Macrofungal community richness at different distances from a cloud forest stream, August 2008

Alternative Title

Riqueza de la comunidad de Macrohongos a diferentes distancias de un arroyo en el bosque nuboso

Creator

Elizabeth Place

Files

Publication Date

August 2008

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine macrofungal community richness at different distances from the Quebrada Máquina in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica. Twenty transects no closer than ten meters apart were tested. Each transect contained a 1X 1 m2 plot positioned at zero, five, ten, fifteen, and twenty meters from the stream edge. Fungi were counted and photographed and weather and substrate type were recorded. I predicted to find more macrofungal richness closer to the river because of water and sunlight availability. However, using Friedman’s method for randomized blocks, I found a Chi squared value of 9.18 (df = 4, p > 0.05), which shows no statistical significance in fungal community richness between the five different distances. However, graphing mean number of species found per distance, we can see a trend. It shows that fungal richness is highest at the middle distances. I also tested distribution of species on substrates, and found dead wood was the most common. A Chi squared Goodness of Fit Test (assuming substrate abundance was equal) showed that the distribution differed significantly from the expected distribution (Chi squared = 315.5, df = 5, p < 0.001). These results therefore imply that there may be more dead wood at the middle distances than at the closest and farthest distances, or that other conditions are more favorable to fungi there.

Resumen

El propósito de este estudio fue examinar la riqueza de la comunidad de Macrohongos a diferentes distancias de la Quebrada Máquina en el bosque nuboso de Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Keywords

Macrofungi, Cloud forest ecology, CIEE Summer 2008

Palabras claves

Macrohongos, Ecología del bosque nuboso, CIEE Verano 2008

Extent

7 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00481

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Place, Elizabeth, "Macrofungal community richness at different distances from a cloud forest stream, August 2008" (2008). Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation. 253.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/253