On July 10-14, 2024, the Biology Student Association of Universitas Airlangga (HIMBIO) held a Field Development Training Research (P3L) program in Alas Purwo National Park as part of an effort to inventory the diversity of macrofungi that are still available in the area along the road from Triangulation to Pancur Post. This activity involved the Microbiology Study Club (MSC) student organization consisting of Biology students class of 2022 and 2023, Mrs. Intan Ayu Pratiwi, S.Si., M.Si. as field supervisor, forest rangers of Alas Purwo National Park, Himbio Visiting 2024 committee, and local residents.
In research related to the inventory of macrofungi diversity in the area along the road from Triangulation to Pancur Post, 54 genus of macrofungi were found from a total of 10 stations. Based on information quoted from the publishing page of a previous research article related to the Biodiversity of Edible Macrofungi from Alas Purwo National Park by students of the Microbiology Study Club Study Group in 2015 along the Triangulation-Sadengan road, 40 types of macrofungi genus were found and 22 of them had edible status. Based on this, in a period of 9 years, there has been an increase in the number of macrofungi diversity in its habitat. These changes are evidence of the richness of macrofungi that are still diverse in the forest along the road from Triangulation to Pancur in Alas Purwo National Park.
This macrofungi research was carried out by walking along the Triangulation-Pancur access road where each fungal species found would be documented using a camera, identified its characteristics from the hood, blade, stem, and attachment site, and measured its physical and chemical parameters to determine the ideal environmental conditions for macrofungi growth in the forest along the Triangulation-Pancur road in Alas Purwo National Park. Because in the morning before the implementation of sampling activities there was a long rain, the data obtained on soil moisture where the mushrooms were quite high. In addition to being found in the soil, macrofungi found along the Triangulation-Pancur road were also found growing on the wood of a fallen tree trunk. The size also varies, from small to the size of a human arm. In addition to varying in size, the mushrooms found also have a variety of colors, ranging from white, yellow, brown, green, to red.
An inventory of fungi in Alas Purwo National Park revealed a remarkable diversity of fungal species, with the discovery of various genera such as Trametes and Ganoderma, which inhabit mixed forest vegetation. This research not only illustrates the natural wealth hidden within, but also provides important insights for the protection of ecosystems in the Alas Purwo National Park area so that its diversity is maintained. This research is also intended to find out more about the status of mushrooms in Alas Purwo National Park that are edible. With a deeper understanding of the types of fungi present, conservation measures can be further strengthened to maintain environmental sustainability for future generations.
