In Mexico, the study of the composition and changes of the sporulating microfungi on decaying fallen leaves in rainforest ecosystems has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the species richness, diversity, abundance and similarity of the sporulating microfungi inhabiting the leaf litter of Rinorea guatemalensis, a dominant evergreen tree in family Violaceae (Malphigiales) from the rainforest of the “Agua Bianca” park in the state of Tabasco. The study was done over a period of 210 days. In parallel we analyzed the loss of leaf biomass. The litter bag method was used. Fungal fruiting structures were detected and quantified using moist chambers. A total of 38 taxa were detected. Two main phases were detected in the biomass loss and in the changes in the microfungi community; the primary phase was characterized by the highest biomass loss and corresponded with the highest diversity, specific richness, as well the highest values of frequency of occurrence for the sporulating microfungi. In the secondary phase the biomass loss and diversity remain with little apparent changes and with a tendency of decrease gradually with increasing foliar decomposition. In the later stages of decomposition, the similarity in the microfungal community increased. The frequency and periodicity of occurrence values indicated that the sporulating microfungi community was structured mainly by rare and sporadic species. Cylindrocladium scoparium, Microthyrium sp., Volutella ciliata and Volutella minima were considered as residents throughout the study.

fungal diversity / leaf litter / leaf decomposition / Mexico / tropical microfungi

This paper, a supplement to the monograph of Marasmius s. str. from tropical Africa published by the author in 2007, includes a total of 40 taxa. Five of these are here described as new species: Marasmius portentosus (sect. Globulares), M. conicoparvus, M. brunneoniger, M. purpureotinctus and M. sepiopileatus (sect. Sicci).

Marasmius sect. Globulares l Marasmius sect. Sicci / taxonomy / new species

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of climatic (temperature and precipitation) and geographical (latitude, longitude and altitude) variables on patterns of species richness in the Neotropical Cladoniaceae. We constructed maps of species richness for the family with a cell size of 1 ° × 1 °latitude-longitude accounting for geographical and bioclimatic variables per cell. The relationship between climatic variables and richness was evaluated using null models (test edges) and generalized additive models (GAM). To correct the problem of multicollinearity, we used a principal component analysis (PCA) for the study variables. The results suggest that species richness in Cladoniaceae varies with altitude, latitude and longitude in the Neotropics and also with respect to the climate.

The genus Alnicola (Hymenogastraceae) contains a majority of host-specific ectomycorrhizal species, associated with various species of alders (Alnus spp.). Three species associated specifically with Alnus alnobetula are described as new and illustrated: Alnicola badiofusca P.-A. Moreau sp. nov., A. pallidifolia P.-A. Moreau & Peintner sp. nov., and A. spectabilis P.-A. Moreau & Peintner sp. nov., and a key is provided for Alnicola species associated with A. alnobetula in the Alps and Corsica.

Basidiomycota / Betulaceae / ectomycorrhizae / Naucoria / phylogeny / taxonomy

Coltricia oboensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of two collections made in São Tomé. The species was found emerging among moss mats in high elevation forest at the Parque Natural Ôbo de São Tomé. It is characterized by minute, stipitate, pleuropodal basidiomes, large pores, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, mostly 6.8–9.0 × 5.0–6.0 µm.

Randomly collected naturally decaying submerged/semi-submerged wood from six freshwater streams in two forests Doi Inthanon (DI) and Khao Yai National Parks (KY), Thailand was examined for aero-aquatic hyphomycetes following five field collections in July 2009 to November 2010. A total of 1,171 fungal occurrences belonging to 32 species in 13 genera were identified from DI (31%), and KY (28%), with 41 % common to both sites. Of these, eighteen were new records (56.25% of all species) for Thailand. Percentage occurrence of fungi at DI streams 1–3 were 30.77%, 35.99%, and 33.33%, respectively; while at streams 4–6 at KY, percentage occurrence was 31.11, 35.56, and 33.33%, respectively. The most common species at both forests (with >10% frequency of occurrence, FO) were Candelabrum brocchiatum (34.5%), followed by Pseudaegerita corticalis (15.4%), and Cancellidium applanatum (12.5%). These fungi were found at five streams in the two forests while Helicomyces roseus (6.3%), Candelabrum microsporum (4.3%) and Helicosporium panachaeum (4.3%) are regarded as common species. Seven species were regarded as rare, occurring only once per site with FO = 0.1% (Candelabrum sp., Helicoma atroseptatum, H. perelegans, H. resinae, Helicoma sp., Helicosporium aureum and H. gracile). A comparison of the fungal community at the two forests and six streams shows little difference in species composition.