Mycodiversity of nature reserves in Central Italy

Seven nature reserves situated in the province of Arezzo (Tuscany, Central Italy), presenting various habitats, plants and animals of comunitary interest according to the Habitat Directive, have been observed from a myco-floristic viewpoint. A synthesis of the results on fungal investigations is given. Interesting the finding of rare species such as Ramariopsis pulchella and Mycena diosma .

floristic-vegetational and faunistic studies undertaken in recent years, with the aim of improving knowledge of their animal and vegetable heritage and proposing management measures for their conservation, protection and restoration.Of particular interest and some of priority interest according to the HaBiTaT directive no.92/43/ CEE are unusual habitats such as the humid zones (Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella; Ponte a Buriano e Penna), rocky ophiolitic environments (Monti Rognosi), mixed Tilio-Acerion forests (Bosco di Montalto), the pioneer grassland vegetation of rocky zones (Alpe della Luna), and at a specific level, both animals (wolf, golden eagle, goshawk, Rosalia alpina) and plants (Taxus baccata) can be found.The provincial administration strongly encouraged the inclusion of the mycological component in this study, demonstrating a particularly well developed "ecologic conscience" and a sensitivity towards such issues and these organisms in particular that is far-sighted to say the least.

MaTErial and METHOdS
The results reported refer to myco-floristic observation carried out in the seven Nature Reserves situated in the Province of Arezzo between 1998 and 2002 (Fig. 1).The study was carried out through on-the-spot investigations in autumn (September-November), when the meteorological conditions were deemed optimum for the growth of fruiting bodies (indispensable for recognising the species), and sporadically in springtime.We recorded all epigeous macromycetes found in the main types of vegetation or particular habitats present in the Reserves; samples were often picked for examination under the laboratory microscope in order to check or confirm correct identification.
Species nomenclature followed that of the Dutch check-list (A r n o l d s et al. 1995) taxa not in this list were according to various texts and monographs (B r e i t e nb a c h , K r a n z l i n 1981-2000; M o s e r 1983; R i v a 1988; S t a n g l 1991; A n t o n ì n , N o o r d e l o o s 1993; C o u r t e c u i s s e , D u h e m 1994; B o n 1997; S a r n a r i 1998; C o n s i g l i o , C o n t u 2002).Species authorities were abbreviated according to B r u m m i t t , Po w e l l (1992).The species picked were dried and conserved in the Herbarium Universitatis Senensis (SiEna).For the majority of taxa an abundance value according to J a h n et al. (1967) is given: r (rarus) -species occuring in single exemplares in a amall quantity, n (numerus) -species widespread on the area, single or in several exemplars, a (abundans) -species common on the area in great number of exemplars.

arEa OF inVESTiGaTiOnS
Ponte a Buriano e Penna and Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella.These two Nature Reserves are situated the Western part of the town Arezzo (Fig. 1, area 1 and 2) and runs along the middle course of the Arno river.According to the T h o r n t h w a i t e classification (1948), the climate is moist subhumid (class C2: MI between 0 and 19.9).From a lithological viewpoint, the area is characterised by fluvio-lacustrine sediments from various periods, fluvial and marsh deposits.
The Ponte a Buriano e Penna Nature Reserve (668 ha) at an altitude between 200 and 260m, runs along the river Arno for approximately 7km, beginning slightly upstream of its confluence with the canal Maestro della Chiana and continuing across the arezzo plain as far as the Penna dam.The forest vegetation mainly comprises oak woods of Quercus pubescens, as well as other arboreal species such as Q. ilex, Q. cerris, Fraxinus ornus, Ostrya carpinifolia and many shrubs (Crataegus monogyna, Ligustrum vulgare, Spartium junceum, etc.) and grasses (Cyclamen spp., Viola spp., Orchis spp., etc.).There are strips of riparian vegetation characterised by poplars, especially black poplars (Populus nigra), Salix spp., Ulmus minor and Robinia pseudoacacia along the ditches, gullies and tributaries, and a wide area of marsh vegetation at the confluence of the canal Maestro della Chiana with the Arno, composed of vast stands of common reeds (Phragmites australis and smaller areas where rushes (Juncus spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), yellow irises (Iris pseudacorus) can be found (Vic i a n i 1997).
