The Ecology and Genetic Diversity of Macrofungi Under Collaborative Forest Management in a Tropical Moist Forest, Central Uganda

Abstract

The continued forest loss in Uganda threatens survival of plant and animal species. To reduce forest loss, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) adopted collaborative forest management (CFM) in which adjacent local communities share in the stewardship responsibility with NFA under a set of conditions that stipulate the rights and responsibilities of the local communities in the management of the forest. This approach allows the collection of ‘low impact’ resources such as dead wood, a suitable habitat substrate for the growth of macrofungi, but can affect the diversity of fungal species and, consequently, forest health. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of CFM on forest vitality in a tropical moist forest. Specifically, the study characterized macrofungi species and their habitats; compared the diversity and abundance of macrofungi species; and determined the effect of environmental factors (soil moisture, soil organic carbon, soil pH, and forest canopy density) on macrofungal diversity in the CFM and non-CFM blocks of MFR. Data were collected from forty (40) randomized plots of 10*10 m. In each plot, all the visible macrofungi were collected, characterized, and packed in zip locks for further analysis. Soil samples were collected from each plot and packed in polythene bags for laboratory analysis. Molecular identification, was further conducted on the macrofungi specimens. A total of 28 macrofungi species were identified in MFR. Species richness in the CFM and non-CFM blocks was 6 and 22 respectively. Most of the species belonged to genus Psathyrella and were solitary. Fuscoporia gilva (14) and Psathyrella spp. BAB-4773 (31) were the most abundant macrofungi species in the CFM and non-CFM blocks respectively. The non-CFM block (2.69) had a higher Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index than the CFM block (1.52). There was little similarity of macrofungi species between the blocks (CCJ = 0.077). In the CFM block, macrofungal abundance was positively associated with soil moisture and soil pH; and negatively associated with soil organic carbon and forest canopy density. The relationship between macrofungal abundance and soil pH in the CFM block was significant (P<0.05). In the non-CFM block, macrofungal abundance was negatively associated with all the environmental factors (soil moisture, soil pH, soil organic carbon, and forest canopy density). In conclusion, Mabira Forest Reserve has various macrofungal species in the CFM and non CFM blocks. However, the non-CFM block had a higher macrofungal species abundance than the CFM block. Therefore, the management of MFR needs to enhance the strict protection of the non-CFM block as a reservoir of macrofungi and regulate access and extraction of ‘low impact’ forest resources in the CFM block.