The Ecology of Rinjani Morel Mushroom (Morchella aff. deliciosa) in Gunung Rinjani National Park-West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Ecologically based information on Rinjani morel mushroom (Morchella aff. deliciosa) habitat is needed to determine decision making by park manager for its conservation. The study was taken to describe and identify the ecological factors that correlate with the presence of the fruitbodies of M. aff. deliciosa. Fourteen plots (10m x 10m) with morel fruitbodies and twenty one plots without morel fruitbodies at higher level of altitude were established accidentally for measurement of climatic, soil, and trees variables during morel fructification. Data were described statistically and analyzed using multiple linear regression and discriminant analysis. The research result showed that fructification of M. aff. deliciosa appeared at level of altitude 1572,00-1609,00m, slope between 7,94- 54,00%, aspect between 4,00-360,00o. The lifespan of morel fruitbodies between 15-20 days. The air temperature range of 18,53 - 19,6oC and 83,00 - 90,50% humidity on the forest floor measurement, light between 490,00-620,00lux. Brown Mediterran loam soils supported the morel fruiting, pH neutral (7,0), medium C/N ratio (12,16), low P (12,53ppm) and medium Ca (10,22me/100g). Anomianthus auritus, Syzygium polyanthum, Weinmannia sp., Uropyhllum macrophyllum, and Piper sp. were identified as dominant tree species. The values of Shannon-Wiener index obtained for site with morel and site without morel tested using t test (Levene’s test) showed there is no difference in tree diversity between the two locations. The Morisita–Horn index also showed that similirity indices between the two locations is about 83,40%. The research result indicated that morel started to fruit when the humidity begin to slow for some short period and stopped to fruit until humidity constant relatively. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that light was the only ecological factor correlated significantly with the number of morel fruitbodies. Meanwhile the t test showed there was significantly different ecological components between the morel site and the site without morel i.e the temperature, forest floor moisture, light intensity and altitude factor. This information on the nature M. aff. deliciosa habitat provides the first step in succesfull management and conservation of morel and other mushroom resources.