Ecological and trophic differentiation of fungal diversity in Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve (Kazakhstan)

Abstract

Two fungal-like organisms (class Oomycetes) and 263 species of fungi from 111 genera, 42 families, 23 orders, and 7 classes have been found on the territory of Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Twenty-two species are found for the first time. The vast majority of species are parasitic (202 species), 56 species belong to saprotrophs, and 7 to symbiotrophs. Classes Taphrinomycetes, Urediniomycetes, and Ustilaginomycetes are represented exclusively by parasites. There have been found 21 saprotrophic, 27 parasitic, and 4 symbiotrophic species in the class Ascomycetes. The most numerous group in the class Basidiomycetes is the group of humus saprotrophs; it contains 15 species. Groups of litter saprotrophs and parasites contain four species each, symbiotrophic species have three species, coprotrophs and xylotrophs have two species each, and litter and humus saprotrophs have one species each. Anamorphic fungi are represented by 91 parasitic and 11 saprotrophic species. In comparison with closely located Sairam-Ugam National Park and the Karatau Nature Reserve, the mycobiota of Aksu-Zhabagly is characterized by a significant number of species in the classes Basidiomycetes, Urediniomycetes, Hyphomycetes, and Coelomycetes. Thirty-one species are common to these protected areas. The most numerous group is parasites.