SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MACRO-FUNGI OF DISTRICT SWABI, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research presents an analytical investigation of Macro-fungi found in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The aim of the study was to examine species diversity and community structure of Macro-fungi in relation to climatic, topographical and edaphic factors. A year-long survey was conducted in 2022-24 across a variety of ecological settings, including plains and mountainous terrains, during different seasons. The study identified 66 wild mushroom species belonging to 31 families, with Agaricaceae being the most dominant, representing 30% of the collected species. To elucidate ecological relationships and environmental influences on mushroom distribution, statistical techniques such as cluster analysis, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were performed using PC-ORD and CANOCO software. The findings provide valuable insights for environmental conservation, sustainable harvesting practices, and maximizing the nutritional and commercial potential of wild mushrooms.