Teresa Iturriaga

Global diversity and distribution of macrofungi

Data on macrofungal diversity and distribution patterns were compiled for major geographical regions of the world. Macrofungi are defined here to include ascomycetes and basidiomycetes with large, easily observed spore-bearing structures that form above or below ground. Each coauthor either provided data on a particular taxonomic group of macrofungi or information on the macrofungi of a specific geographic area. We then employed a meta-analysis to investigate species overlaps between areas, levels of endemism, centers of diversity, and estimated percent of species known for each taxonomic group for each geographic area and for the combined macrofungal data set. Thus, the study provides both a meta-analysis of current data and a gap assessment to help identify research needs. In all, 21,679 names of macrofungi were compiled. The percentage of unique names for each region ranged from 37% for temperate Asia to 72% for Australasia. Approximately 35,000 macrofungal species were estimated to be “unknown” by the contributing authors. This would give an estimated total of 56,679 macrofungi. Our compiled species list does not include data from most of S.E. Europe, Africa, western Asia, or tropical eastern Asia. Even so, combining our list of names with the estimates from contributing authors is in line with our calculated estimate of between 53,000 and 110,000 macrofungal species derived using plant/macrofungal species ratio data. The estimates developed in this study are consistent with a hypothesis of high overall fungal species diversity.

Líquenes como bioindicadores inmediatos de contaminación y cambios medio-ambientales en los trópicos

Lichens have value as bioindicators of environmental pollution, climate change, and ecological continuity. Extensive work has been undertaken in temperate areas, but in only few cases have the techniques been applied in the tropics. Most tropical studies to date are in relation to air pollution and forest disturbance, but these are scattered geographically and remain to be undertaken in most tropical regions. The potential of lichens as rapid bioindicators in the tropics can start to be realized even where the species described are not fully identified as they are perennial and separable by eye or hand lens, and a lack of training is identified as the main constraint. An extensive bibliography is included.

Knowledge and use of fungi by a mycophilic society of the Venezuelan Amazon

This paper reports on the knowledge and useful applications of various fungi by the Hotï, a recently contacted Native American society inhabiting the Sierra Maigualida region of the Venezuelan Amazon. At least 31 folk taxa of fungi are esteemed as sources of nutrition, powerful media for hunting magic, protective charms against black magic, human medicinal agents, or body adornments. Even though the results presented here probably do not exhaust the total number of species known and used by them, they nevertheless suggest that the Hotï constitute one of the rare mycophilic societies in the Venezuelan Amazon. Further research is needed in order to obtain a more complete picture of the complexity of humanfungi relationships in this society.RésuméLa investigación etnomicológica en la tierras bajas amazónicas suramericanas es notablemente escasa. La gran mayoría de los estudios disponibles acerca del conocimiento y las prácticas etnobiológicos de los grupos étnicos locales de esta región no incluyen a los hongos, o bien, señalan que estos no tienen valor económico, o son alucinógenos o peligrosos para el consumo humano. Este trabajo reporta sobre el conocimiento y usos dados a varios hongos por parte de los Hotï, un grupo de indígenas suramericanos recientemente contactados que ocupan la Sierra de Maigualida del Amazonas venezolano. Los Hotï consideran al menos 31 taxa de hongos estimados como fuentes de alimentos, poderosos medios de cacería, protectores contra la magia negra, agentes medicinales o bien como adornos corporales. Los datos presentados aquí sugieren que los Hotï constituyen una de las pocas y raras sociedades micófilas en el Amazonas venezolano, pese a que los resultados analizados no agotan el número total de especies conocidas y usadas por ellos. Es necesario profundizar la investigación para alcanzar una idea más completa de la complejidad de las relaciones hombres-hongos en este grupo étnico.

Studies in neotropical polypores 10. New polypores from Venezuela

Antrodiella dentipora, Ceriporia albobrunnea, C. cystidiata, Diplomitoporus allantosporus, D. stramineus, D. venezuelicus, Flabellophora fasciculata, Navisporus perennis, Nigroporus macroporus, Polyporus albostipes, Rigidoporus aurantiacus, Skeletocutis microcarpa, Tinctoporellus isabellinus, Trametes olivaceopora, T. supermodesta, Trichaptum variabilis, Tyromyces neostrigosus, T. polyporoides and Wrightoporia roseocontexta are described as new. Keys to all, except Trametes, the new neotropical species in their respective genera are included. The combinations Trichaptum griseofuscens (Mont.) Ryvarden & Iturriaga, and Tyromyces americanus (D. Reid) Ryvarden & Iturriaga are proposed.