The reserve Valle dell'inferno e Bandella (531 ha) runs along the arno river for approximately 4km, between 180 and 220 m a.s.l..The deciduos oak woods are mainly composed of Quercus cerris woods that also sporadically host other species (Q.robur, Q. pubescens).Hygrophilous riparian vegetation is equally important, comprising Salix spp., Populus spp., Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana and Carpinus betulus growing along the banks of the river Arno and its tributaries.A strip of marsh vegetation has formed in the Bandella loop in particular, composed of Juncus articulatus, J. effusus, J. conglomeratus, Nymphaea alba and Phragmites australis (ra f f a e l l i 1997).
Monti Rognosi.The area lies on ophiolites formed by ultramafic igneous rocks (P i c h i S e r m o l l i 1948), a lithology not so common in Tuscan areas.The Reserve covers a total of 156 ha and is located in the upper basin of the river Tevere, north from Arezzo (Fig. 1, area 7).It is characterised by quite steep slopes with visible large rocky outcrops and the altitude varies between 370 and 630m a.s.l..
The climate is mesothermal suboceanic, from humid to subhumid, with a moderate summer deficit (B i g i , Ru s t i c i 1984).Local factors, such as the dark green colour of the rocks, the lack of soil accumulation and the scarcity of vegetation, may contribute to accentuating the dryness and higher temperatures that characterise the summer months (d e d o m i n i c i s et al. 2001a).
The phytogeographic aspect of the area studied is important (d e d o m i n i c i s et al. l.c.) as types of vegetation typical of open areas and well adapted to the relatively inhospitable climate and soil can still be found, despite over seventy years of intense reforestation.The pinewoods planted (Pinus nigra, P. pinaster) since the 1930's on former garigues are generally quite extensive and currently occupy almost 50% of the surface area.The serpentine vegetation is generally confined to steeply sloping zones and rocky outcrops.The garigues have very discontinuous vegetation cover, with large outcrops of bare rock.Although limited in area, the steppe grasslands represent very unusual coenoses, with some species of significant conservational interest, such as Stipa tirsa, S. etrusca and Chrysopogon grillus.Semi-mesophilous shrubberies of Rosa canina, Prunus spinosa, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, occasional Juniperus communis and/or J. oxycedrus and locally abundant Spartium junceum are more common.Where the pines have not reached, there are mixed woods of turkey oak and European hop hornbeam on the cooler slopes of ophiolite outcrops and downy oak woods in drier and warmer areas.
Alta Valle del Tevere (Monte Nero).This regional nature reserve, at the northern border of Tuscany (Fig. 1, area 6), covers an area of 470 ha at an altitude of between 740 m and 1240 m a.s.l. and most of the reserve has gradients of over 50%.The climate can be described as mesothermal suboceanic, humid with a slight summer deficit (B i g i , Ru s t i c i 1984).From a lithologic point of view, most of the area is located on the marly-arenaceous Romagna formation; there is also a strip of Macigno, marls, and an undifferentiated complex prevalently composed of clay schists and marly limestones at Monte Castelsavino.
The area has quite a good variety of vegetation.Between 700 and 1000 m there are grasslands and shrubberies that originated from the change of use from former agricultural or pastoral land.These limited formations are then replaced by coppices, transitory high forests and conifer plantations.Mixed mesophilous montane woods can be found in scattered formation at the same range of altitude, with a prevalence of Acer spp.and Tilia spp., while the woods in higher zones are clearly dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. Neutrophilous mountain woods are quite common in this reserve, formed of Quercus cerris mixed with Ostrya carpinifolia and Acer opalus, accompanied by Fraxinus ornus, Q. pubescens, Sorbus aria and occasionally Carpinus betulus, A. campestre and Prunus avium (d e d o m i n i c i s et al 2001b).Sasso di Simone.This reserve lies on the apennines in north Eastern part of Tuscany, bordering with the region Emilia Romagna and Marche (Fig. 1, area 4).From a lithological point of view, this Reserve (1604 ha, 940 -1221 m a.s.l.) has three main lithotypes: organogenic calcarenites and marly limestones, chaotic flaky clays and marly-arenaceous Flysch.According to the T h o r n t h w a i t e (1948) classification, the climate in this area is humid (class B3, MI between 40 and 60).
The forest vegetation is primarily composed of Quercus cerris woods associated with Carpinus betulus in some places.The forest landscape at the base of the rocky part of the north-facing slope is characterised by mixed woods with a prevalence of Fagus sylvatica and the presence of Tilia platyphyllos, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus and Acer platanoides.The open areas near the "Sasso di Simone" rock are composed of grassland used for grazing cattle (G o n n e l l i 1997).
