MalaysianJournal ofScience24:95 - 102 (2005)Vtr*.,

Higher Fungi of Northeast Langkawi

* Noorlidah Abdullahl, Vikineswary S.t, M. Yusoffl and Dennis E. Desjardin2

t Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur,Malavsia

2 Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132 USA* noorlidah@um.edu.my

ABSTRACT The North-East Langkawi is unique with different ecosystems and diverse forest typeswhich are relatively undisturbed. A total of 212 specimens were collected from eight localities in theNorth-East Langkawi during two sampling periods from l0 - 19 April 2003 and 4 - 9 April 2004. Thehighest number of macrofungi collected was from Gunung Raya and Sungai Sireh Forest Reserves whichare richly forested with predominantly dipterocarp trees. Twenty-two specimens were identified tospecies and 153 specimens were identified to genus. Macrofungi from the Division Ascomycota andSubdivision Ascomycotina recorded were Xylaria spp. (4 specimens) from Xylariaceae and Phillipsia sp.(l specimen) from Sarcoscyphaceae. Further, 7l genera of Basidiomycotina belonging to 8 orders and 25families were among the identified specimens. The Agaricales was the dominant order documented with42 genera from eleven families recorded. The frequently recorded genera were Marasmius (29specimens) followed by Lentinus (13 specimens) and Gymnopus and Polyporus (9 specimens each). TheMarasmius specimens belonged to Marasmius sect. Marasmius (15 specimens), Marasmius sect. Sicci (6specimens), Marasmius sect. Globulares (l specimen) and seven unknown.

ABSTRAK Bahagian Timur-Laut Langkawi adalah unik dari segi kelainan ekosistem dan jenishutan yang pelbagai dan tidak terganggu. Sejumlah 212 spesimen telah dikutip dari lapan kawasan diTimur-Laut Langkawi semasa dua tempoh pesampelan dilakukan iaitu pada l0 - l9 April 2003 dan 4 -9April 2004. Bilangan kulat makro paling tinggi di kutip dari Hutan Simpan Gunung Raya dan SungaiSireh yang didominasi oleh pokok-pokok dipterocarp, Sembilan spesimen telah dicamkan ke peringkatspesies dan 167 spesimen dicamkan ke peringkat genus. Kulat makro dari divisi Ascomycota dansubdivisi Ascomycotina yang direkod ialah Xylaria spp.(4 spesimen) dari Xylariaceae dan Phillipsia sp.(l spesimen) dari Sarcoscyphaceae. Tambahan, 7l genera Basidiomycotina yang digolongkan kepada 8order and 25 famili adalah dikalangan spesimen yang dicamkan. Agaricales adalah order yang dominanyang dilaporkan dan terdiri dari 42 genera daripada I I famili, Genera yang paling lazim dijumpai adalahMarasmius (29 spesimens) diikuti dengan Lentinus (13 spesimen) dan Gymnopus dan Polyporzs (masing-masing 9 spesimen). Spesimen-spesimen Marasmius digolongkan kepada Marasmius sect. Marasmius ( I 5spesimen), Marasmius sect. Sicci (6 spesimen), Marasmius sect. Globulares (l spesimen) dan tujuh lagibelum dikenalpasti.

(Macrofungi, biodiversity, checklist, mycobiota, Langkawi)

INTRODUCTION

We come across fungi in nature at every step,without being aware of it. They are ubiquitous,just like bacteria or viruses, but are usuallyinvisible since spores carrying geneticinformation do not exceed microscopicdimensions. Interest in fungi for most laymen isonly aroused by the conspicuous fungal fruitbodies, the sporocarps. However, sporocarpswhich are large enough to be appreciated with thenaked eye, at times with such beauty and divine

appearance, are formed only by a smallproportion of fungi. Other fungi are too minutein size to be discernible without an opticalinstrument.

Fungi are present in all ecosystems, both withinand outside forests. They play a role of majorimportance in the soil. Their mycelium andspores permeate the forest litter, whilemycorrhiza often enables woody plants to growin places where, without the fungi, they could notgrow. The most basic importance of fungi rests

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in their intensive participation in alldecomposition processes and other chemicalreactions in the soil. The number of fungirecognized and described is estimated to exceed100,000, probably reaching 300,000, i.e.approximately at par in number with that of seedplants. If40-50 percent ofseed-plant species areto die out in the near future due to extensivedeforestation or other devastating humanactivities. it is fair to assume that the samenumber of fungal species will simultaneouslydisappear from the surface of this planet foreversince most of them are dependent on these seed-plants, as mycorrhiza. Many will disappearwithout ever being discovered, identified, andperhaps also utilized for the benefit of mankind.

