Evaluación de la diversidad de macrohongos en el refugio de vida silvestre Yankay

Abstract

The Yankay Wildlife Refuge in Río Negro parish of Baños Canton does not have a record describing the species of macrofungi that exist in the area, which makes their protection difficult and represents a deficit of opportunities for their use. Therefore, in this work the general objective was to evaluate the diversity of macrofungi in the refuge. To achieve this, diversity inventories were carried out, collecting species through convenience sampling in three field trips. Subsequently, their identification was carried out through the analysis of their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, which allowed the calculation of biodiversity indices to determine their diversity, abundance, and importance in the ecosystem, thus, with this information, strategies to promote their long-term conservation can be proposed, considering social, environmental, and economic variables. As a result of this study, 55 species were identified, among which the Basidiomycetes phylum stands out, represented by 7 orders and 20 families; the Ascomycetes phylum with 2 orders and 2 families, which are threatened by productive activities. In this evaluation, it is concluded that in the Yankay Wildlife Refuge the diversity of macrofungi is balanced, which is assumed to be due to its condition as a secondary forest and the influence of its location between the Llanganates and Sangay National Parks, so that diversity may possibly increase as its restoration process progresses.