Oligotrophic peat bogs as macrofungal refuges in the Eastern Carpathians

Oligotrophic peat bogs are vulnerable, special habitats with unique funga, preserved only in small spots. The climatic extremities accelerate their degradation. Systematic field surveys have been made from 1998 on the macrofungi of six bogs: Mohos, Lucs, Ördög-lake, Fenyőkút, Veresvíz and Poiana Stampei in Pino-Sphagnetum magellanicii (PIN-S) and Sphagno-Piceetum (S-PIC) stands. A total number of 294 taxa were documented with 1063 occurrence data, the majority (264 taxa, 784 data) from S-PIC, a lower number (90 taxa, 279 data) from PIN-S. Constant character species from all stands were Lactarius helvus, Russula decolorans and Russula paludosa. In the S-PIC stands several widespread spruce-connected species were fructifying. Because of their high data number, Cortinarius sanguineus, Hypholoma capnoides, Lactarius lignyotus, Lactarius picinus, Leccinum vulpinum, Pholiota flammans, Russula vinosa and Tylopilus felleus can be highlighted. Some species of the surrounding beech stands can penetrate here, like Boletus reticulatus, Lactarius vellereus, Russula solaris. Beside in drier years, species indicating disturbance can also occur: Chlorophyllum rachodes, Crucibulum laeve, Inocybe geophylla. From the rare species, Albatrellus (A. confluens, A. ovinus and A. subrubescens) and Hydnellum (H. aurantiacum, H. geogenium, H. peckii, H. scrobiculatum and H. suaveolens) species can be mentioned, as well as Bankera violascens, Lactarius repraesentaneus, Lactarius trivialis and Mitrula paludosa. In the PIN-S stands frequent characteristic species were Amanita fulva, Cortinarius caperatus, Fomitopsis betulina, Fomitopsis pinicola, Lactarius vietus and Suillus variegatus, all fructifying in lower number in S-PIC, too. Constant character species for PIN-S were Exobasidium vaccinii, E. karstenii and Galerina paludosa. Rare species were Cortinarius chrysolitus, C. tubarius, Exobasidium juelianum, Hypholoma ericaeum, Lactarius sphagneti, Pseudoplectania sphagnophila, Russula longipes and R. consobrina. The functional distribution showed a mycorrhizal dominance in all stands (50-80%), followed by the wood inhabiting saprotrophic (10-30%). The proportion of the soil saprotrophic species was between 10-15% in the S-PIC, while the rare functions were occurring only in the PIN-S: mossconnected (Arrhenia onisca, A. sphagnicola, Bogbodia uda, Galerina gibbosa, G. paludosa, Hypholoma elongatum and Rickenella fibula); and biotrophic parasite (Exobasidium spp.). Ten species are stated in the Romanian Red List, three vulnerable (VU): Catathelasma imperiale and Craterellus lutescens from S-PIC, and Suillus flavidus from PIN-S;.seven near threatened (NT), all from S-PIC: Amanita regalis, Clitocybe odora, Gyromitra infula, Hydnellum suaveolens, Lactarius picinus, L. uvidus and Rickenella fibula. Beside Lactarius helvus, Leccinum variicolor, Porphyrellus porphyrosporus, Russula claroflava and Sarcodon scabrosus are probably endangered

Changes in lucerne pollinating wild bee assemblages in Hungary from the pre-pesticide era to 2007.