Lichenicolous fungi described from Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands by Carroll W. Dodge (1895–1988)

The identities of the 12 lichenicolous fungi described as new to science from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands by Carroll W. Dodge between 1938 and 1968 are reassessed on the basis of the original publications, and where extant the original collections and slides in the Farlow Herbarium and Reference Library (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA). Typifications are discussed and lectotypes and neotypes designated as necessary. Only one species is accepted in its original placement (Phacopsis usneae) and one had already been transferred to an appropriate genus (Didymella cladoniae to Zwackhiomyces). Six prove to be synonyms of previously described species, and four are combined into other genera here: Arthonia parmeliae (syn. Diplonaevia parmeliae), Carbonea antarctica (syn. Alectoria antarctica), Sphaerellothecium buelliae (syn. Orbicula buelliae), and Weddelomyces gasparriniae (syn. Phaeospora gasparriniae) combs. nov. The generic name Thelidiola is also confirmed as a synonym of Muellerella. In addition, as a result of earlier misinterpretations of Dodge’s taxa, two new species are described: Endococcus matzeri, and Zwachkiomyces diederichii spp. nov. Intralichen lichenum is also reported from the Antarctic for the first time. Descriptions and illustrations are included where appropriate.

‘Sporidesmium’ lichenicola sp. nov., a new lichenicolous fungus on Leptogium from Venezuela

‘Sporidesmium’ lichenicola sp. nov. is described from the decaying thallus of an unidentified Leptogium species growing on unidentified tree bark from the Guaramacal National Park in Boconó, Táchira, in western Venezuela. This is only the second lichenicolous species to be described under this generic name, and differences from that species and similar species in Sporidesmium s. lat. are discussed. A more precise generic placement will have to await a molecularly based taxonomy of the genus. The original material comes from a mycologically little explored region of the country, and brief information on previous mycological (including lichenological) studies in the area is provided for the first time in English. The new combination S. sinense (syn. Repetophragma sinense) also is made.

Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. from Maine, with a key to the species known from North America

Skyttea richardsonii sp. nov. is described from a sterile corticolous lichen in Maine. It is closest to S. tavaresae, the only other member of the genus to be reported as having annelations on the excipular hairs, but that species occurs on Loxospora spp. and differs in the K+ reaction of the exciple and ascospore size. Minute Phoma-like conidiomata found in some apothecia may represent an independent fungicolous fungus growing on the new species. This is the 10th species of the genus to have been discovered in North America; a key to these species is provided.

Fungi on Epifagus Crocicreas epifagicola sp. nov., with comments on the generic names Crocicreas and Cyathicula

A new species of Crocicreas is reported on overwintered stems of Epifagus virginianus in New York State in apparently non-organic association with sclerotia of Sclerotium orobanches , itself a rarely reported fungus. The changing concepts of the generic names Crocicreas and Cyathicula are discussed in regard to placement of the new taxon.

Nomenclature - Formal reports, proposals, and opinion

Formal proposals to conserve or protect fungal names as well as proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature of immediate interest to mycologists are now published concurrently in Mycotaxon and Taxon. Conservation proposals include Prop. 1918 (to conserve the name Dermatocarpon bucekii against Placidium steineri), Prop. 1919 (to conserve the name Lactarius with a conserved type), Prop. 1926 (to conserve the name Cladia against Heterodea, and Prop.1927 (to conserve the name Agaricus rachodes with that spelling). Props. 117-119 to amend the Code ask for pre-publication deposit of nomenclatural information in a recognized repository for valid publication of fungal names.

Zugazaea agyrioides, an odd new genus and species from Macaronesia

A new monotypic genus of lignicolous in- operculate Discomycetes, Zugazaea, is proposed and described from the Canary Islands. The systematic position of the genus remains uncertain, and we place it in the Helotiales without affiliation to a par-