Andrea Arcangeli

Macrofungal diversity and ecology in two Mediterranean forest ecosystems

The macrofungal species richness and community assemblages in Italian native woodlands of oaks and Carpinus betulus and non-native woodlands of Pinus spp., Cupressus sempervirens and Eucalyptus camaldulensis were examined through the collection of basidiomata and ascomata over 1 year. The sampling in Collestrada (Umbria) and Pizzo Manolfo (Sicily) forests revealed 216 species of macrofungi. The results indicate differences in macromycete richness and diversity patterns between the two sites. The dominant tree species of the two sites were different; thus, the Collestrada forests had higher mycorrhizal species richness, while the Pizzo Manolfo forest had a higher relative number of saprotroph macrofungi. The macrofungal community of Quercus frainetto woodland from Collestrada forest was richer and more diverse than the other sites woodland types. This study highlighted that both Collestrada and Pizzo Manolfo forests provide a habitat for diverse macrofungal species, not in the least ectomycorrhizal species.

Macrofungi in Mediterranean maquis along seashore and altitudinal transects

In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and abiotic stress to the plant and for sustaining a vegetation cover. Despite the important role that fungi play in habitats stability, mycological data from Mediterranean ecosystems are scarce and fragmentary. We investigated fungal diversity in several areas characterized by Mediterranean maquis, from continental Italy, Sicily, and Greece in order to contribute to the analysis of distribution, ecology, and diversity of macrofungi in evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands at different elevation and distance from the seashore across the Mediterranean Basin. Several fungal taxa that are remarkable due to their ecology, rarity, and limited geographical distribution were recovered. Among them, the ectomycorrhizal species Amanita dunensis and A. valens were recorded for the first time in Italy. The wood-inhabiting macrofungi, Aleurodiscus dextrinoideocerussatus, Peniophorella tsugae, Perenniporia meridionalis, Phanerochaete martelliana, Vararia ochroleuca, and six Peniophora species were reported for the first time in Greece. Some species, such as Gloeodontia columbiensis, Ceriporia aurantiocarnescens, Peniophora pithya, and P. tamaricicola were collected on new substrates. For the two rare basidiomycetes Amanita eliae and Battarrea phalloides, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis gave valuable information on their relationship with similar taxa.

Inventory, diversity and communities of macrofungi in the Collestrada forest (Umbria, central Italy)

Abstract In this study, an inventory of the macrofungi in the Collestrada forest (Umbria, Italy).was performed through the collection of sporocarps of basidiomycetes and ascomycetes over a period of three years. Sampling was performed in selected sites’ representatives of the seven wood types present in the Collestrada forest. A total of 341 species were identified and a comprehensive spatial and seasonal analysis of macrofungal species richness, abundance and diversity was performed. Patterns of fungal fructification varied greatly between species and ecological groups, over the years and seasons. Differences in fungal species composition and abundance were detected between the wood types, however, changes of meteorogical conditions, especially the rainfall level and relative humidity, during the growing seasons and years have a major impact on determining the structure of fungal communities. As 143 of the fungal species identified matched with those included in the Red List (or proposals for Red Lists) in several European countries, the studied sites may represent important areas for conservation of fungal diversity (IFA). The results of this study constitute a powerful tool to optimize conservation strategies and policy.

Current knowledge of Umbrian macrofungi (central Italy)

Abstract An annotated checklist of 1016 species of fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), which have been recorded in 95 different localities, from 1990 to 2015, is presented for Umbria (Italy). The checklist was compiled from records of Umbrian fungi in scientific publications, unpublished lists and personal observations. This work represents the first comprehensive checklist of macrofungi for Umbria. Even if not complete, an exhaustive overview of the current knowledge of the mycobiota of Umbria is presented. Although a large amount of the regional territory has still to be explored for mycological diversity, this study offers an important support in compiling red-lists of endangered macrofungi, as well as to identify indicator species of particular habitats to be considered for wildlife reserves, as is currently done in many European countries.

An assessment of red list data for the Pezizomycotina (Ascomycota): Umbria (Italy) as a test case

Abstract A Red List of all 108 Pezizomycotina (Ascomycota) species recorded in Umbria Region (central Italy) is provided. According to the IUCN categories and criteria, 60.18% of the assessed species are classified as threatened, whereas 12.96% are Near Threatened (NT), 1.86% are Least Concerned (LC) and a noteworthy amount of 25% are Data Deficient (DD). As a consequence of the downlisting applied to the majority of the assessed taxa, according to the guidelines for application of IUCN red list criteria at Regional level, only 1.54% of the threatened species is Critically Endangered (CR), while 46.15% are Endangered (EN) and 52.31% are Vulnerable (VU). Given that the present work represents the first complete regional red list of Pezizomycotina in Italy, and that a national, as well as a European red list do not exist to date, it could be considered as a case study for other Italian Regions as well as for other European countries, aiming at the compilation of a national and European red list of this fungal group mostly overlooked in conservation strategies.