Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Macrofungi of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia

Katrina Syme, Teresa Lebel , Roger Hilton

Abstract

Context. Although fungi are an integral part of the environment, little is known about the diversity of macrofungi in the south-coast region of Western Australia. Aims. We summarise the results of macrofungi surveys conducted over the last four decades and highlight some of the rare and interesting taxa from the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Methods. We used herbarium records, Fungimap observations, and the results of several surveys (1991-1992,1998-1999, 2006-2007, 2020), to compile a list of the macrofungi found in different locations and major habitats in the Reserve. Names have been updated to reflect modern taxonomic knowledge/ classifications. Key results. A total of 196 formally named species of macrofungi representing 144 genera from 58 families are reported. Ten species have been described based on material collected in the Reserve. The Inocybaceae (56 collections, 25 species) and Amanitaceae (149 collections, 20 species) were the most diverse families due to significant recent taxonomic work. The diversity in Cortinariaceae, Russulaceae Boletaceae, and Entolomataceae was under-represented. The rare green Amanita austroviridis, and hypogeal Elaphomyces chlorocarpus and E. symeae are known from fewer than six herbarium records, most from the Reserve. Conclusions. Due to the cryptic nature of many sporocarps and highly seasonal fruiting patterns, we believe the list provided here is perhaps 40% of the actual diversity present in the Reserve. Implications. The presence of rare species, and high number of undescribed, but likely novel species in diverse lineages, supports the need for further investigation of the macrofungal diversity in the Reserve.

PC24091  Accepted 09 December 2024

© CSIRO 2024