Exploring Macrofungal Biodiversity and Distribution on Kyodong Island, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Macrofungi play vital roles in forest ecosystems as decomposers, mycorrhizal symbionts, pathogens, and bioindicators of biodiversity. However, research on macrofungal diversity remains limited, particularly in ecologically preserved regions where long-term monitoring is crucial. Kyodong Island, located near the Military Demarcation Line in the Republic of Korea, has remained relatively isolated, making it a valuable site for studying fungal biodiversity. This study aimed to assess the macrofungal diversity of Kyodong Island, marking the first large-scale and comprehensive fungal survey. Between March and September 2024, 226 fungal specimens were collected and identified into 99 species based on morphological and molecular analyses. Six previously unrecorded species from Korea were confirmed in this study: Hypoxylon ticinense from the Ascomycota and five species from Basidiomycota (Amanita subovalispora, Collybiopsis hirtella, Hohenbuehelia grisea, Pseudosperma yunnanense, and Russula pseudojaponica). The results revealed a high diversity of saprotrophic fungi (79.8%) followed by ectomycorrhizal (19.19%) and parasitic (1.01%) species, with dominant genera including Amanita and Collybiopsis. Notably, the presence of fungal species previously documented in tropical climates suggests a possible northward shift in fungal distribution, likely influenced by climate change. These findings highlight the ecological importance of Kyodong Island as a reservoir of fungal diversity and emphasize the necessity of continued biodiversity monitoring. Future research should focus on long-term ecological monitoring, the effects of climate change and human impact on fungal distribution, and the functional roles of newly recorded species in sustaining forest ecosystems.