Diversity of filamentous fungi in leaf litter and aerial litter in semi-deciduous forest, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The fungi have wide distribution in ecosystems and can be found colonizing various substrates, where they act as efficient decomposers, participating in cycling of nutrients. The present study aimed to assess the diversity, richness and composition of filamentous fungi in leaf litter and aerial litter in a semi-deciduous forest in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Samples of leaf litter and aerial litter were collected monthly from October/2009 to September/2010 in eight installments in the studied area. Those samples were washed, placed in moist chambers and incubated. 47 taxa were identified, 37 in leaf litter and 35 in aerial litter, with 25 species common to both. A similarity of 69 % according to Sorensen index. The similarity was considered low when the sample points were compared to the same litter. Most fungi showed sporadic intervals.

Keywords

Plant debris / Species richness / Tropical microfungi

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