A survey of fungi in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

PDF3.96 MB
A survey of fungi in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Abstract:

Gorongosa National Park (GNP) was a frequent battleground during the Mozambican Civil War (1977-1992) and was left unprotected for a decade after cessation of hostilities. In that time, the Park’s fauna was decimated. Today, restoration of the wildlife and tourist infrastructure is advancing apace with support from the Gregory C. Carr Foundation. The establishment of the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory in the Park, modeled along the lines of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro
Colorado Island in Panama, provided an attractive research destination.

We conducted a fungal survey of GNP in June-July of 2016. Our survey was conducted in the beginning of the dry season and our collections represent species in fruit during a season that is not often sampled. We collected voucher specimens at random localities and habitats within the Park, focusing on discomycetes, polypores and anamorphic fungi. Despite a severe drought that had affected the region that year, we made
over 500 collections.

Last updated on 07/29/2020