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University of Redlands

Publication Date

Spring 2024

Program Name

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

Abstract

Mushrooms are key bioindicators that contribute greatly to ecological health, and their diversity is indicative of a healthy ecosystem. However, even with the vital role they play in ecological health, there are few studies which measure the diversity of mushrooms in Mazumbai Forest Reserve (MFR), Tanzania, Africa, and none which focus on diversity along the elevational gradient within the reserve (1300-1900m). This study measures the diversity and equitability of mushrooms growing in six elevational zones within MFR during the rainy season of 2024. A species checklist of mushrooms growing in MFR during the 2024 rainy season was created, tracking the elevation zone, mode of nutrition, edibility, and toxicity of each mushroom species encountered in MFR. Using an opportunistic sampling method, data collection took place over 6 days during the month of April. Mushrooms were photographed, substrate type and elevation were recorded, and added to a geographic database using ArcGIS field maps. Mushrooms were identified using field guides and mushroom identification applications. 515 total mushrooms were encountered across all elevation zones, representing two phyla, five classes, 13 orders, 49 families, 85 genera, and 149 distinct species. Phylum Basidiomycota accounted for 95% of all distinct species and 91% of all distinct species follow a saprotrophic mode of nutrition. The 1500-1600m and 1400-1500m elevation zones had the highest diversity, and the 1300-1400m elevation zone had the lowest diversity. The lowest and highest elevation zones, 1800-1900m and 1300-1400m, had the highest equitability. All data is significant, with a combined P value of 6.12 × 10−16, which is much lower than the chosen significance value of 0.05, for diversity and equitability values. The null hypothesis was rejected, and the hypothesis is supported by the data. This study should be repeated in MFR during a future rain season with a larger sample size, larger research team, and more variables measured.

Disciplines

Biodiversity | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Forest Biology | Fungi | Geographic Information Sciences

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