least for the fauna and flora communities, in eight distinct centres of endemism. However, there is little information about the fungal distribution in the region. In this study, the abundance, species richness and composition of species of poroid fungi were investigated in three Amazonian centres of endemism in order to test the hypothesis whether these centres also have distinct fungal communities. One hundred and twenty four unit samples in three centres of endemism were visited from 2006 to 2011, resulting in 2303 collections representing 153 species of poroid fungi. The fungal communities did not form distinct groups in relation to the centres of endemism when the Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) was used and the hypothesis was rejected.