Macrofungal Diversity of Tingana, the Highest Flooded Forest in Peru: A Preliminary Assessment

Abstract

This research focused on understanding the diversity of macrofungi in the “Tingana Conservation Concession” in San Martín, Peru, a unique flooded forest located at approximately 900 m a.s.l. in the Andean-Amazonian foothills. Three study areas were included: Sparse Aguajal, Semi-dense Aguajal, and Broadleaf Evergreen Forest. These were sampled using random transects; 19 macrofungi were identified to species level and 20 to genus level, distributed in 8 orders, 19 families, and 27 genera. The most diverse orders were Agaricales and Polyporales; the most representative families were Polyporaceae (11) and Psathyrellaceae (4). At a generic level, the most diverse was Lentinus, with a total of 5 species identified. These findings highlight the diversity and ecological importance of fungi in the decomposition of organic matter and the nutrient cycle in peatlands, which are key carbon-storing ecosystems. This study underlines the need for more research focused on inventorying fungi for the conservation of this type of ecosystem.