Higher fungi are loosely referred to as thosewhich are large enough to be observed withoutthe use of microscopes. Taxonomically, thesefall into two fungal divisions, the Ascomycotaand Basidiomycota. Sporocarps of these fungivary in appearance, ranging from patches onwood, through brackets, coral-like tufts, simpleclubs and rosettes, to cauliflower-like structures,centrally or laterally stalked fruit bodies. Theirtexture varies from woody, leathery or fleshy togelatinous and the surface may be smooth,velvety, hairy or scaly and either dry or glutinous.The fertile underside mav be smooth or havespines, pores or gills.

Tropical rainforest boasts its large diversity oflife. Likewise, fungal diversity in such forests isalso expected to be a lot higher than in othertypes of vegetation. Langkawi is a group ofninety-nine coastal islands between 22 to 54kilometers off the coast of Perlis in northernPeninsular Malaysia. The main island covers anarea of 939 square kilometers with limestonebeing the prominent rock type, rising imposinglyfrom the seas, and forms a part of the limestonerange in northern Peninsular Malaysia andsouthern Thailand. Many of these islands arerelatively undisturbed and their vegetation is verymuch influenced by its geology. The granitecentral and eastern regions are covered with talldipterocarp primary forests while on thelimestone and quartz hills, carbonate-lovingspecies dominate. Other forest types includethose bordering the rocky coast and sandybeaches, mangroves along most of the rivers andestuaries, and secondary forests bordering theagriculture land. The climate of these islandsresembles that of the northern mainland. with a

distinct and pronounced dry season betweenNovember and March, and two indistinct wetseasons from April to May, and August toOctober.

The Kedawi (Kedah-Perlis-Langkawi) region isfloristically different from the rest of PeninsularMalaysia and a number floral species areendemic in Langkawi alone, probably due to itsoceanic isolation. Thus a continuous effort indocumenting a comprehensive inventory of theflora and fauna, including its mycobiota, of boththe terrestrial and marine ecosystems is of highpriority for the long-term environmentalsustainability of these islands. Kuthubutheen [l]reported 97 fungal specimens from three sites inLangkawi and was undoubtedly the first study onthe mycobiota of these group of islands. Eightlocalities were involved in the present studywhich aimed at identifuing, describing andpreparing a checklist of tropical basidiomyceteand ascomycete collected, obtaining dryherbarium specimens as well as their purecultures for biotechnological exploitations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collections were made from eight localities in theNorth-East region of Langkawi as shown in Fig.l, during two sampling periods between l0 - 19April, 2003 and 4 - 9 April, 2004. During the firsttrip samplings were made at Gunung Raya ForestReserve (Hutan Lipur Lubuk Semilang), DurianPerangin, Selat Panchor Forest Reserve andSungai Sireh. During the second trip, samplingswere made at Kilim Mangrove Forest (GuaCherita, Ayer Hangat), Gunung Raya ForestReserve (Hutan Lipur Lubuk Semilang), PulauLanggun, Pulau Dendang and Kisap MangroveForest. Samples were photographed in the field,collected and the macromorphological charactersdescribed. The specimens were then dried at 45oC in a ventilated portable dryer for microscopicobservations and to obtain herbariu'rn specimens.Specimens were stored in insect-tight containersin the Mycological Laboratory, Institute ofBiological Sciences, Faculty of Science,University of Malaya. Identifications were basedon identification keys f2, 3, 4, 5 and 6l andvarious field guides available [7, 8 and 9].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The North-East Langkawi can be categorized intothree different ecosystems, that is, mangrove

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Malaysian Journal ofScience 24l.95 - 102 (2005)

forest, dipterocarp forest and limestone forest. Ofthe eight localities where sampling was done,Kilim area (Gua Cherita, Ayer Hangat) and Kisaparea are considered as mangrove forests whileSungai Sireh, Durian Perangin, Selat PanchorForest Reserve and Gunung Raya Forest Reserve(Hutan Lipur Lubuk Semilang) are considered asdipterocarp forests and Pulau Langgun and PulauDendang are limestone forests. The higher fungicollected from both trips are listed in Table l.The taxonomic arrangement is based on thatproposed by Kirk et al. |0). Some fungi wereonly observed and not collected are also reportedhere. The highest number of higher fungispecimens collected or observed in thedipterocarp forests ecosystem is 188 followed by14 specimens from the limestone forests and 10specimens from the mangrove forests ecosystem.In the mangrove ecosystem only Fomes sp. andPolyporus spp. were found growing on dead ordecomposing wood. In the dipterocarp andlimestone forests, both ectomycorrhizal and

saprophytic fungi were observed. The closed-canopy forests were moist and humid accountingfor a diversity of higher fungi.

