Macroscopic Fungal Flora of Mts. Palaypalay - Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape, Southern Luzon, Philippines

Macroscopic fungal species collection and documentation at Mts. Palaypalay - Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape (MPMGPL) were done to determine the existing macrofungi for conservation. The MPMGPL situated in the municipalities of Ternate and Maragondon in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas, is composed of Mt. Palaypalay with an elevation of 595 meters above sea level (masl), Mt. Mataas na Gulod with 622 masl and its highest peak, Mt. Pico de Loro at 648 masl. This protected landscape was categorized by NIPAS through Proclamation No. 1315 as one of the priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. Macroscopic fungi sampling was completed using Transect Line (TL) with a combination of quadrat and opportunistic sampling methods from April 2013 to June 2014. Five transect lines, one kilometer each was laid from baseline of 200 masl up to 600 masl. Ten quadrats of 20m x 30m with an interval of 250m were designated for each TL. All macroscopic fungal flora inside and outside the quadrats were classified and documented. A total of 95 species which were collected and identified belonged to Class Ascomycetes and Class Basidiomycetes. Documentation revealed a high number of macroscopic fungal species in MPMGPL as compared to other protected areas in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (CALABARZON) Region.

 

Keywords: macroscopic fungal species, biodiversity, Mts. Palaypalay- Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape, Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes