BIODIVERSITYOF MACROFUNGI AND SLIME MOLDS FROM CHM CAMPUS

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem or biome. Biodiversity is not constant across the earth. The Western Ghats in India are rich reserves of biodiversity. The present paper describes the biodiversity of macro fungi and members of Myxomycetes from the campus of Smt. C. H. M. College, Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, a part of Western Ghats. The college is situated on a 16 acre wide, lush green campus with more than two hundred plants in four gardens and a nearly equal number of weeds in other parts of the campus. The heavy rainfall in monsoon creates the humid conditions. There is a very high amount of debris created by fallen leaves and branches of the plants. Both these conditions make suitable conditions for the growth of lower fungi and myxomycetes. Naturally, there are many different macro fungi and members of myxomycetes growing on the campus during rainy season. The studies carried out for the last few years revealed the presence of species of Marasmius, Xylaria, Auricularia, Coral fungi, Puffballs, Entoloma and Physarumpolycephalum, Physarumcinerium and Diderma species.