| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this masterʼs thesis was to study the diversity, ecology and distribution of the Sarcosomataceae (Pezizales, Ascomycota) fungi in Lithuania. The thesis consists of four main chapters. The first chapter presents the characteristics of this fungal family, the impact of disturbances on fungal communities, and reviews the research of these fungi in Lithuania. The second chapter provides an overview of the study sites. Material and methodology of this research during the period 2016–2021 are described in the third chapter. The fourth chapter presents the research results and their analysis. A total of 81 specimens of Sarcosomataceae fungi are stored in Lithuanian fungaria located in the herbaria of Vilnius University (WI) and the Institute of Botany of Nature Research Center (BILAS). The oldest specimen of studied fungi is preserved in the Herbarium of Vilnius University. It consists of the Sarcosoma globosum fruit-bodies sold in the marketplace of Šiauliai. During our research the species Plectania melastoma and 23 localities of Sarcosomataceae fungi were identified for the first time in Lithuania. Currently, 5 species of the Sarcosomataceae family are known in Lithuania: Plectania melastoma (1 locality), Pseudoplectania nigrella (37), P. sphagnophila (6), Sarcosoma globosum (31) and Urnula craterium (44). The average annual number of S. globosum fruit-bodies per locality varied from 13,6 ± 31,8 (in 2018) to 53,5 ± 77,7 (2016). The comparison of fungus fruiting during different periods showed that the perennial average number of fruit-bodies per locality decreased almost twice: from 53,1 (in the period 2008–2017) to 24,5 (in the period 2016–2021). During 2016–2021, the most productive localities were in Labanoras forest (Kiauneliškis nature reserve), on average 225,7 ± 207,0 fruit-bodies per year), and in Ilgašilis forest (120,8 ± 117,5). The most unproductive populations were observed in Ažvinčiai forest (Az2 – 2,8 ± 2,6; Az3 – 2,8 ± 3,9) and in Paliūniškis forest (1,8 ± 2,8). In Kairėnai forest only 2 S. globosum fruit-bodies were recorded in 2016, however, during next 5 years the fungus did not formed any fruit-bodies. The analysis of links between S. globosum fruiting and tree stand parameters showed that the fungus grows mostly on normal moisture, fertile or infertile, light soils (Ncl and Nbl typological groups), and was most abundant in the 40–70 years old forests. In the older spruce–pine forests (70–140 years old), fungus fruiting yield was the lowest. A strong positive correlation was found between the amount of precipitation in three months (February – April) and S. globosum fruiting yield in four selected localities in Elektrėnai / Vilnius districts, and in Ignalina / Švenčionys districts. However, the relationship between the amount of precipitation and fungus fruiting in two selected localities in Zarasai district was not statistically significant. The assessment of conservation status of S. globosum in all known modern localities revealed that the status of this fungus is favourable only in 3 sites (10,7 % of all localities): Labanoras forest (Kiauneliškis nature reserve), Vyžiai forest, and Paneriai forest. The conservation status of S. globosum in the majority of localities is unfavourable-inadequate (19 localities, 67,9 %) or unfavourable-bad (4, 14,3 %). At the whole county (national) level, the conservation status of S. globosum is assessed as unfavourable-inadequate. |
