ABSTRACT
Abstract Few conservation studies have been done with Agaricales fungi (mushrooms) of the Andes and conservation areas created in many countries have no priorities in protecting fungi. Small areas can be also very important to preserve rare and unknown fungi species, but evaluations are still needed. Applying the technique of the transects in the natural reserve of Madre Monte in Arcabuco, Boyacá Province, in the Colombian Andes (a characteristic oak forest - Quercus humboldtii - Fagaceae), the diversity and ecological data were collected and compared to the fungi already known in the country and their conservation status, to understand how fungi are protected indirectly with the creation of preservation areas. The samples were identified at the Laboratorio del Grupo de Investigación Biología para la Conservación de la Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnológica of Colombia. A total of 331 specimens and 46 species of Agaricales were collected and identified. The presence of rare species, like Lactifluus gerardii, Cortinarius violaceus and Cortinarius boyacensis, reinforces the importance of creating more small areas in the preservation of mushroom species. Only 43 species of Agaricales were reported to the province, being 19 new citations to the area, what is an indication that the diversity in the Colombian Andes is higher than suspected and that even small conservation areas have of profound impact in fungi conservation. Some of the mushrooms found are also first references to Colombia, like Panaeolus rickenii and Protostropharia dorsipora, but these were found growing in horse manure, being introduced. The impact of domestic animals and exotic trees in the mycobiota of preservation areas needs to be better evaluated.
ABSTRACT
Colombia is a megadiverse country, but with a substantial gap in the taxonomic and ecological knowledge of fungi and lichens. Thus, the objective of the present study was an ecogeographical analysis of the Sticta species in Colombia. The data included macrodistribution (with respect to mountain ranges and life zones) and microhabitat preferences (light, substrate) and were obtained from field work and herbarium collection labels (completed by comparison with modern geographic and vegetation maps), for 103 species of Sticta currently recognized in Colombia (plus seven additional biotypes with different photobionts or reproductive mode). Using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), correlations between ecogeographical variables and species were established, and ecotypes were delimited. Colombian species of Sticta showed distinct distribution patterns relative to altitude, mountain ranges, life zones, as well as light exposure and substrate, forming several distinct groups. Cyanobacterial species tend to have wider distribution ranges than green algal species. We concluded that the orogeny of the Northern Andes substantially affected speciation of the genus Sticta and its ecogeographical differentiation.
Colombia es un país megadiverso, pero con una ausencia significativa en el conocimiento de la taxonomía y ecología de hongos y líquenes. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio era un análisis ecogeográfico de las especies de Sticta de Colombia. Los datos incluyeron la macrodistribución (con respeto a las cordilleras y zonas de vida) y preferencias de microhabitat (luz, sustrato) y fueron obtenidos mediante trabajo de campo y en el herbario (complemetados con mapas modernos de geografía y vegetación), para 103 especies actualmente reconocidas en Colombia (más siete biotipos con diferentes fotobiontes o modo de reproducción). Se elaboró un análisis de ordenación usando la técnica de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico (NMS), para establecer correlaciones entre variables ecogeográficas y las especies y para definir ecotipos. Las especies de Sticta en Colombia presentan patrones de distribución relativos a la altitud, las zonas de vida y la ubicación en las cordilleras, tanto como luz y sustrato, formando varios grupos distintos. Las especies con ciano-bionte tienen un rango de distribución más amplio que las especies con fotobionte verde. Concluimos que la orogenia de los Andes afectó significativamente la especiación del género Sticta y su diferenciación ecogeográfica.