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Guyanaporus albipodus T.W. Henkel & Husbands

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Scientific name
Guyanaporus albipodus
Author
T.W. Henkel & Husbands
Common names
 
IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Boletales
Family
Boletaceae
Assessment status
Published
Assessment date
2020-04-03
IUCN Red List Category
DD
Assessors
Dentinger, B.
Reviewers
Neves, M.A. & Mueller, G.M.

Assessment Notes

The content on this page is fetched from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172832579/172861367

Justification

Guyanaporus albipodus is in a rare, monotypic genus endemic to the Guiana Shield region of northern South America where it is known from two locations in Guyana. Only a tiny fraction of its possible suitable habitat has been surveyed. Potential host plants occur in a large region encompassing parts of Venezuela, northern Brazil and south-east Colombia. This entire region is very under-sampled, being very remote and completely unsurveyed. In total approximately 0.002% of its potential suitable habitat has been surveyed for fungi. It is not possible to estimate population size or trends, extent of occurrence, or area of occupancy. Increasing threats from timber and mineral extraction, and land use changes are anticipated, with the potential for these to be rapid if further road construction occurs. It is therefore assessed as Data Deficient, and further survey work in this region is urgently needed.

Taxonomic notes

At present it is classified within its own genus, but this may change when the phylogeny of the family stabilizes (Henkel et al. 2016).

Geographic range

This species is restricted to Dicymbe-dominated forests in the Guiana Shield region where it is known from two sites: 

Site 1: Pakaraima Mountains, Upper Potaro River Basin, within 5 km radius of Potaro base camp at 5.301, -59.911, 710–750 m: collections from vicinity of base camp, ~1 km south-west of base camp between Black- water Creek and Potaro River; 

Site 2: Pakaraima Mountains, Upper Mazaruni River Basin, ~10 km west of Mount Ayanganna in vicinity of Pegaima savanna, within 5 km radius of a base camp at 5.439, -60.079, 800 m: collections from ~3.8 km east of Pegaima base camp on Ayanganna line, adjacent the west bank of Koatse creek, under D. corymbosa.

Only a tiny fraction of its possible suitable habitat has been surveyed. Potential host plants occur in a large region encompassing parts of Venezuela, northern Brazil and south-east Colombia.

Population and Trends

It is presently known only from nine collections, representing 9 genets (at least 18 ramets). Henkel et al. (2012) reported a 0.2% incidence of the species over a 7 year plot survey. It appears sporadically and was recorded every 1-5 yrs during surveys from 2000-2015. This three hectare study site is the only site surveyed for fungi out of a very large area (approximately 500,000 km2) where Dicymbe occurs in north tropical South America. It is, therefore, impossible to estimate its population size or trends with any degree of confidence.

Population Trend: unknown


Habitat and Ecology

"Solitary to scattered on the humic mat of the forest floor under D. corymbosa; also found in stands of Pakaraimaea dipterocarpacea and Dicymbe jenmanii; known from the type locality in the Upper Potaro River Basin and ~25 km to the west in the Upper Mazaruni Basin." (Henkel et al. 2016).

Threats

Current threats include climate change and small-scale mineral extraction that can cause habitat disturbance and water pollution although these threats are currently not thought to be severe as much of the interior of the region is very remote. Future threats from timber and mineral extraction, and land use changes are anticipated, with the potential for these to be rapid if further road construction occurs. Further impacts of climate change, particularly droughts, are also anticipated.

Conservation Actions

No conservation actions are currently in place for this species. Protection of habitat is needed. Additionally, survey work to document the species' distribution and abundance, taxonomy, and life history are needed.

Use and Trade

There are no known uses of this species.

Source and Citation

Dentinger, B. 2020. Guyanaporus albipodus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T172832579A172861367. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T172832579A172861367.en .Accessed on 3 February 2025

Country occurrence