Natural forests support higher mycological diversity and more edible mushroom species than plantation forests in Ethiopia

Abstract

To identify measures to protect and conserve macrofungal communities in Ethiopian forests, we need a more comprehensive understanding of macrofungal diversity, functions, and fruiting body production. In this study, we assessed macrofungal communities in three forest types in Gambo Forest District, South-Central Ethiopia. We surveyed 18 plots (each 1000 m2) located in a clear-cut and replanted plantation forest, an old plantation forest, and a natural forest. We identified a total of 132 macrofungal species, of which 75% were saprotrophic, 16% were ectomycorrhizal, and 9% were plant pathogens. We identified 40 edible species, including economically important species, such as those from the genus of Agaricus, Morchella, Cantharellus, Suillus, and Termitomyces. The three forests were significantly different (P < .001) in terms of their macrofungal community composition, with natural forest having the highest species richness and unique community assemblages. In total, 86 macrofungal species were collected from natural forest, of which 28 species were edible. The macrofungal diversity of clear-cut and old plantation forests did not differ significantly. Our findings suggest that prioritizing the restoration or preservation of fragmented natural forests rather than the expansion of exotic tree plantations would be a more effective strategy for conserving and enhancing macrofungal species diversity and the production of economically valuable edible species.