Book of Abstracts (PDF) - International Mycological Association

IMC7 Wednesday August 14th Lectures
231 - Phylogeny of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(Glomales)
D. Redecker
Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Hebelstr.1, 4056
Basel, Switzerland. - E-mail: dirk.redecker@unibas.ch
Approximately 150 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(AMF) have traditionally been placed in the order
Glomales in the Zygomycota. Recently the phylum
Glomeromycota was established for them. Although this
ubiquitous group of symbiotic fungi was shown to be at
least 460 million years old, its diversification apparently is
relatively low. According to rDNA phylogenies, the
Glomeromycota are a sister group to Asco- and
Basidiomycota. Taxonomy and identification of AMF has
traditionally relied on spore morphology, but it has become
increasingly clear that spore morphology is a relatively
poor predictor of AMF species diversity. DNA sequences
and sequence signatures have become important characters
to define new taxa. Several lineages of AMF were shown
to be deeply divergent within the Glomeromycota. Two
new genera Archaeospora and Paraglomus were
established for them, but the polyphyly of the remaining
genus Glomus necessitated further taxonomic changes. The
genetics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is remaining
mysterious, even more after they were shown to be
heterokaryotic and predominantly non-recombining.
Therefore it is problematic to apply evolutionary species
concepts that have been successfully used in other fungi.
232 - Fungi and the Northwest Forest Plan
M.A. Castellano, T.A. Dreisbach * , T. O'Dell & R. Molina
USDA Forest Service, 3200 Jefferson Way, Corvallis,
Oregon 97331, U.S.A. - E-mail: Tdreisbach@fs.fed.us
During the late 1980s and early 1990s a series of lawsuits
severely decreased the harvest level of old-growth forests
in the Pacific Northwest. At the center of the controversy
was the old-growth dependent northern spotted owl (Strix
occidentalis), a rare species protected by the Endangered
Species Act. A regional forest conference to address the
problem led to the development pf the Northwest Forest
Plan. The plans goal was to provide for a sustainable
timber harvest as well as the persistence of old-growth
forest dependent species. Many rare species requiring oldgrowth
forest habitat were analyses for protection under the
guidelines and recommendations of the plan. Four hundred
presumptive old-growth dependent species, including 234
fungal species, were identified that needed additional
protection under a legally binding document called the
Record of Decision that defines how the Northwest Forest
Plan was to be implemented. We will briefly review the
process that led to creation of the Northwest Forest Plan,
then explore the challenges of implementing it and
examine the early impact it has had on research of forest
fungi in the Pacific Northwest United States.
233 - Putting Australian fungi on the map
T.W. May
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Private Bag 2000,
South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia. - E-mail:
tom.may@rbg.vic.gov.au
Relatively few of Australia's numerous fungi have been
thoroughly documented. Many species are yet to be
described, yet there are very few Australian mycologists
and comparatively few specimens of fungi in Australian
herbaria. However, three current government initiatives are
stimulating progress in cataloguing and understanding the
diversity of the Australian mycota. Fungi have been
included in the program of the Australian Biological
Resources Study, which publishes the Fungi of Australia
series. A second key initiative which embraces fungi is the
current effort to comprehensively database specimens in
state botanical herbaria (the Australian Virtual Herbarium).
Thirdly, Fungimap, a partnership between government and
community groups, is drawing on recorders across
Australia to rapidly advance knowledge of the distribution
and conservation status of selected macrofungi. Research
on fungi can also result from their myriad interactions with
other biota. A prominent example is the need to effectively
manage endangered mammals that subsist largely on native
truffles. This has stimulated taxonomic and ecological
research on Australian truffles, which have been revealed
as among the most diverse in the world. Continued
progress in documenting Australia's mycota depends on
government support for the maintenance and creation of
mycological positions within herbaria, and the further
integration of fungi into national biodiversity and
conservation programs.
234 - Fungi within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
J.C. Duckworth 1* , S.E. Evans 2 & L.V. Fleming 3
1 Plantlife, 21 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RP, U.K. -
2 BMS Conservation Officer, Joseph Banks Building, Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AE, U.K. - 3 Joint
Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City
Road, Peterborough PE1 1JY, U.K. - E-mail:
jenny.duckworth@plantlife.org.uk
The development and inclusion of fungi in the UK
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is briefly reviewed. The
extent to which the conservation of fungi has been
advanced by this process is considered. The inclusion of
some fungi (27 taxa) represents a significant achievement
for a taxonomic group which is traditionally underrepresented
in the setting of conservation priorities.
Nevertheless, fungi remain the least well represented in
comparison with other taxonomic groups. The action taken
since the publication of the plans is summarised.
Implementation of the plans includes a review and
expansion of survey work on these target species which has
resulted in an increase in our knowledge about their UK
Book of Abstracts 75