Als Ergebnis von fünf landesweiten Erhebungen seit der Zeit vor der Pestizid-Ära bis in die Gegenwart (1954-1956, 1967-1968, 1971-1972, 1998-2002, 2003-2007) wurden artenreiche Wildbienenzönosen an blühenden Luzernefeldern ermittelt. 196 Bienenarten, einschließlich der Honigbiene, wurden nachgewiesen. Aus dem Vergleich der Artenspektren der Blütenbesucher kann geschlossen werden, dass sich die Wildbienenzönosen in diesem Zeitabschnitt von etwas mehr als fünfzig Jahren deutlich verändert haben. Zunächst wurde ein dramatischer Rückgang von Eucera- und Tetralonia-Arten mit mittellanger Flugperiode zwischen der Zeit vor der Pestizid-Ära (1954-1956) bis in die Pestizid-Ära in Ungarn (1967-1968) festgestellt. Dieser Zustand blieb bis zur heutigen Zeit unverändert. Die Hauptursachen für diese Entwicklung sind der verstärkte Einsatz von Pestiziden auf Kulturböden sowie das Aufkommen einer regelmäßigen mechanischen Unkrautbekämpfung entlang von Straßen, Gräben und auf Kulturflächen. Ferner ist der Rückgang unkultivierter Flächen in Feldern und naturnahen Gebieten zugunsten einer intensiveren Agrarlandnutzung eine weitere Ursache für die bedeutende Veränderung in den Wildbienenzönosen. Gleichzeitig ist der Anteil von Hochsommer-Wildbienenarten mit kurzer Flugperiode (Melitta leporina (Pz.), Rhophitoides canus Ev.) während der 50er bis späten 60er Jahren beträchtlich größer geworden, weil sowohl die Anbaufläche für Luzerne als auch die Schlaggröße der Luzerne-Felder erheblich vergrößert worden waren. Dadurch wurden die Pollen-Ressourcen und Nistmöglichkeiten für diese spezialisierten Bienen vermehrt. Jedoch kehrt sich diese Tendenz im letzten Jahrzehnt um, weil die Nachfrage nach Futter-Leguminosen stark nachließ. In den letzten Jahren scheint sich ein neuer Trend entwickelt zu haben: die Dominanz von Hummeln (Bombus-Arten) hat stark zugenommen, die Abundanz von anderen Wildbienengruppen hat dagegen abgenommen.Stichwörterwild bees, changing dominance, effect of changing agriculture.As a result of five national surveys in Hungary from the pre-pesticide era up to recent years (1954-1956, 1967-1968, 1971-1972, 1998-2002, 2003-2007), rich wild bee assemblages were recorded at flowering lucerne fields. 196 bee species were detected, including the honey bee. Comparing the structure of wild bee assemblages visiting flowering lucerne fields in Hungary, it can be concluded that their species composition changed considerably in this period of rather more than fifty years. First, a dramatic decline of Eucera and Tetralonia species of medium flight periods was detected from the pre-pesticide era (1954-1956) up to the pesticide era in Hungary (1967-1968). This situation remained unchanged up to the present time. The main reason for this is the more widespread use of herbicides on arable land, as well as mechanical weed control becoming a regular practice along roadsides, ditches and in fields of cultivated crops. The decline of non-cultivated ruderal plots in cultivated crop fields and nearly-natural areas at the expense of more intense agricultural land use are also responsible for the considerable changes in the composition of wild bee assemblages. At the same time, the ratio of some mid summer wild bee species of short flight period increased considerably (Melitta leporina (Pz.), Rhophitoides canus Ev.) from the fifties up to the late sixties, because the acreage of lucerne production increased in this period and the size of individual lucerne fields was greatly enlarged, providing greater pollen resources and nesting possibilities for these specialist bees. This tendency, however, reversed in the past decade because lucerne production greatly decreased as a result of a greatly reduced demand for fodder legumes in Hungary. In recent years a new trend seems to have arisen, with a rapid increase in the dominance of bumble bees (Bombus species) and accompanying reduction in abundance of other groups of wild bee.Keywordswild bees, changing dominance, effect of changing agriculture

