Aims: Macrofungi are key contributors to nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability in forest environments, yet their diversity and ecological drivers remain underexplored in many tropical recreational forests.This study aimed to document the species diversity of macrofungi in Lubuk Yu Forest Eco Park, Pahang, Malaysia, and to evaluate the influence of selected environmental factors on their distribution.Methodology and results: Field surveys were conducted to collect macrofungal specimens, which were identified using morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) molecular analysis.A total of 421 specimens representing 42 species across seven fungal orders were recorded.Agaricales was the dominant order, comprising 197 specimens from 17 species.Species diversity indices were calculated as follows: Simpson's index (0.9378),Shannon-Wiener index (2.9452), and Pielou's evenness index (0.7831), indicating high diversity and evenness.Environmental analyses showed that light intensity, humidity, and substrate pH significantly influenced macrofungal occurrence.Auriculariales showed a negative association with higher light intensity, whereas Pezizales was positively influenced by higher humidity.Macrofungi were recorded on wood, soil, leaf litter, and twigs, with decaying wood serving as the primary substrate. Conclusion, significance and impact of study:This study provides important baseline data on macrofungal diversity in a Malaysian lowland dipterocarp forest and demonstrates the role of environmental factors in shaping fungal communities.The findings highlight the ecological importance of macrofungi and support their inclusion in forest biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning, and sustainable forest management strategies.
Zainudin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.