Diversity and distribution of macrofungi (mushrooms) in the Mount Cameroon Region

Abstract

This study was carried out to document the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in the Mount Cameroon Region. These were assessed at low and high altitudinal ranges in the four flanks of the mountain during the rainy and early dry seasons of 2010 and 2011. A total of 177 macrofungal species belonging to 83 genera and 38 families were recorded. Species richness was higher in the rainy seasons (134 species) than in the early dry seasons (89 species) and tended to decrease with altitude, with 116 and 112 species for low and high altitudes, respectively. Eighty-eight species were recorded only in the rainy seasons, 43 species in the early dry seasons only, and 46 species were common to both seasons. Sixty-five species were found only in the low altitude, 61 species only in the high altitude, and 51 species were common to both altitudes. Auricularia auricular was the most abundant species during the rainy seasons, while Coltricia cinnamomea was rare during the rainy seasons, and the most abundant during the dry seasons. Six of the 12 morpho-groups identified occurred across the sites, with the gilled fungi being the most frequent. Cyathus striatus was found only in Buea Town during the rainy seasons. The study established that macrofungal diversity is threatened in the Mount Cameroon Region and needs for conservation measures especially for edible and medicinal species.

A first checklist of macrofungi for South Africa

“…Macrofungi are fungi that form large fructifications visible without the aid of the microscope and include representatives from the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota (Roda 2010;Servi et al 2010). Common names used to refer to these fungi include mushrooms, toadstools, cup fungi, gilled fungi, jelly fungi, coral fungi, stink fungi, bracket fungi, polypores, puffballs, earth starts, truffles, and birds nest fungi (Egbe et al 2013) and illustrates the visibility of these fungi to the public. Ecologically, macrofungi can be grouped as saprobes, parasites and symbiotic species (for instance mycorrhiza).…”

Bioprospection of Basidiomycetes and molecular phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene sequence

“…Abundant growth of Basidiomycetes are prevalent in the rainy seasons where the environmental conditions such as temperature, relative humidity and sunshine are favourable, which aids them in the breakdown of dead organic tissue 12 . These are the potential indicators of environmental quality 13 . Many fleshy fungi are edible and harmless, but few are poisonous 14 .…”

Species Richness and Traditional Knowledge of Macrofungi (Mushrooms) in the Awing Forest Reserve and Communities, Northwest Region, Cameroon

“…Sampling of the macrofungi was carried out using transects of 50 × 20 m in three different plots consisting of high altitude, mid altitude, and low altitude. Photographs of the macrofungi species were taken in situ and macromorphological characters recorded [6,14]. The collection of all macrofungi species was done with care to avoid damage of the sporocarp and they were wrapped in tissue and placed in separate collection bags to avoid spore contamination among the different species of macrofungi.…”

“…The sampling sites were chosen based on the accessibility of the area and presence of macrofungi [6]. The field protocol was according to [14], in which repeated sampling of all macrofungi species present in the sites was done for six months from February to July 2015.…”

“…Macrofungi fruiting on woody substrate are usually either saprobes or plant pathogens [4,5]. Fungi of various taxonomic groups producing conspicuous sporocarps are collectively known as macrofungi which include "gilled fungi," "jelly fungi," "coral fungi," "stink fungi," "bracket fungi," "puffballs," "truffles," and "birds nest" [6]. Macrofungal diversity is an important component of the global diversity, particularly community diversity, which is an essential part of fungal diversity [7].…”