Ecological aspects of Aphyllophorales in the Atlantic rain forest in northeast Brazil

Aphyllophorales (Basidiomycota) were collected in 13 reserves of the Atlantic rain rorest in northeast Brazil between October 2000 and June 2002. A hundred and thirty-four species were identified, and 40 of which with more than 10 records were selected for ecological analysis considering the collection period, growth habit, preference for light intensity, decomposition stage of the substrates, and the interaction among these factors. Aphyllophorales were collected more frequently, being thus more abundant, on November 2001, January and March 2002. The basidiomata were mostly found densely aggregated, in intermediate light-exposed environments and on intermediate to very decayed substrates. Under conditions of less light the species usually occupied more decayed substrates. The similarity among reserves was calculated using all species data and average similarity of groups of reserves grouped by factor ranks compared by Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM). The number of species and the similarity between areas were positively affected by the degree of conservation of the reserves. Similarity was also positively affected by length of the footpath and negatively by the distance between the areas.