Alpe della Luna and Bosco di Montalto.These two Nature Reserves are located between Alta Valle del Tevere and Sasso Simone (Fig. 1, area 4 and 5), a little bit Southern.The climate can generally be described as mesothermal sub-oceanic: humid with a slight summer deficit (B i g i , Ru s t i c i 1984).In the two Reserves Taxus baccata trees can be found.From a vegetational point of view, both areas are of significant phytogeographic interest due to the presence of nuclei of mixed mesophilous montane woods composed of maples, linden and common ash and a few yew trees belonging to the Tilio-Acerion alliance (d e d o m i n i c i s et al. 2001c,d).
Alpe della Luna covers a total of 1540 ha at an altitude between 600 m at the northern and southern boundaries and 1453 m on the highest ridge.From a geological point of view, the area is characterised by the meeting at the lowest altitude of the Macigno del Mugello, mainly composed of siliceous sandstones with marls and silty schists, with the marly-arenaceous Romagna formation, which is composed of sandstones and marls.The reserve is mainly characterised by coppices and transitory high forests of broad-leaved trees.The woods on the Tyrrhenian slopes have a clear prevalence of beech with Cardamine enneaphyllos and at a lower altitude the beech is accompanied by other woody species such as Crataegus monogyna, Laburnum alpinum, Quercus cerris and Sorbus aria; we should also highlight the presence not only of Taxus baccata but also of nuclei of Ilex aquifolium.Pioneer grasslands grow on both slopes in areas affected by erosion, while the valley floor is home to gorge woods with a prevalence of Carpinus betulus, accompanied by beeches, lindens, maples and hazels (d e d o m i n i c i s et al. 2001c).
The Bosco di Montalto reserve occupies a small area (22ha) at an altitude of be-reserve occupies a small area (22ha) at an altitude of between 875m and 1061m a.s.l..The lithology of the area is characterised by the meeting of two geological formations: "alberese", constituted of calcareous and marlycalcareous sediments, and the "Sillano unit", composed of argillites with lithoid masses of "alberese" and "pietraforte" sandstones (B i n i et al. 1982).
Most of the reserve's surface area is covered by thermophilous and meso-hygrophilous beech woods, mainly composed of beeches, turkey oaks and European hop-hornbeam; the presence of Tilia platyphyllos, Fraxinus exelsior and, although sporadic, of Acer pseudplatanus, is also significant.Meso-hygrophilous montane woods with turkey oaks and European hornbeam can be found at lower altitudes and on the Sillano argillites, with the sporadic presence of Taxus baccata (d e d o m i n i c i s et al. 2001d).

rESulTS and diSCuSSiOn
The seven protected areas observed, with particular emphasis to the interesting habitats, generally show a good mycodiversity (Tab. 1) and the presence of fungal Ta b l e 1 Macrofungal species found in the 7 nature reserves (arezzo, italy) ince of arezzo could become important conservation sites in Europe for the more common fungi.Many species found belong to a wide ecological range, growing in deciduous or coniferous woods on acidic, basic or neutral substrates, such as Amanita phalloides, A. rubescens, A. vaginata ss.str , Laccaria laccata s.l. and Russula fragilis ss.str.among the simbionts, or Collybia butyracea, Lepiota clypeolaria, Mycena pelianthina, M. pura and M. rosea among the saprotrophs.
We should highlight findings of fungi preferring Mediterranean areas or at least thermophilous forests, such as Boletus impolitus, B. queletii, Clathrus ruber, Collybia erythropus and Hygrophorus russula (a n t o n i n , n o o r d e l o o s 1997; C a n d u s s o 1997; G a l l i 1998) in the montane habitats of the "Alpe della Luna" Nature Re-G a l l i 1998) in the montane habitats of the "Alpe della Luna" Nature Re-1998) in the montane habitats of the "Alpe della Luna" Nature Reserve.
The presence of two rare Boletaceae first observed on the island of Sardinia and newly found in the Nature Reserve of "Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella" is important: Xerocomus roseoalbidus alessio and littini and Xerocomus ichnusanus alessio, r.Galli and littini (G a l l i 1998).X. roseoalbidus, found in 1986 and described as a new taxa the following year, is uncommon and grows on the edge of deciduous woods and in more open areas, in extremely arid climatic conditions.The latter was also first observed in Sardinia, then in various locations in the northern Apennines, from Piedmont to Emilia romagna.This thermoxerophilous mushroom becomes more frequent and abundant in hot and dry years (G a l l i 1998).
