Oriana Maggi

Airborne fungal spores in dust present in archives: pProposal for a detection method, new for archival materials

Libraries and archives are keepers of expressions of human thought, from the most ancient documents written on papyrus, parchement, etc., to the new photographic and electronic supports. These materials of vegetal, animal or synthetic origin are subject to deterioration by physical agents (light, heat, humidity), chemical agents (atmospheric pollution),and biological agents (bacteria, microfungi and insects).Micro-organisms, agents of biodeterioration, as it is known, can be carried by airborne particles which can eventually settle in the dust.This paper shows the results of a preliminary quantitative and qualitative study made on potentially deteriogenic airborne fungal spores present in the dust deposited on shelves and documents of an archives repository. The hygrothermometric parameters and the water content of the materials were also measured. The dust samples were collected with Swab Millipore samplers, using electrostatic attraction. This kind of sampler, originally destined for the microbiological analysis of water and, in extension, used to isolate bacteria from the book-material, was successfully also used in this case of dust sampling. Compared with the data resulting from the bibliography on dust, the use of Swabs allowed the spores present in the dust on books and shelves to be isolated.

Diversity and variability in soil fungi from a disturbed tropical rain forest

Variation in diversity of fungi isolated from soil was studied in a ferrallitic and a hydro- morphic soil, in an experimental area of the Tai Na- tional Park (SW Ivory Coast). Several experimental disturbances were produced, and the change in spe- cies diversity was observed both within and between years, over seven years. The disturbances, as well as the changes in soil moisture produced by variation of rainfall, act as extrinsic factors to the community, influencing the level of diversity. The variation of di- versity within the community in time, however, seems to occur as an internal mechanism. Species with a generalist or specialist behavior were identified, in accordance with their occurrence in dry and wet pe- riods. Two new species and two new genera found here do not seem to be rare or have limited distri- butions, but rather appear as generalists. Knowledge of the fungi isolated from soil is of considerable in- terest in tropical forests, where traditional shifting cultivation is practiced. Cultivation is currently con- sidered responsible for ecosystem degradation. This paper, however, shows that traditional cultivation, when practiced as a short time-space disturbance, does not appear to cause serious disturbance to the

Linking taxonomical and functional biodiversity of saproxylic fungi and beetles in broad-leaved forests in southern Italy with varying management histories

Abstract The fundamental ecological significance of deadwood decomposition in forests has been highlighted in several reviews, some conclusions regarding silviculture being drawn. Old‐growth forests are natural centres of biodiversity. Saproxylic fungi and beetles, which are vital components of these ecosystems, occupy a variety of spatial and trophic niches. Fungal and beetle diversity on coarse woody debris (CWD) was analysed in 36 forest sites in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Italy. The data were analysed by DCA and Spearman’s rank correlation. The results provide empirical evidence of the existence of a pattern of joint colonization of the woody substrate by fungi and beetles, which includes an assemblage of reciprocal trophic roles within fungal/beetle communities. These organisms act together to form a dynamic taxonomical and functional ecosystem component within the complex set of processes involved in wood decay. The variables most predictive of correlations between management‐related structural attributes and fungal/beetle species richness and their trophic roles for old‐growth forest are: number of logs, number of decay classes and CWD total volume. Deadwood spatio‐temporal continuity should be the main objective of forest planning to stop the loss of saproxylic fungal and insect biodiversity.

Macrofungi as ecosystem resources: Conservation versus exploitation

Fungi are organisms of significant importance not only for the crucial roles they undertake in nature but also for many human activities that are strictly dependent on them. Indeed, fungi possess fundamental positions in ecosystems functioning including nutrient cycles and wood decomposition. As concerns human-related activities, edible and non-edible mushrooms are also involved and/or exploited in forestry, pharmaceutical industry and food production; hence, nowadays they represent a major economic source worldwide. In order to maintain and improve their strategic importance, several conservation strategies, such as habitat preservation, are needed. This article reports several contributions inherent to the relationships between wood-decaying fungi, edible and non-edible mushrooms and their potential exploitation as non-timber forest products and genetic resources.

Ex situ conservation and exploitation of fungi in Italy

Abstract The kingdom Fungi comprises one of the most diverse groups of living organisms. They are numerous, ubiquitous and undertake many roles both independently and in association with other organisms. Fungi display a wide diversity of forms also mirrored by functional diversity and play such a dominant role in human society that they are arguably biotechnologically the most important group of organisms. Ex situ conservation of fungi, not only guarantees correct management and conservation of biodiversity, but also its exploitation in different fields. This article describes the major biological resource centres dealing with fungi in Italy and gives several examples of fungal exploitation in different fields of applications.

