Ecology and Distribution of Lignicolous Fungi in Albania Mitko Karadelev1, Katerina Rusevska1, Daniela Mitić-Kopanja1 & Aneta Lambevska2 1 Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1000 Skopje, the Republic of Macedonia 2 Macedonian Mycological Society, Arhimedova 5, 1000 Skopje, the Republic of Macedonia E-mail: mitkok@pmf.ukim.mk ABSTRACT The paper includes results of eco-taxonomic studies of lignicolous fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) in Albania. Generally, these fungi are found in a wide range of broadleaved trees and conifers. The study has been conducted during the period 2011-2014 on different localities in the country but the National Parks have been identified as priority areas for systematic research. A total number of 187 lignicolous fungi have been observed, growing mainly as saprobes or parasites on dead fallen or still attached branch, lying trunks and stumps. High fungal diversity has been established and a number of rare and sensitive species recorded with the current study. The promising results and a lack of earlier data on Albanian fungi have triggered the decision that the pioneer methodical investigation should continue. Some of the recorded species are rare and interesting, and the following should be pinpointed: Pyrofomes demidoffii, Antrodia juniperina, Hexagonia nitida, Tremiscus helvelloides, Amylocorticium subsulphureum, Asterodon ferruginosus, etc. Key words: lignicolous fungi, distribution, ecology, Albania INTRODUCTION Macromycetes are species most commonly considered under the term ‘fungi’, including mushrooms and toadstools, bracket fungi and other fungi of greatest significance in the context of conservation of biodiversity, natural habitats and nature overall. Field research has been done in Llogora NP, Prespa NP, Valbonë Valley NP, Fir of Hotova NP, Shebenik – Jabllanice NP and Korab-Koritnik Natural Park, yielding records of more than 580 species. Systematic research into mycodiversity has not been conducted up till now, and there is only one publication making reference to species (Ivančević & Karadelev, 2013). This paper includes a list – a preliminary inventory of lignicolous fungi species in Prespa NP. The outcome of the activities hitherto within our project 'Fungi Albanici: Establishing Fungi Checklist and Preliminary Red List and Proposing Important Fungal Areas in Albania', sponsored by the Rufford Foundation, was poster-presented at the prestigious Third International Congress on Fungal Conservation, held in Mugla, Turkey, 11-15th November 2013. In due course, our conservation research results will be published in the Fungal Conservation Newsletter of the International Society for Fungal Conservation. Fig 1. Study areas in Albania. MATERIAL AND METHODS The resources of this paper have been exsiccates deposited in the Macedonian Collection of Fungi (MCF) at the Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, papers published and research notes of the present authors. A data input has been made in specially prepared database software called MACFUNGI. The determination of the species has been performed during field research and in the Mycological Laboratory within the Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, Skopje. For species identification, standard methods have been applied, implying microscoping, application of reagents (Melzer’s reagent, Sulphovanilin, Cotton blue, KOH, etc.) and consulting specialised books for identification. The following keys and monographs have been used as resources for determination of the collected fungi: Breitenbach & Kränzlin (1981, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2000), Moser (1983), Boertmann et al. (1992), Hansen & Knudsen (1992), Corfixen et al. (1997), Ahti et al. (2000), Krieglsteiner (2000), Horak (2005), Bernicchia & Gorjón (2010), etc. In a few cases, the names of the species have been modified according to Index Fungorum (http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/names.asp) and Mycobank (http://www.mycobank.org/ MycoTaxo.aspx.) RESULTS A total of 187 species-level taxa of fungi has been recorded during the research. Abortiporus biennis (Bull.) Singer Amphinema byssoides (Pers.) J. Erikss. Amylocortcium subsulphureum (P. Karst.) Pouzar Amylostereum chailletii (Pers.) Boidin Antrodia albidoides A.David & Dequatre Antrodia juniperina (Murrill) Niemelä & Ryvarden Antrodia ramentacea (Berk. & Broome) Donk Armillaria cepistipes Velen. Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumn. Armillaria tabescens (Scop.) Emel Artomyces pyxidatus (Pers.) Jülich Asterodon ferruginosus Pat. Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.) J. Schrӧt. Auricularia mesenterica (Dicks.) Pers. Auriscalpium vulgare Gray Bisporella citrina (Batsch) Korf & S.E. Carp. Botryobasidium botryosum (Bres.) J. Erikss. Botryobasidium laeve (J. Erikss.) Parmasto Botryobasidium subcoronatum (Höhn. & Litsch.) Donk Byssomerulius corium (Pers.) Parmasto Calocera cornea (Batsch) Fr. Ceriporia reticulata (Hoffm.) Domanski Cerrena unicolor (Bull.) Murrill Clavulinopsis corniculata (Schaeff.) Corner Collybia tuberosa (Bull.) P. Kumm. Coprinus micaceus (Bull.) Fr. Corticium polygonioides P. Karst. Corticium juniperophilum Litsch. Corticium meridioroseum Boidin & Lanq. Corticium roseum Pers. Crepidotus cesatii (Rabenh.) Sacc. Crepidotus lundellii Pilát Crepidotus mollis (Schaeff.) Staude Crepidotus versutus (Peck) Peck Crucibulum laeve (Huds.) Kambly Cyathicula cyathoidea (Bull.) Thüm. Cyathus striatus (Huds.) Willd. Cylindrobasidium evolvens (Fr.) Jülich Dacrymyces variisporus McNabb Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt. Diatrype disciformis (Hoffm.) Fr. Diatrype stigma (Hoffm.) Fr. Dichomitus campestris (Quél.) Domanski & Orlicz Exidia pithya (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. Exidia truncata Fr. Exidiopsis calcea (Pers.) K. Wells Exidiopsis effusa Bref. Fistulina hepatica (Schaeff.) With. Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.) P. Karst. Funalia gallica (Fr.) Bondartsev & Singer Galerina autumnalis (Peck) A.H. Sm. & Singer Galerina marginata (Batsch) Kühner Galerina stylifera (G.F. Atk.) A.H. Sm. & Singer Gloeocystidiellum luridum (Bres.) Boidin Gloeocystidiellum porosum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Donk Gloeopeniophorella convolvens (P. Karst.) Boidin Gloeophyllum abietinum (Bull.) P. Karst. Gloeophyllum sepiarium (Wulfen) P. Karst. Gloiothele citrina (Pers.) Ginns & G.W. Freeman Gymnopilus bellulus (Peck) Murrill Gymnopilus penetrans (Fr.) Murrill Gymnopilus sapineus (Fr.) Maire Gymnopilus sordidostipes Hesler Gymnosporangium clavariiforme (Wulfen) DC Hemimycena pithya (Fr.) Dörfelt Hericium coralloides (Scop.) Pers. Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. Hexagonia nitida Durieu & Mont. Humaria hemisphaerica (Hoffm.) Fuckel Hymenochaete rubiginosa (Dicks.) Lév. Hymenoscyphus conscriptus (P. Karst.) Korf Hymenoscyphus imberbis (Bull.) Dennis Hyphoderma argillaceum (Bres.) Donk Hyphoderma praetermissum (P. Karst.) J. Erikss. & Å. Strid Hyphoderma setigerum (Fr.) Donk Hyphodermella corrugata (Fr.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden Hyphodontia alutaria (Burt) J. Erikss. Hyphodontia aspera (Fr.) J. Erikss. Hyphodontia crustosa (Pers.) J. Erikss. Hyphodontia juniperi (Bourdot & Galzin) J. Erikss. & Hjortstam Hyphodontia sambuci (Pers.) J. Erikss. Hypholoma capnoides (Fr.) P. Kumm. Hypholoma lateritium (Schaeff.) P. Kumm Hypholoma sublateritium (Fr.) Quél. Hypocrea citrina (Pers.) Fr. Hypocrea rufa (Pers.) Fr. Hypoxylon fragiforme (Pers.) J. Kickx f. Kuehneromyces mutabilis (Schaeff.) Singer & A.H. Sm. Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill Lentinellus omphalodes (Fr.) P. Karst. Lenzites betulina (L.) Fr. Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fr. Lycoperdon pyriforme Willd. Marasmius bulliardii Quél. Marasmius rotula (Scop.) Fr. Megacollybia platyphylla (Pers.) Kotl. & Pouzar Merulius tremellosus Schrad. Microsphaera alphitoides Griffon & Maubl. Multiclavula mucida (Pers.) R.H. Petersen Mycena crocata (Schrad.) P. Kumm. Mycena epipterygia (Scop.) Gray Mycena galericulata (Scop.) Gray Mycena inclinata (Fr.) Quél Mycena polygramma (Bull.) Gray Mycena renati Quél. Mycena sanguinolenta (Alb. & Schwein.) P. Kumm. Mycena stipata Maas Geest. & Schwöbel Mycoacia fuscoatra (Fr.) Donk Omphalotus olearius (DC.) Singer Onnia tomentosa (Fr.) P. Karst. Osmoporus odoratus (Wulfen) Singer Panellus stipticus (Bull.) P. Karst. Peniophora incarnata (Pers.) P. Karst. Peniophora lycii (Pers.) Höhn. & Litsch. Peniophora meridionalis Boidin Peniophora piceae (Pers.) J. Erikss. Peniophora pini (Schleich.) Boidin Peniophora proxima Bres. Peniophora quercina (Pers.) Cooke Phanerochaete sordida (P. Karst.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden Phanerochaete tuberculata (P. Karst.) Parmasto Phanerochaete velutina (DC.) P. Karst. Phellinus conchatus (Pers.) Quél. Phellinus hartigii (Allesch. & Schnabl) Pat. Phellinus punctatus (P. Karst.) Pilát Phellinus ribis (Schumach.) Quél. Phellinus robustus (P. Karst.) Bourdot & Galzin Phlebia queletii (Bourdot & Galzin) M.P. Christ. Phlebia tremellosa (Schrad.) Nakasone & Burds. Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jülich Phlebiopsis ravenelii (Cooke) Hjortstam Pholiota cerifera (P. Karst.) P. Karst. Pholiota squarrosa (Oeder) P. Kumm. Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. Pluteus nanus f. nanus (Pers.) P. Kumm. Pluteus thomsonii (Berk. & Broome) Dennis Polyporus arcularius (Batsch) Fr. Polyporus brumalis (Pers.) Fr. Polyporus ciliatus Fr. Polyporus varius (Pers.) Fr. Porotheleum fimbriatum (Pers.) Fr. Postia subcaesia (A. David) Jülich Postia tephroleuca (Fr.) Jülich Propolis versicolor (Fr.) W. Phillips Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (Scop.) P. Karst. Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Jacq.) P. Karst. Pyrofomes demidoffii (Lév.) Kotl. & Pouzar Radulomyces molaris (Chaillet ex Fr.) M.P. Christ. Resupinatus applicatus (Batsch) Gray Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fr. Rugosomyces ionides (Bull.) Bon Sarcoscypha coccinea (Scop.) Sacc. Schizophyllum commune Fr. Schizopora paradoxa (Schrad.) Donk Schizopora radula (Pers.) Hallenb. Scopuloides hydnoides (Cooke & Massee) Hjortstam & Ryvarden Scopuloides rimosa (Cooke) Jülich Scutellinia scutellata (L.) Lambotte Scytinostroma aluta Lanq. Scytinostroma hemidichophyticum Pouzar Sebacina grisea Bres. Skeletocutis amorpha (Fr.) Kotl. & Pouzar Steccherinum ochraceum (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) Gray Stereum hirsutum (Willd.) Pers. Stereum insignitum Quél. Stereum rugosum Pers Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. Strobilurus tenacellus (Pers.) Singer Subulicystidium longisporum (Pat.) Parmasto Tomentella atramentaria Rostr. Tomentella bryophila (Pers.) M.J. Larsen Tomentella terrestris (Berk. & Broome) M.J. Larsen Trametes hirsuta (Wulfen) Pilát Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd Trechispora farinacea (Pers.) Liberta Trechispora microspora (P. Karst.) Liberta Tremiscus helvelloides (DC.) Donk Trichaptum abietinum (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) Ryvarden Trichaptum hollii (J.C. Schmidt) Kreisel Tubulicrinis glebulosus (Fr.) Donk Volvariella bombycina (Schaeff.) Singer Vuilleminia comedens (Nees) Maire Vuilleminia coryli Boidin Vuilleminia megalospora Bres. Xerula radicata (Relhan) Dörfelt Xylaria hypoxylon (L.) Grev. CONCLUSION Field study has been conducted at over 30 localities, and, for the purpose of achieving greater diversity of species, research has been conducted on different substrates and associations. The field studies have included sites with representative vegetation, consisting of meadows and pastures, deciduous and coniferous forests and specific forest stands with junipers, molika pine, Mediterranean maquis, etc. The total number of species recorded is 187, primarily from Basidiomycota (171). There are 15 species belonging to Ascomycota and one species to Myxomycota. Some of the observed species are rare and interesting, and the following can be highlighted: Pyrofomes demidoffii, Antrodia juniperina, Hexagonia nitida, Tremiscus helvelloides, Amylocorticium subsulphureum, Asterodon ferruginosus, etc. Pertaining to lignicolous species, most of them have been collected in different pine associations (Pinus nigra, P. silvestris, P. heldreichii), oak forests (Quercus frainetto, Q. cerris, Q. trojana, Q. coccifera, Q. macrolepis, Q. ilex, Q. pubescens), beech, spruce and fir forests, then azonal vegetation (Salix alba, Populus tremula, Platanus orientalis, etc.), juniper forest (Juniperus excels and J. foetidissima), Pinus halepensis plantings, etc. Part of the registered species, such as Antrodia juniperina and Pyrofomes demidoffii, are characteristic parasites or saprobes on juniper trees, predominantly on Juniperus excelsa, while Hexagonia nitida is typical of the Macedonian oak (Quercus trojana). The species Amphinema byssoides, Amylocorticium subsulphureum, Amylostereum chailletii, Auriscalpium vulgare, Collybia tuberosa, Hyphodontia aspera, Mycena epipterygia, Phanerochaete sordida, Porothelium fimbriatum, Stereum sanguinolentum, Strobilurus tenacellus, Trichaptum hollii and Tubulicrinis glebulosus have been found only once on black pine, while species such as Gloeophyllum abietinum, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Schizopora radula, Sebacina grisea are known only from Aleppo pine (Pinus halepenisis). The species Gymnopilus sordidostipes, Peniophora pini and Tomentella atramentaria, are well-known saprotrophs on Pinus leucodermis. The species Auricularia auricula-judae, Exidia truncata, Exidiopsis effusa, Peniophora quercina, Radulomyces molaris and Vuilleminia megalospora are saprobes more or less characteristic of oak trees. The rest of the species are not so substrate-specific. REFERENCES Ahti, T. et al. (2000): Nordic Macromycetes – Ascomycetes Vol. 1. 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