New reports, phylogenetic analysis, and a key to Lactarius Pers. in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem informed by molecular data

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), located in the Central Rocky Mountains of western North America, is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. Here, Lactarius is an important component of ectomycorrhizal communities in many habitat types, from low elevation riparian areas to high elevation conifer forests and alpine tundra. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and RPB2 gene sequences along with detailed morphological examination confirm at least 20 Lactarius species, as well as three varieties, and one unresolved species group in the GYE. Eight taxa are reported from the GYE for the first time, and nearly every major ectomycorrhizal host plant in the GYE appears to have at least one Lactarius species associated with it. Broad intercontinental distributions are suggested for alpine Salix and Betula associates, and for certain subalpine Picea and aspen (Populus spp.) associates. Some species appear to be restricted to western North America with Pinus, Pseudotsuga or Abies. The distribution and/or host affinities of others is not clear due in part to ambiguous host assignment, taxonomic problems or the relative rarity with which they have been reported

Eighth International Symposium on Arctic-Alpine Mycology (ISAM 8), Beartooth Plateau, Rocky Mountains, USA 2008

The eighth International Symposium on Arctic-Alpine Mycology (ISAM 8) was held on the Beartooth Plateau, Rocky Mountains, USA, August 3-10, 2008. A report on this symposium is given along with a list of participants, the group’s preamble, and references for proceedings of previous symposia published as a series of volumes on Arctic and Alpine Mycology 1-7. The contributions that follow in this issue of North American Fungi are the complete proceedings for ISAM 8 published here as Arctic and Alpine Mycology 8 (editors Cathy Cripps and Joe Ammirati). We dedicate this issue to two mycologists who worked in Arctic-Alpine Ecosystems: Meinhard Moser, Austria (1924-2002) and Orson K. Miller, Jr, U.S.A. (1930-2006)

Amanita in the Rocky Mountain alpine zone, USA: New records for A. nivalis and A. groenlandica

A limited number of Amanita species have been reported from cold dominated arctic-alpine environments, primarily with dwarf and shrub willows. This includes reports from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Scotland, the Alps, and Russia. Here we report Amanita nivalis, A. groenlandica f. alpina n. f. and A. vaginata above tree line in the Rocky Mountains with Salix reticulata, S. nivalis, S. glauca, and S. planifolia. The distribution of Amanita groenlandica is extended to the north-central Rockies, and more definitively to the Beartooth Plateau at 3,100 to 3,400 m a.s.l. A new alpine form is described for this arctic species. Amanita nivalis is confirmed from numerous cirques and high passes 3,600-3,900 m a.s.l. in the southern Rocky Mountains (Front Range, Sawatch Range, San Juan Mountains), adding a disjunct component to its circumpolar distribution. These localities are thousands of miles from the Arctic and are likely near the southern-most extent of its distribution in North America. Rocky Mountain species are reported in context with arctic-alpine Amanita species from the Northern Hemisphere

Subgenus Mallocybe (Inocybe) in the Rocky Mountain alpine zone with molecular reference to European Arctic-alpine material

The genus Inocybe (including subgenus Mallocybe) is a significant component of the ectomycorrhizal community in arctic and alpine habitats in terms of both diversity and distribution. Species are associated primarily with low woody shrubs of Salix, Betula and Dryas. There is evidence that shrubs are expanding in arctic-alpine habitats making the ectomycorrhizal fungi that support them of high interest. Here we provide the first detailed report for six Mallocybe taxa with willows from the Rocky Mountains alpine zone(WY, MT, CO), including: Inocybe arthrocystis, I. dulcamara, I. leucoloma, I. leucoblema and in the I. fulvipes group, I. substraminipes and other taxa. Phylogenetic analysis matched Rocky Mountain specimens to arctic-alpine specimens from Scandinavia. ITS sequences of Kühner and Favre types specimens were used as references for several clades. Data suggest that these species have a broad intercontinental range in arctic-alpine habitats and a few are known from the subalpine. A key to Mallocybe species in the Rocky Mountains is provided along with type information

Designer Niches Promote Seedling Survival in Forest Restoration: A 7-Year Study of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) Seedlings in Waterton Lakes National Park

Designer niches in which environmental variables are controlled are useful in forest restoration to enhance survival of planted tree seedlings. Here, we evaluate particular manipulated habitats, on site variables, and pre-seedling conditions hypothesized to improve the survival rate of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) seedlings out-planted in Waterton Lakes National Park. The tree species is in peril due to blister rust and mountain pine beetle infestations in its range; and is a restoration priority in Waterton Lakes because populations in the park are highly infected with blister rust (up to 90%). At Summit Lake, 21 plots were set up and half of each was terra-torched; 1000 seedlings were planted in clusters of three, under four conditions: on burned areas in burned beargrass mats, in burned areas where beargrass mats were not present, in unburned areas where beargrass was present, and in unburned areas without beargrass. This study reports data for the seventh year after planting, and overall, survival was 53% for individual seedlings and at least one seedling survived in 60.8% of clusters. Planting in burned areas increased cluster survival (by 34.3%, p ˂ 0.0001) and planting near microsites increased cluster survival (by 19.3%, p ˂ 0.0001); the type of microsite did not make a difference. Planting in beargrass mats decreased survival, but not significantly (8.9%, p = 0.11) and this was true for burns, not unburned areas. Inoculation with native ectomycorrhizal fungi did not enhance survival most likely because controls on lightly terra-torched and unburned areas had access to local native fungi. This is the first study to report statistics on the planting of seedlings in clusters; the results need to be compared with studies where seedlings are planted individually

Sporocarp δ15N and use of inorganic and organic nitrogen in vitro differ among host-specific suilloid fungi associated with high elevation five-needle pines

Widespread decline of whitebark and limber pines in the northern Rocky Mountains (USA) has created an imperative to understand functional diversity in their ectomycorrhizal associates. Because suilloid fungi are likely important in successful reestablishment of pines the nitrogen-related functional traits of 28 high-elevation suilloid isolates were examined. Radial growth, mass accumulation and mycelial density were measured for isolates on six different nitrogen sources. The δ15N values of suilloid sporocarps used as sources for pure cultures were compared against growth parameters to investigate a possible link between these N-related functional traits. Isolates grew poorly on nitrate and BSA and grew well on glutamine, alanyl-glutamine and ammonium phosphate, with somewhat slower growth on alanine. Isolates and species varied considerably in their growth response to different nitrogen sources. Effective use of nitrate and BSA was uncommon and associated with isolates with high inherent growth rates. Sporocarp δ15N was negatively correlated with relative growth on alanine of the corresponding isolates. Our results suggest strong similarities in N source use patterns of suilloid fungi of whitebark pine origin and those of another high-elevation five-needle stone pine, the Swiss stone pine