Wood and litter inhabiting saprophyic specieswere predominanf compared to soil inhabitingspecies. Species of Anthracophyllum,Campanella, Hemimycena, Podoscypha,Rhodocollybia, Trogia, Tetrapyrgos,Xeromphalina, and Xerula were not reported inearlier studies of macrofungi in Malaysia I l, 12and 131. Putative ectomychorrhizal fungicollected at Sungai Sireh, Durian Perangin andGunung Raya Forest Reserves were Amanita,Inocybe, Boletus, Gyroporus, Craterellus,Hydnum and Russula. Species identification ison-going. There is a possibility that Gyroporussp. and Melanonotus sp. will be new records forMalaysia once species identification is verified.These two species have not been reponed byearlier studies [4, l5 and 16].

Table l. The number of specimens of macrofungi collected in North-East Langkawi

DIVISION : ASCOMYCOTA: SUBDIVISION : ASCOMYCOTINAClrss : SordrriomycetidaeOrder: XylrrirlesFamily : Xylariaceae|. Xylarra spp.

Class : PezizomycetidaeOrder: PezizalesFamily : Sarcoscyphaceae2

A: SUBDIVISION : BASIDIOMYCOTINAClass: BasidiomycetesOrder: AgrricalesFamily : Agaricaceae3. Agaricus spp.4.Leucoagaricus sp.5. Leucocoprinre sp.Family : Coprinaceae6. Coprinus sp.7. Psathyrella sp.Family : Cortinariaceae8. Gymnopilus spp.9. Inocybe sp.10. Crepidotus spp.Family : Entolomataceaell. Entoloma sp.Family : Hydnangiaceae12. lnccaria sp.Family : Marasmiaceae13. Anthracophyllun nigiltun (Lev.)Kalchbr.14. Anthracophyllrm sp.15. Campanella sp.16. Cyptotrama sp.17. Flammulina sp.18. Marasmiellus sp.19. Marasmius spp.20. Oudenansiella sp.2l. Rhodocollybia sp.22. Tetrapyrgos23. Xemla sp.

I

;

II

3I1

I

II2Il

27

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24. Cyathus sp..Family : Pluteaceae25. Amanita sp.26. Volvariella sp.Family: Schizophyllaceae27 . Schizophyllun commune Fr. : Fr.Family : Strophoriaceac28. Melanotus sp.Family : Tricholomataoeae29. Ca I I istosporium sp.30. Crinipellis spp.31. Filoboletus sg.32. Gynnopus sp,33. Heminycena sp.34. Hygrocybe conica

(Schaeff.:Fr.) Kummer35. Hygrocybe punicea (Fries) Kummer36. Lactocollybia sp.37. Lepista subalpina (H. E. Bigelow & A. H.Smith)Harmaja38. Mycena spg.39. Panellus sp,40. Termitomyces sp.41. Trogia sp.42. Xeronphalina sp.Order: AuricuhrialesFamily : Auriculariaccae43. Auricttlaria spp.0rder: BoletalesFamily: Boletaceae44. Boleus sp.Family : Gyroporaceae45. Gyroporus sp.Order r CanthercllderFamily : Cantharellaoeae46. Craterellus sp.Family : Hydnaceae47. Hydnun sp.Order l HymenochaetalesFamily : Hymenochaetaceae

II

I

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92

II

7

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48. Colrricia sg.49.

Fungrl Species

Family : Geastraceae50. Geaslrum sp.Family: Phallaoeae51. Dicvophora cinnabarina LeeOrder: PolyporalesFamily : Ganodermataceae52. Amauroderma sg.53. Ganoderna spp.Family : Hapalopilaceae54. Bjerkandera sp.Family : Podoscyphaceae55. Cynatoderma sp.56. Podoscypha sp.Family : Polyporaceae57. Fomes sp,58. Hexagonia spp.59. LentinuE squarroslrru Mont.60. L, araucariae Har. & Pat.61. L. fasciatus Berk.62. L. polychrousl-ev.63. L. sajor-caju (Fr.)Fr.64.1,. slnioszs (Schwein.) Fr.65. L. stigellus Berk.66. Neolentinus adhaerens (Fr.) Redhead & Ginn.67, Microporus xanthopus (Fr.) Ktz.68. Microports sp.69. Polyporus spp.70. Pyaopoms sp.71. Trametes spp,Family : Steccherinaceae

I2

iI

;

iI

;

3b

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MalaysianJournal ofScience24:95 - 102 (2005)

