DETERMINATION OF THE COPROPHILOUS FUNGAL FRUIT BODY SUCCESSIONAL PHASES AND THE DELIMITATION OF SPECIES ASSOCIATION CLASSES ON DUNG SUBSTRATES OF AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS

The fungal fruit body succession on different dung substrates of Afric an game animals was investigated and the successional phases determine d by means of the computer analysis programmes TWINSPAN and DECORANA. The successional patterns exhibited could in all probability be attrib uted to a number of environmentally limiting factors and biotic pressu res as well as to the existence of inherited physiological characteris tics. The species association classes delimited can, in general, be ex plained by the overlapping of, or the joint absences of, species durin g the peak ecological periods. Alternatively it may be the result of i nterrelated species combinations with regard to the presence/absence p atterns exhibited by these species combinations within the specific as sociation classes during the peak ecological periods.