Protected species of macrofungi from Mecsek and Zselic

Fungi fulfill an extremely important role in ecosystems. One of their most significant functions is breaking down organic matter, or forming mycorrhiza with their symbiotic tree partners. There are several factors that contribute to the reclining of the different fungi species, for example the changing or disappearing habitats, like the acidophilus forests, or the decrease of the amount of the substrates, or in the case of edible species, collection. Thus the conservation of the given species and their habitats is necessary. The legislation of fungi protection in Hungary was established in 2005, when 35 fungi species received legal protection. This list has been extended in 2013, so currently there are 58 fungi species protected by law. The aim of the current work is to present the protected fungi species that were found in Mecsek and Zselic. The collecting happened mainly in 2016 in the area of Mecsek and Zselic, from acidophilus beech (Fagus) forests and oak and hornbeam (Quercus and Carpinus) forests. The following 6 protected species were found: Ganoderma cupreolaccatum, Hypsizygus ulmarius, Pogonoloma macrocephalum, Grifola frondosa, Scutiger pes-caprae and Volvariella bombycina. Before 2016 other protected species were found as well, Lycoperdon mammiforme, Gyrodon lividus, Sarcodon scabrosus, Hericium erinaceus, Craterellus melanoxeros and Polyporus tuberaster. The Ganoderma cupreolaccatum prefers the old trees that are characteristic of the oldgrowth woods, since it mainly grows on old beech trunks. It is rare throghout all Europe. It was found in the Kőszegi-forrás forest reserve in the Mecsek, in a hornbeam and oak (Carpinus and Quercus) forest. Hypsizygus ulmarius is a species that prefers the dead, thicker stumps, especially elm (Ulmus), though it can be found on other deciduous trees as well. It is endangered because the area of the old-growth forests and the adequately thick stumps is declining. Also, the elm disease decimated its preferred substrate. In Mecsek it was found in the Kőszegi-forrás forest reserve. Pogonoloma macrocephalum grows mainly under old oaks in seminatural oakwoods, that is becoming increasingly rare. Also, this large, edible mushroom may be collected for nutritional purposes. It was found in Mecsek, Kőszegi-forrás forest reserve, and also in the Zselic. Grifola frondosa lives on the trunks of living oaks (Quercus) or chestnut (Castanea). It was also collected from the Kőszegi-forrás forest reserve. Scutiger pes-caprae is endangered due to environmental factors: it prefers strongly acidic soil, that are reclining due to eutrophication. It was found in an acidophilus beech forest (Égervölgy, Mecsek). Volvariella bombycina. This large mushroom grows on old, living or decaying deciduous trees, especially beech and oak. It prefers gallery forests but can also be found in human habitats. The decreasing of old, decaying wood makes it endangered

Macrofungi from Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, Romania

The Apuseni Mountains are one of the oldest mountains in the Carpathian Basin with medium-height character, but also with high plateau and peaks. However, from the mycological point of view it is less well studied. Present work’s aim was to start a systematic mycological investigation, as well as to raise the mycologist’s interest to this territory. The documented taxa were collected in August 2017 during a four day field trip by 30 participants. The investigated forest stands belong to mixed deciduousconiferous and spruce associations. A total number of 131 macrofungi taxa were documented during the 4 days. The functional distribution shows 69 (52,67%) ectomycorrhizal, 32 (24,43%) wood inhabiting saprotrophic, 18 (13,74%) soil saprotrophic, 7 (5,34%) necrotrophic parasite, 2 (1,53%) moss-associated, 2 (1,53%) coprotrophic and 1 (0,76%) herbaceous saprotrophic species. Ascomycetes were represented by only two species, respectively Elaphomyces granulatus and Peziza badia. The richest genus was Russula with 16 species. Several common species were found, which are characteristic to the examined habitats, such as Amanita fulva, Amanita muscaria, Calocera viscosa, Cantharellus cibarius, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Laccaria amethystina, Lactarius deterrimus, Lactarius turpis. Others, like Cortinarius caperatus and Lactarius rufus were the species characteristic to mountainous coniferous forests, while Cantharellus amethysteus, Climacocystis borealis, Pholiota flammans and Pseudohydnum gelatinosum were characteristic to mountainous spruce stands. Interesting species fructifying in the spruce stands were the saprotrophic Pleurocybella porrigens living on spruce trunks, and Xeromphalina campanella living on mossy conifer trunks. Among rare species Amanita submembranacea can be mentioned, which was fructifying in mountainous conifer stands with acidic soil, more rarely in acidic beech forests; Amanita battarrae was living in acidic deciduous and coniferous forests in the high mountains, as well as a species with typical colour, Gliophorus psittacinus, characteristic to grassy and mossy forest edges and clear forests. The Romanian Red List of Macrofungi contains the vulnerable (VU) Volvariella murinella and Phylloporus pelletieri, and the near threatened (NT) Amanita regalis and Lactarius picinus. Besides, it should be mentioned that Lactarius helvus, Russula decolorans and Russula paludosa are becoming rare because of their habitat retraction. Some species with indicative value were also documented, like Ischnoderma resinosum and Mucidula mucida in deciduous, Pluteus atromarginatus in coniferous stands, all of them indicating old, undisturbed forests. Besides, species indicating human disturbance were also collected, like Macrolepiota procera, Bovista plumbea and Inocybe rimosa. Further investigation of this territory is recommended, because the occurrence of several other interesting macrofungi is expected. That is why we plan to continue this investigation in close future