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Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya

Received: 17 February 2021     Accepted: 3 March 2021     Published: 12 March 2021
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Abstract

Lake OlBolossat, an important wetland in Central Kenya highland currently threatened by anthropogenic activities. In order to conserve biodiversity in this Lake Ecosystem and associated habitats understanding abundance and diversity of different taxa is needed. This study documented macro-fungi diversity of Lake Ol Bolossat basin and its associated riparian ecosystems. The survey revealed 35 macrofungi species distributed across 21 families. Species in family Polyporaceae and Agaricaceae (mainly the puffball) dominated the Lake ecosystems. Woodrotters species (50%) dominated the ecosystem followed by ectomycorrhiza (17%) and cow-dung dwellers (15%). Termite cultivated species and soil dwellers had the lowest representation (9%). Macro-fungi density, species richness and diversity was significantly low in natural grassland and forest remnants compared to introduced and exotic woodlots. Only three species of macrofungi (Termitomyces microcarpus, Ramariopsis kunzei and Datronia mollis) were documented in natural forests remnants. Natural grassland around the lake was mainly dominated by Termitomyces, Lycoperdon, Panaeolus (cowdung), Psilocybe and Agrocybe species (cowdung). Ectomycorrhiza species (Laccaria bicolor, Pisolithus arrhizus, Suillus granulatus, Scleroderma citrinum) dominated introduced and exotic Eucalyptus, Pinus and Acacia mearnsii plantation. This study has revealed wide range of macro-fungi community in Lake Ol Bolossat basin, and adverse effect of degradation on native macro-fungi community. The negative implication of losing macrofungi diversity along Lake OlBolossat ecosystem is discussed.

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13
Page(s) 6-15
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Conservation, Degradation, Diversity, Land Use, Mushrooms

References
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    Mary Nyawira Muchane, Kelvin Maina Waithaka, Taita Terer. (2021). Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 6(1), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13

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    ACS Style

    Mary Nyawira Muchane; Kelvin Maina Waithaka; Taita Terer. Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2021, 6(1), 6-15. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13

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    AMA Style

    Mary Nyawira Muchane, Kelvin Maina Waithaka, Taita Terer. Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2021;6(1):6-15. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13,
      author = {Mary Nyawira Muchane and Kelvin Maina Waithaka and Taita Terer},
      title = {Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {6-15},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20210601.13},
      abstract = {Lake OlBolossat, an important wetland in Central Kenya highland currently threatened by anthropogenic activities. In order to conserve biodiversity in this Lake Ecosystem and associated habitats understanding abundance and diversity of different taxa is needed. This study documented macro-fungi diversity of Lake Ol Bolossat basin and its associated riparian ecosystems. The survey revealed 35 macrofungi species distributed across 21 families. Species in family Polyporaceae and Agaricaceae (mainly the puffball) dominated the Lake ecosystems. Woodrotters species (50%) dominated the ecosystem followed by ectomycorrhiza (17%) and cow-dung dwellers (15%). Termite cultivated species and soil dwellers had the lowest representation (9%). Macro-fungi density, species richness and diversity was significantly low in natural grassland and forest remnants compared to introduced and exotic woodlots. Only three species of macrofungi (Termitomyces microcarpus, Ramariopsis kunzei and Datronia mollis) were documented in natural forests remnants. Natural grassland around the lake was mainly dominated by Termitomyces, Lycoperdon, Panaeolus (cowdung), Psilocybe and Agrocybe species (cowdung). Ectomycorrhiza species (Laccaria bicolor, Pisolithus arrhizus, Suillus granulatus, Scleroderma citrinum) dominated introduced and exotic Eucalyptus, Pinus and Acacia mearnsii plantation. This study has revealed wide range of macro-fungi community in Lake Ol Bolossat basin, and adverse effect of degradation on native macro-fungi community. The negative implication of losing macrofungi diversity along Lake OlBolossat ecosystem is discussed.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Macro-fungi Community of Lake Ol Bolossat Basin and Associated Riparian Ecosystems in Central, Kenya
    AU  - Mary Nyawira Muchane
    AU  - Kelvin Maina Waithaka
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    T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
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    JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20210601.13
    AB  - Lake OlBolossat, an important wetland in Central Kenya highland currently threatened by anthropogenic activities. In order to conserve biodiversity in this Lake Ecosystem and associated habitats understanding abundance and diversity of different taxa is needed. This study documented macro-fungi diversity of Lake Ol Bolossat basin and its associated riparian ecosystems. The survey revealed 35 macrofungi species distributed across 21 families. Species in family Polyporaceae and Agaricaceae (mainly the puffball) dominated the Lake ecosystems. Woodrotters species (50%) dominated the ecosystem followed by ectomycorrhiza (17%) and cow-dung dwellers (15%). Termite cultivated species and soil dwellers had the lowest representation (9%). Macro-fungi density, species richness and diversity was significantly low in natural grassland and forest remnants compared to introduced and exotic woodlots. Only three species of macrofungi (Termitomyces microcarpus, Ramariopsis kunzei and Datronia mollis) were documented in natural forests remnants. Natural grassland around the lake was mainly dominated by Termitomyces, Lycoperdon, Panaeolus (cowdung), Psilocybe and Agrocybe species (cowdung). Ectomycorrhiza species (Laccaria bicolor, Pisolithus arrhizus, Suillus granulatus, Scleroderma citrinum) dominated introduced and exotic Eucalyptus, Pinus and Acacia mearnsii plantation. This study has revealed wide range of macro-fungi community in Lake Ol Bolossat basin, and adverse effect of degradation on native macro-fungi community. The negative implication of losing macrofungi diversity along Lake OlBolossat ecosystem is discussed.
    VL  - 6
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Author Information
  • Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Centre for Biodiversity Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

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