Catàleg d'espècies: V Jornades Micològiques de la C.E.M.M. a Calella (El Maresme, Catalunya)

Es presenten els resultats de les V Jornades Micològiques de la CEMM celebrades a Calella (Barcelona) del 10 al 15 de Novembre de 1997. El catàleg consta de 675 registres, amb un total de 360 tàxons.Thirty-six localities were prospected during the V CEMM Mycological Meeting hold in Calella (Barcelona) on November 10th- 15th, 1997. The catalogue includes 675 records belonging to 360 taxa

Catàleg d'espècies: V Jornades Micològiques de la C.E.M.M. a Calella (El Maresme, Catalunya)

Es presenten els resultats de les V Jornades Micològiques de la CEMM celebrades a Calella (Barcelona) del 10 al 15 de Novembre de 1997. El catàleg consta de 675 registres, amb un total de 360 tàxons.Thirty-six localities were prospected during the V CEMM Mycological Meeting hold in Calella (Barcelona) on November 10th- 15th, 1997. The catalogue includes 675 records belonging to 360 taxa

Sobre la presencia de Polycoccum versisporum (hongos liquenícolas, Dacampiaceae) en los Pirineos Catalanes y la identificación de su hospedante

Sobre la presencia de Polycoccum versisporum (hongos liquenícolas, Dacampiaceae) en los Pirineos catalanes y la identificación de su hospedante. Polycoccum versisporum (Bagl. et Car.) D. Hawksw., un hongo liquenícola conocido anteriormente sólo de la localidad del tipo, es citado por primera vez de España , de una localidad de los Pirineos catalanes (Vall de Núria, prov. de Girona, Cataluña). Se aporta una descripción de la especie y se compara con los taxones próximos. A partir de esta nueva recolección, ha sido posible reconocer el hospedante de P. versisporum, no identificable en el material tipo, que corresponde a Rhizocarpon geographicum.About the presence of Polycoccum versisporum (lichenicolous fungi, Dacampiaceae) in the Catalan Pirinees and the identification of his host. Polycoccum versisporum (Bagl. et Car.) D. Hawksw., a lichenicolous fungus known previously only from the type locality , is reported for the first time in Spain , from a locality of the Catalan Pyrenees (Vall de Núria, prov. Girona, Catalonia). The species is described and compared with related taxa. In this new collection, the host, unidentified in the type material, is found to be Rhizocarpon geographicum

First report of the pantropical species Diploschistes rampoddensis from Europe

The lichen species Diploschistes rampoddensis, previously known only from a few localities in tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania, is reported here for the first time in Europe. A detailed description, including macro- and microscopic characters, and comparisons with closely related taxa are also provided. Molecular analyses based on the nrITS were used to confirm this new record for the European lichen biota

Pushing the Frontiers of Biodiversity Research: Unveiling the Global Diversity, Distribution, and Conservation of Fungi

Fungi comprise approximately 20% of all eukaryotic species and are connected to virtually all life forms on Earth. Yet, their diversity remains contentious, their distribution elusive, and their conservation neglected. We aim to flip this situation by synthesizing current knowledge. We present a revised estimate of 2–3 million fungal species with a “best estimate” at 2.5 million. To name the unknown >90% of these by the end of this century, we propose recognition of species known only from DNA data and call for large-scale sampling campaigns. We present an updated global map of fungal richness, highlighting tropical and temperate ecoregions of high diversity. We call for further Red List assessments and enhanced management guidelines to aid fungal conservation. Given that fungi play an inseparable role in our lives and in all ecosystems, and considering the fascinating questions remaining to be answered, we argue that fungi constitute the next frontier of biodiversity research

Sequence locally, think globally:The Darwin tree of life project

The goals of the Earth Biogenome Project—to sequence the genomes of all eukaryotic life on earth—are as daunting as they are ambitious. The Darwin Tree of Life Project was founded to demonstrate the credibility of these goals and to deliver at-scale genome sequences of unprecedented quality for a biogeographic region: the archipelago of islands that constitute Britain and Ireland. The Darwin Tree of Life Project is a collaboration between biodiversity organizations (museums, botanical gardens, and biodiversity institutes) and genomics institutes. Together, we have built a workflow that collects specimens from the field, robustly identifies them, performs sequencing, generates high-quality, curated assemblies, and releases these openly for the global community to use to build future science and conservation efforts.</jats:p

New scientific discoveries : plants and fungi

Scientific discovery, including naming new taxa, is important because without a scientific name, a species is invisible to science and the possibilities of researching its ecology, applications and threats, and conserving it, are greatly reduced. We review new scientific discoveries in the plant and fungal kingdoms, based largely on new names of taxa published in 2019 and indexed in the International Plant Names Index and Index Fungorum. Numbers of new species in both kingdoms were similar with 1942 new species of plant published and 1882 species of fungi. However, while >50% of plant species have likely been discovered, >90% of fungi remain unknown. This gulf likely explains the greater number of higher order taxa for fungi published in 2019: three classes, 18 orders, 48 families and 214 genera versus one new family and 87 new genera for plants. We compare the kingdoms in terms of rates of scientific discovery, globally and in different taxonomic groups and geographic areas, and with regard to the use of DNA in discovery. We review species new to science, especially those of interest to humanity as new products, and also by life‐form. We consider where future such discoveries can be expected. We recommend an urgent increase in investment in scientific discovery of plant and fungal species, while they still survive. Priorities include more investment in training taxonomists, in building and equipping collections‐based research centers for them, especially in species‐rich, income‐poor countries where the bulk of species as yet unknown to science are thought to occur

The next generation fungal diversity researcher

Fungi are more important to our lives than is assumed by the general public. They can comprise both devastating pathogens and plant-associated mutualists in nature, and several species have also become important workhorses of biotechnology. Fungal diversity research has in a short time transcended from a low-tech research area to a method-intensive high-tech discipline. With the advent of the new genomic and post-genomic methodologies, large quantities of new fungal data are currently becoming available each year. Whilst these new data and methodologies may help modern fungal diversity researchers to explore and discover the yet hidden diversity within a context of biological processes and organismal diversity, they need to be reconciled with the traditional approaches. Such a synthesis is actually difficult to accomplish given the current discouraging situation of fungal biology education, especially in the areas of biodiversity and taxonomic research. The number of fungal diversity researchers and taxonomists in academic institutions is decreasing, as are opportunities for mycological education in international curricula. How can we educate and stimulate students to pursue a career in fungal diversity research and taxonomy and avoid the situation whereby only those few institutions with strong financial support are able to conduct excellent research? Our short answer is that we need a combination of increased specialization and increased collaboration, i.e. that scientists with specialized expertise (e.g., in data generation, compilation, interpretation, and communication) consistently work together to generate and deliver new fungal knowledge in a more integrative manner – closing the gap between both traditional and modern approaches and academic and non-academic environments. Here we discuss how this perspective could be implemented in the training of the ‘next generation fungal diversity researcher’