Mediterranean grassland soil fungi: Patterns of biodiversity, functional redundancy and soil carbon storage

Abstract Soil organic matter is a relevant carbon reservoir and CO2 sink in temperate grassland ecosystems and increased carbon uptake may mitigate climate change. Relatively little is known about the relationship between ecosystem function and soil fungal biodiversity in grasslands. However, this relationship is important because the saprotrophic microorganisms within the decomposer chain may, given their important role in the decomposition processes of litter and dead roots, control soil carbon storage. In this study, we provide the first empirical evidence of natural patterns of soil fungal biodiversity and soil carbon storage in Mediterranean grasslands at different elevations. We observed an asymptotic relationship between morphological and functional trait richness and fungal biodiversity. This relationship is consistent with the redundancy hypothesis of species diversity and ecosystem function. A limited number of fungal species is sufficient to attain morphological and functional variability in the soil fungal assemblages in these grasslands. We found that increasing fungal biodiversity and biochemical specialization were related to higher soil carbon storage (at a higher altitudes and lower slope position), even in fenced-off grasslands. We discuss the main ecological mechanisms controlling soil carbon storage in grasslands within the framework of a conceptual model.

Comparative studies on Microfungi in Tropical Ecosystems. Further mycological studies in South Western Ivory Coast forest. Report N. 2

Abstract In four permanent plots of the Tai National Park in Ivory Coast the fungal populations of the litter and of the soil, the mycorrhizae and the chemical characteristics of the soil, during the recovery of the forest, are examined. The lists of the species in each one of the natural and cultivated plots, the coefficients of similarity according to Sorensen and the indices of diversity according to Shannon, allow us to verify interesting phenomena. In fact, in cultivated plots, the fungal community, because of the reappearance of characteristic species of the natural forest, is evolving towards conditions similar to those previous to the cultivations. Considering the Tai forest as a climax community, the fungal microflora seems to belong to a climax association that, if disturbed, has the ability to recover fast through a regular succession. In a more general way the ability to recover of the environment is pointed out and this let us hope for the possibility to prolong the period of the shifting cul...

Fungal diversity of saprotrophic litter fungi in a Mediterranean maquis environment

Monospecific and mixed-leaf litters from plant species of Mediterranean maquis (Quercus ilex, Phillyrea angustifolia, Pistacia lentiscus, Cistus spp.) in an undisturbed area in southern Italy were studied with respect to the structure and composition of their decomposer fungal community over an incubation period of 403 d. The data matrix structure was analyzed by means of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), while indicator species analysis (ISA) was used to determine the preferential association of species with a substrate, a succession phase and monospecific/mixed experimental conditions. The ecological nature of the gradient expressed by the DCA axes was investigated by means of experimental and main chemical leaf-litter variables. The litter mixture had non-additive effects on the decomposition process even though the fungal species richness of the mixed litter was considerably higher than that of the monospecific litter. Our findings highlight the occurrence of shifts in the fungal community during decomposition in response to changes in the substrate, such as those related to the cellulose content and lignin/N ratio.

Aerobiological monitoring of the ''Sistine Chapel'': airborne bacteria and microfungi trends

The present paper reports the results of a bacteriological and mycological monitoring carried out on the airborne microflora of the Sistine Chapel. The general aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the flow of visitors, as well seasonal effects, on the qualitative and quantitative variations of microorganisms. Two sampling campaigns were carried out in May and November 1997. A Surface Air System (SAS) sampler (active system) and a sedimentation based sampler (passive system), supported by an original plinth, were used. Temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide were detected. VITEK SYSTEMS jr. for Staphylococcus spp. and microscopic observation for microfungi were the identification methods. In spite of the conditioning and filtration air system, initial results with both samplers, show a positive correlation between the airborne microorganisms and presence and number of visitors. The SAS samples showed higher microbial load, for both bacteria and fungi, than the passive ones, but the epidemiological meaning of the differently collected data varies. The increase during visiting hours of human Staphylococcus spp. is stronger than the airborne bacterial load increase. The microfungi most frequently isolated were Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. These preliminary data underline the significance of the survey for the protection of such a precious environment, and encourage the Authors to continue the ongoing monitoring.

Phenotype MicroArray™ system in the study of fungal functional diversity and catabolic versatility

Fungi cover a range of important ecological functions associated with nutrient and carbon cycling in leaf litter and soil. As a result, research on existing relationships between fungal functional diversity, decomposition rates and competition is of key interest. Indeed, availability of nutrients in soil is largely the consequence of organic matter degradation dynamics. The Biolog® Phenotype MicroArrays™ (PM) system allows for the testing of fungi against many different carbon sources at any one time. The use and potential of the PM system as a tool for studying niche overlap and catabolic versatility of saprotrophic fungi is discussed here, and examples of its application are provided.