72. Irpex sp.73. Steccherinum sp.Order : Russulales

Family : Russulaceae

74. Ilussula vlre.rcens (Schaeff ) Fr.

75. llussz/a spp.16. Stereum spp.Number of Unidentif ied Soecimens

I

1 i

2 s l 3 l

2I

1 a

Total Nunber of Snecimens Sishted / Collected t4tl l- indicates absenceDetails of Localities :A : Kilim Mangrove Forest (Gua Cherita, Ayer Hangat)B : Kisap Mangrove ForestC : Pulau LanggunD : Pulau DendangE : Sungai SirehF : Durian PeranginG : Selat Panchor Forest ReserveH : Gunung Raya Forest Reserve (Hutan Lipur Lubuk Semilang)

A species of Gymnopus KUM 60126 (Plate la)was found growing gregariously in soil atGunung Raya Forest Reserve. This specie couldpossibly be new as it has not been recorded

among the Gymnopus of Indonesia [7]. Features

include a cap of 3 - 20 mm, conical to convexwith umbilicate or papilla. Surface dry, dull,pubescent, dark brown when fresh tohygraphanous to yellowish-brown from disc.Gills adnate, close to crowded, dark brown with I- 2 series. Stem I x l0 - 26 mm, cylindrical,central, interstitious, dry, dull, glabrous andbrown.

The genus Marasmius is saprophytic and foundon dead leaves, wood, twigs and soil. Anunidentified specie of Marqsmius (KUM 60135)shown in Plate lb was the biggest Marasmiusthat we have collected so far (Plate la). Cap 20 -

58 mm, conical with broadly depressed disc tobroadly convex. Surface dry, dull, glabrous atfirst brownish orange to grayish-orange.Hygraphanous to pinkish brown deep striationfrom disc to margin. Pileus context thin to lightbrown. Gills adnate, subdistant, 10-14 lamellaewith l-2 series. Stem 2.0 - 2.5 x 128 -140 mm.cylindrical dry, dull, glabrous, interstitious, lightbrown.

Possibly a new record of Malaysia,Rhodocollybia sp. (KUM60090) was foundsolitary and gregarious in soil at Gunung Raya(Plate lc). Cap 17 - 47 mm in diameter conical toconvex. Surface dry, dull glabrous with toughsurfaces, smooth at first reddish-brown with lightbrown at disc to brownish, hygrophanous to light

brown from disc. Gills adnate to adnexed,crowded, grayish-brown. Stem 5 - 7 x95 - 130mm, cylindrical, central, dry, dull, glabrous,twisted, interstitious and greyish-orange.

Lentinus is the second frequently encounteredgenus from North-East Langkawi and Plate ld isLentinus strigosus (Schwein.) Fr. (KUM 80005).Cap 30 hffi, funnel-shaped with flrbrillosedsurface and in-rolled margin. Gills decurrent,close, at first white to light-brown. Stem l0 - l5 x30 - 45 mm fibrillose, cylindrical taperingtowards the base, light-brown.

Trogia sp. (KUM 60105) tropical specie is shownin Plate le. Cap 17 - 40 mm; centre depressed,circular from the top and hemispherical from theside view. Surface dull and moist. Gills adnate toslightly decurrent and close. Stem 0.5 - 1.0 x 3.5- 5.0 mm, central, cylindrical solid and hispid.

In the two expeditions, a total of 212 specimenswere collected compared to 97 specimenscollected by Kuthubutheen, [] that is, about 2.5times higher. The higher number of specimenscollected could be due to the frequency ofsampling, sampling time and number of samplingsites. In this study, sampling was timed tocoincide with the wet season [l8]. Furthermore,the sites explored were different to the study byKuthubutheen []. To our knowledge, since thestudy by Kuthubutheen [], this is the secondconcerted effort to document the higher fungi ofLangkawi in general and the first in the North-East region.

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MalaysianJournal ofScience24:95 - 102 (2005)

1 b I KUMtoros I

Marismius sp.

Gymnopus sp

Rhodocollybia sp. Lentinus strigosus (Schwein.) Fr.

Trogia sp

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Malatsian Journal of Science 24:95 - 102 (2005)

7T H A I L A N D

.^\j-\---irs--\%* !6,1ffi*

or' ' ISLAND

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Figure 1. Localities of Sampling in the North-East Region of Langkawi

Details of Localities :A : Kilim Mangrove Forest (Gua Cherita, Ayer Hangat)B : Kisap Mangrove ForestC : Pulau LanggunD : Pulau DendangE : Sungai SirehF : Durian PeranginG : Selat Panchor Forest ReserveH : Gunung Raya Forest Reserve (Hutan Lipur Lubuk Semilang)

Acknowledgements The authors wouldlike to thank University of Malaya, UMMRec,the Langkawi Forestry Department (JPSM),Langkawi Development Authority (LADA),Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), KamaruddinMd. Isa, Roslee Halip, Tan Yee Shin, Rushita S.and Tan Chin Jye.

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