Diversity and ecology of deadwood-inhabiting mushrooms in Yankari Game Reserve, North-East Nigeria

This study investigated the diversity and ecology of deadwood-inhabiting mushrooms in Yankari Game Reserve. Stratified random sampling was used for the data collection. A total of 23 different mushroom species belonging to 12 different families were found growing on deadwood in the study area, with Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae as the most dominant mushroom families. The distribution, composition, and diversity of the different mushroom species differed according to their local habitats, growth substrate and tree species. The habitats with the highest mushroom species diversity were the Lowland Combretaceous Woodland , Pteleopsis habeensis Woodland . Their Shannon Index (H′) values were 2.31 and 1.96 respectively, and Simpson Index (D) values were 6.81 and 4.74, respectively. Their mushroom abundance was significantly (α = 0.05, p = 0.00) higher than that of Afzelia africana Woodland and Upland Combretaceous Woodland. The Main Trunk was the growth substrate with the highest H′ and D, which were 2.11 and 6.32, respectively; while the Branch had a significantly (α = 0.05, p = 0.00) higher abundance of mushrooms than the soil. Pteleopsis habeensis was the tree species that had the highest mushroom species richness and abundance with H′ (2.06) and D (5.07). The P. habeensis had significantly (α = 0.05, p = 0.00) higher mushroom abundance than all the rest of the thirteen different tree species. Trametes pubescens was the most abundant mushroom species, which was significantly (α = 0.05, p = 0.00) higher than the abundance of 10 species other mushroom species found in the study area. The result of this study can help forest managers conserve the diversity of deadwood-inhabiting mushrooms. • Deadwood-inhabiting mushrooms species habitat-specific in their distribution. • Species of mushroom have different preference for host tree species and tree parts. • Branch and main trunk harbor the highest species diversity of deadwood mushrooms. • Combretaceae are the most dominant trees preferred by deadwood mushrooms. • Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae are dominant deadwood mushrooms in the game reserve.