Ramariopsis pulchella (Boud.)Corner, a small coralloid terricolous saprotroph that is reported in various central-northern European studies as being badly threatened because of its great rarity at an international level (a r n o l d s et al. 1995), has also been sighted in the "Valle dell'inferno e Bandella" Reserve.Only a few recordings have been cited for Tuscany and the most significant of these were in two other protected areas, the Forests of Berignone-Tatti near Volterra (Province of Pisa) and Cipresseta di S. agnese, not far from Castellina in Chianti (Province of Siena) (r i c c i , Pe r i n i 2001).
Mycena diosma was observed in four out of the seven reserves studied (alpe della luna, Montalto, alta Valle del Tevere, Monti rognosi,): this species, characteristic of beech forests (M a a s G e e s t e r a n u s 1992) has never been cited for region of Tuscany and is considered rare or very rare by some authors (C o u r t e c u i s s e , d u h e m 1994; B r e i t e n b a c h , K r ä n z l i n 1981-2000).It could be confused by a quick look with the common M. pelianthina, but once collected the characteristic sweetish/tabac smell and withish edge of the lamelle are conclusive evidence that it is M. diosma.).Their growth in acidophilous Quercus cerris woods of the "Alta Valle del Tevere" and not at all on the preferential substrate described can only be explained by the vicinity of the calcareous complex of Monte Castelsavino.
Lactarius deliciosus and Suillus granulatus, exclusively linked to conifers (B a s s o 1999; G a l l i 1998), have been observed as alien species in the "Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella" Nature Reserve, where Quercus cerris woods constitute the dominant vegetation.It is well known that conifers, even if they are only sporadic trees, influence the characteristics of the fungal community.The same situation can be reported for "Alta Valle del Tevere", where planted conifers allow Cortinarius allutus to grow (C o n s i g l i o et al. 2004).This is also true for the "Monte Rognosi" Reserve, where important phytogeographic aspects of characteristic garigue and steppe grassland are still present on ultramafic substrates although 50% of the area has been planted with pinus.Although the vegetation found is peculiar to serpentine, this is not reflected by the fungal community.In the small open areas where characteristic plants can be found flowering, species linked to conifers such as Chroogomphus fulmineus, Lactarius deliciosus, Russula sanguinea, Suillus granulatus have been collected (B a s s o 1999; C o u r t e c u i s s e , d u h e m 1994; G a l l i 1998; S a r n a r i 1998).
The situation in the "alpe della luna" reserve is different: in this area a conspic-in this area a conspicuous population of Taxus baccata is of importance.This plant is considered a valuable floristic species and has a fragmentary distribution area.Very few mycological studies refer to this kind of vegetation (d e V r i e s , Ku y p e r 1990).The data found in the area we studied include species linked to the surrounding deciduous woods but none of the mushrooms characteristic of this important tree.On the other hand, abundant open areas and wide grasslands have permitted the identification of fungal species (Agaricus arvensis, A. campester, Entoloma ameides, Hygrocybe pratensis, H. psittacina, H. russocoriacea) that are characteristic of this habitat and considered as a priority vegetation for conservation aspects at a European level (a r n o l d s 2001).Also the woods of "Sasso di Simone" are frequently interspersed with wide open areas, to be maintained, where the fungi Agaricus campester and Vascellum pratense, characteristic of montane grasslands, grow.

COnluSiOnS
From this short overview of the research carried out in the 7 Nature Reserves of the Province of Arezzo, it has emerged how important mycological observations can be for the sustainable management of natural resources: the presence or absence of some fungi could be a good bioindicator of the conservation status of the natural environment (a r n o l d s 1981).A first attempt has been made in order to provide guidelines for appropriate sylvicultural manipulations to safeguard the diversity of larger fungi and to increase the presence of characteristic species.it has been suggested, for example, that reforestation with pines should not take place in areas characterised by serpentine rocks, while more cutting/deforestation should be done in certain zones to increase the steppe garigues.it has also been suggested that some former activities should be reintroduced to encourage the maintenance or expansion of grasslands.The idea of protecting threatened and rare species and the local richness of fungal biota could become a reality in the near future, possibly through the establishment of important Plant areas for
Clitocybe costata, Cortinarius anserinus, C. bulliardii are characteristic species on calcareous substrates according to various authors (B o u d i e r 1901; C a r b i e n e r et al. 1972-73-74; H ø i l a n d 1980; M a l e n ç o n , l l i m o n a , 1980; B r e i t e n b a c h , K r ä n z l i n 1981-2000; B r a n d r u d et al. 1990-1998; G y o s h e v a , Va s s i l e v 1994; l a g a n à et al. 1999; S a l e r n i et al. 2000b Fungi, as proposed by the European Plant Conservation Strategy (A n d e r s o n 2002; Pa l m e r , S m a r t 2001).
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