Current Research on Geography, Earth Science and Environment Vol. 8

In Türkiye, particularly in regions with rich forested areas around Muğla, collecting and consuming wild mushrooms is very important. Global climate changes, such as increasing temperatures and rainfall, can affect the amount of mushrooms growing in nature. Based on these findings, this study, using real data collected over 18 years, aimed to analyse the mushroom ecology in the forests of Muğla, investigating the relationship between mushroom species and their habitats, and the relationship between mushroom species and their host plants. The aim of this study is to examine the diversity and abundance of the species studied of wild mushrooms. This study investigated the correlation between the diversity and abundance of wild mushrooms found in various regions of and around the city of Muğla, using climatic data, and examined climatic factors such as monthly temperature and monthly precipitation. The relationships between wild mushrooms collected from 2006 to 2024 and different climatic factors were evaluated. Overall, the study showed that mushroom abundance, distribution, and phenology are strongly influenced by climate variability—especially temperature increases and changing precipitation patterns—with clear evidence of delayed and shifted fruiting seasons and broader impacts on biodiversity. It suggests that public awareness of the ecological importance of mushrooms and their potential health benefits is insufficient. Accordingly, enhanced education and outreach initiatives are recommended to improve public understanding, and the collection of wild mushrooms from forest ecosystems should be subject to regulation to ensure sustainability.