No abstract

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula ( Torulaceae ), Scolecoleotia ( Leotiales genus incertae sedis ) and Xenovaginatispora ( Lindomycetaceae ) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis , Cercophora dulciaquae , Cladophialophora aquatica , Coprinellus punjabensis , Cortinarius alutarius , C. mammillatus , C. quercoflocculosus , Coryneum fagi , Cruentomycena uttarakhandina , Cryptocoryneum rosae , Cyathus uniperidiolus , Cylindrotorula indica , Diaporthe chamaeropicola , Didymella azollae , Diplodia alanphillipsii , Dothiora coronicola , Efibula rodriguezarmasiae , Erysiphe salicicola , Fusarium queenslandicum , Geastrum gorgonicum , G. hansagiense , Helicosporium sexualis , Helminthosporium chiangraiensis , Hongkongmyces kokensis , Hydrophilomyces hydraenae , Hygrocybe boertmannii , Hyphoderma australosetigerum , Hyphodontia yunnanensis , Khaleijomyces umikazeana , Laboulbenia divisa , Laboulbenia triarthronis , Laccaria populina , Lactarius pallidozonarius , Lepidosphaeria strobelii , Longipedicellata megafusiformis , Lophiotrema lincangensis , Marasmius benghalensis , M. jinfoshanensis , M. subtropicus , Mariannaea camelliae , Melanographium smilaxii , Microbotryum polycnemoides , Mimeomyces digitatus , Minutisphaera thailandensis , Mortierella solitaria , ...

No abstract

Non-native tree species have been widely planted or have become naturalized in most forested landscapes. It is not clear if native trees species collectively differ in ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) diversity and communities from that of non-native tree species. Alternatively, EMF species community similarity may be more determined by host plant phylogeny than by whether the plant is native or non-native. We examined these unknowns by comparing two genera, native and non-native Quercus robur and Quercus rubra and native and non-native Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra in a 35-year-old common garden in Poland. Using molecular and morphological approaches, we identified EMF species from ectomycorrhizal root tips and sporocarps collected in the monoculture tree plots. A total of 69 EMF species were found, with 38 species collected only as sporocarps, 18 only as ectomycorrhizas, and 13 both as ectomycorrhizas and sporocarps. The EMF species observed were all native and commonly associated with a Holarctic range in distribution. We found that native Q. robur had ca. 120% higher total EMF species richness than the non-native Q. rubra, while native P. sylvestris had ca. 25% lower total EMF species richness than non-native P. nigra. Thus, across genera, there was no evidence that native species have higher EMF species diversity than exotic species. In addition, we found a higher similarity in EMF communities between the two Pinus species than between the two Quercus species. These results support the naturalization of non-native trees by means of mutualistic associations with cosmopolitan and novel fungi.

Abstract:It is not clear to what extent trees growing on anthropogenic sites change their growth and biomass allocation to different organs. We assessed the aboveground biomass in a chronosequence of six Scots pine monocultures (between 6 and 20 years old) to examine how precisely the site-specific or control allometric equations may reflect the value of biomass accumulation and allocation in stands growing in harsh site conditions on the overlayer spoil heap made as a result of opencast brown coal mining. The site is characterized by poor edaphic and water conditions and nutrient deficiency. The control equations were developed from Scots pine stands growing on post-agricultural lands in the close vicinity of the spoil heap. We found that equation type significantly influenced results of predicted biomass accumulation for all biomass components studied (although results were only marginally significant for total aboveground biomass, P=0.08). Total aboveground biomass in younger stands (6-9 years old) estimated using site-specific equations was >40% higher and for older stands (17-20 years old) from 7 to 27% lower than estimated using equations developed for the control sites. Our study revealed that under harsh environmental conditions in spoil heaps, biomass of young Scots pine stands significantly differ from values calculated based on control equations developed for more fertile soils with better water conditions in the same region. The control biomass equations may not be suitable to estimate biomass accumulation in stands growing on infertile habitats with poor water conditions, if the control equations are developed for nearby stands but growing under better site conditions.

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, coniferous monocultures were introduced, replacing natural broadleaved forests in Central Europe, mainly for economic benefits. In the mountains, Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] was introduced in large areas previously covered with beech forests and also in natural riverside habitat corridors such as river valleys, despite its negative impact on the soil environment by e.g. organic matter accumulation, decrease of soil pH and changes in C/N ratio. We aimed to check how long-term Norway spruce plantations affect species richness and diversity of soil mites along a mountain river in former mixed and broadleaved forests. The study, based on 342 samples, was carried out in Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland). Understory species biomass, soil pH and soil organic layer thickness significantly affected soil mite communities. Although coniferous forests did not differ from either broadleaved or mixed forests in mite density (number of individuals m−2) and species diversity (H′), they were characterized by low species richness and proportional abundance of Uropodina mites typical for broadleaved forests. In total, 4849 mites classified into 57 species were recorded from all forest types and no unique species were found in the sampled forests. Although the mite communities were dominated by the same common species (Veigaia nemorensis, Paragamasus runcatellus, Leptogamasus obesus and Trachytes aegrota), they still maintain the rare species of broadleaved forests and their high recovery potential may be used in forest conversion.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and their symbiotic associations with forest trees are among major drivers of key ecosystem functions such as carbon and nitrogen cycling, plant nutrient and water uptake from soil, plant-plant facilitation/competition and diversity regulation via common mycorrhizal networks. Through their functional traits and interactions with both abiotic and biotic environment, they also significantly affect the process of open land colonization by trees as well as vegetation succession coupled with soil and ecosystem development. Here we review the role of ECM fungi in the early primary and secondary succession following major anthropogenic disturbances. Based on the examples of mine spoils and post-agricultural lands, we demonstrate key ecosystem services provided by ECM fungi in the processes of forest restoration. We point out ecological mechanisms and adaptations which underpin ECM fungal community successional interactions, particularly life histories, dispersal, spatial structure, host preferences, and sensitivity to environmental filters. We emphasize the need of better understanding the role of ECM fungi in the forest restoration practice as it seems crucial for afforestation success and biodiversity rehabilitation. Thus, ectomycorrhizal traits should be a prime consideration in afforestation and carbon sequestration polices, sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation practices.

This paper presents the second part of the results of the first short-term inventory of fungi species occurring in the Biebrza National Park and is focused on a survey of macrofungi. The total number of macrofungi found during the survey in late August 2012 was 289 taxa: 17 ascomycetes and 272 basidiomycetes, inhabiting diverse ecological niches. The identified fungi belonged to ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprobionts decomposing wood, plant litter and animal remnants. The identity of 25 mycorrhizal fungi species has been confirmed using molecular techniques. Five species are newly reported for Poland (<em>Amanita olivaceogrisea, Lepiota lepida, Stropharia alcis, Xerocomus fennicus, X. cisalpinus</em>) and 225 taxa (79 %) were not known in the Biebrza National Park. Fifty species are endangered in Poland, of which nine species are protected by law. Data on species richness and the taxonomic diversity of the identified fungi are briefly commented in terms of their significance for nature conservation and future research.