Macrofungal Diversity In Houhe National Nature Reserve

Houhe National Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Wuling Mountains in central subtropical China with complex topographical features,diverse vegetation types and obvious vertical climate.Considering it,abundant biological resources can be expected in this reserve.In this paper,specimen collection and identification were carried out to explore the species diversity and ecological characteristics of macrofungi in the reserve.Besides,a checklist of species was compiled and the resources of macrofungi in this area was evaluated.This study could promote the development of the protection and development of macrofungi in this area.A total of 703 macrofungal specimens were collected in the field.Combining morphological taxonomy and molecular systematics methods,332 species were identified from 172 genera,70 families,19 orders and 7 classes.Among them,43 species belonged to Ascomycota,representing 27 genera,16 families,6 orders and 4classes,289 species belonged to Basidiomycota,representing 145 genera,54 families,13 orders and 3 classes.A new recording species of China called Descolea quercina J.Khan & Naseer was discovered and described detailedly.In addition,110 new records of Hubei Province and 290 new records of this reserve were increased.The species composition of macrofungi was analyzed,175 species from 11 dominant families with more than 9 species accounted for 52.71% of macrofungal species,and the most abundant family came from the Polyporaceae,followed by the Psathyrellaceae;99 species from 12 dominant genera with more than 4 species accounted for 29.82% of macrofungal species,the most abundant genera belonged to the Crepidotus,followed by the Mycena.As to the ecological characteristics,the species composition of macrofungi in different plant communities was different and the species richness of macrofungi in mixed forest was the highest,221 species were collected accounting for 66.57% of macrofungal species.The macrofungi of this reserve had vertical distribution characteristics and were most abundant in 950-1450 m elevation gradient,282 species were collected accounting for 84.94% of macrofungal species.With regard to timescale,the macrofungal species were most abundant in July,mainly in connection with the temperature and precipitation.In terms of nutrition type,208 lignicolous species,109 geophilous species,21 litter-habitating species,2 entomogenous species and 37 ectomycorrhizal fungi were divided of this reserve.From the perspective of economic value,this reserve existed 30 edible species,43 medicinal species,37 edible and medical species,18 poisonous species,13 species with poison and can be used as medicine,5 species with poison but also documented as edible and 7 fungi that have been documented as medicinal species with some poison,but were also considered to be edible by some people.The result of the threat level assessment showed that 216 species of macrofungi in the reserve were assessed as least concern,4 species as near endangered,1 species as vulnerable and 82 as data deficient.It can be seen that abundant macrofungi resources existed in Houhe National Nature Reserve,and there were many dominant families and genera.The occurrence of macrofungi in this area was influenced by plant communities and had the characteristics of vertical distribution and seasonality.The most species belonged to the lignicolous,followed by the geophilous.The results of this study have important theoretical significance for the conservation biology of macrofungi in China and have great practical value for the development and utilization of macrofungal resources.