Bondarzewia loguerciae is a wood-inhabiting fungal species, found on large living and dead standing trunks of Drimys angustifolia, a relictual plant species of the Winteraceae family, endemic to cloud forests fragments of high altitude (above 1,000 m asl) areas in southern and southeastern Brazil. It is currently known from the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and is expected to also be found along its host’s distribution in the Cloud Forests of the Araucaria Montane Forests formation of the Atlantic Forest. Cloud forests of this domain are restricted to small, fragmented patches, and are dependent on rare microclimatic conditions (Bruijnzeel et al. 2010, Oliveira et al. 2014), making it one of the most susceptible ecosystems to threats caused by climate change (Salazar et al. 2007, Williams et al. 2007, Goldsmith et al. 2013, Gotsch et al. 2014, Pompeu et al. 2014, Helmer et al. 2019, Leão et al. 2021, Vale et al. 2021). This habitat is also threatened by human activities such as cattle grazing, introduction of invasive species, such as wild boar, pine, etc., anthropogenic fire, and land use changes (Brooks and Balmford 1996, Tabarelli et al. 2006, Pinto et al. 2006), resulting in a continuous decline of this habitat, including inside protected areas. The loss of required habitat directly threatens this species, which is currently known from three sites with less than 10 collections. Its basidiomata are very conspicuous and despite the extensive studies performed frequently since 2011 on polypores from cloud forests of southern Brazil, it is rarely found, being recorded for the first time only in 2018. The species distribution is expected to match that of its host, being endemic to fragments of cloud forest. Data from the current status of forest coverage (including in Santa Catarina) shows that the Araucaria forest province, where most areas of cloud forests are found, is highly fragmented, with only 21% of forest coverage remaining. The species is expected to be found at up to 100 sites, with each site potentially hosting approximately 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total inferred population size of no more than 5,000 mature individuals in one subpopulation. Due to the expected loss of required habitat (Helmer et al. 2019), B. loguerciae is suspected to undergo an additional reduction of 60–80% of its population size over the next 50 years (equivalent to 3 generations). This decline primarily results from habitat degradation and the impacts of climate change. Consequently, this species is assessed as Critically Endangered, based on a suspected future population decline (A3c).

Bondarzewia sp. nov. “loguerciae”
The publication where it is described as a new species has been submitted (MycoBank MB850012).
Specimens of this species were previously identified as Bondarzewia guaitecasensis, the only other member of the genus known from South America so far (Salvador-Montoya et al. 2024, in progress).

Bondarzewia loguerciae is a polypore species found on large living and dead standing trunks of Drimys angustifolia, a relictual plant species of the Winteraceae, endemic to cloud forests fragments of high altitude areas in southern and southeastern Brazil. Its basidiomata are very conspicuous and despite the extensive studies performed since 2011 on polypores from cloud forests of southern Brazil it is rarely found, being recorded for the first time only in 2018. Cloud forests are restricted to small, fragmented patches, and are dependent on rare microclimatic conditions, making it one of the most susceptible ecosystems to threats caused by climate change in Brazil. Its habitat is also threatened by human activities such as cattle grazing, introduction of invasive species, anthropogenic fire and land use changes, resulting in a continuous decline of habitat, even within Protected Areas. The loss of required habitat directly threatens this endemic fungal species.

Bondarzewia loguerciae is found in the Cloud Forests of Southern Brazil, in altitudes above 1,000 m asl. It is currently known from the states of Santa Catarina (Parque Nacional de São Joaquim) and Rio Grande do Sul (Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral). It is expected to also be found in Paraná, São Paulo and Mina Gerais states, based on its host’s distribution in the Cloud Forests of the Araucaria Montane Forests formation of the Atlantic Forest.

The species is currently known from three sites and less than 10 collections. Its white basidiomata are very conspicuous and found growing on large dead standing and living trunks of Drimys angustifolia (Winteraceae). It is likely specific to D. angustifolia, a relic plant species found exclusively in fragmented montane forests (especially cloud forests) in southern and southeastern Brazil. Despite the extensive studies performed frequently since 2011 on polypores from cloud forests of southern Brazil and the conspicuous appearance of the species, it is rarely found, being recorded for the first time only in 2018. The species is expected to be found at up to 100 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total estimated population size of no more than 5,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation.
The habitat where it is found is now much rarer than it was in the past, as the Atlantic Forest is now reduced to 28% of what it once was, with the remaining areas being mostly fragmented and not fully mature (Tabarelli et al. 2010, Rezende et al. 2018). Data from the current status of forest coverage (including in Santa Catarina) shows that the mixed needle-broadleaved Araucaria forest, where most areas of cloud forests are found, is highly fragmented, with only 21% of forest coverage remaining. Patches of 50 ha or less represent 82% of these remaining forests (Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica 2009, Vibrans et al. 2012). The loss of required habitat directly impacts the population of this species, and it is suspected that B. loguerciae will suffer an additional reduction of 60–80% of its population size over the next 50 years (equivalent to 3 generations) (Helmer et al. 2019). This decline primarily results from habitat degradation and the impacts of climate change (Leão et al. 2021, Vale et al. 2021).

Bondarzewia loguerciae is a wood-inhabiting fungal species, growing on large living and dead standing trunks of Drimys angustifolia, a relictual plant species of the Winteraceae, endemic to cloud forests fragments of high altitude areas in southern and southeastern Brazil.

The habitat of Bondarzewia loguerciae is now much rarer than it was in the past, as the Atlantic Forest is now reduced to 28% of what it once was, with the remaining areas being mostly fragmented and not fully mature (Tabarelli et al. 2010, Rezende et al. 2018). Cloud forests of this domain are restricted to small, fragmented patches, and are dependent on rare microclimatic conditions (Bruijnzeel et al. 2010, Oliveira et al. 2014), making it one of the most susceptible ecosystems to threats caused by climate change (Salazar et al. 2007, Williams et al. 2007, Goldsmith et al. 2013, Gotsch et al. 2014, Pompeu et al. 2014, Helmer et al. 2019, Leão et al. 2021, Vale et al. 2021). Moreover, data from the current status of forest coverage (including in Santa Catarina) shows that the mixed needle-broadleaved Araucaria forest, where most areas of cloud forests are found, is highly fragmented, with only 21% of forest coverage remaining. Patches of 50 ha or less represent 82% of these remaining forests (Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica 2009, Vibrans et al. 2012). This habitat is also threatened by human activities such as cattle grazing, introduction of invasive species (cattle, wild boar, pine, etc.), anthropogenic fire and land use changes (Brooks and Balmford 1996, Tabarelli et al. 2006, Pinto et al. 2006), resulting in a continuous decline of this habitat, even in protected areas.

The main action to prevent the decline of the species is the protection of its habitat by the establishment, and appropriate management, of conservation areas and the enforcement of public policies to recover and protect the cloud forests of southern and southeastern Brazil. It is also important to ensure the ex-situ conservation of this species’ genetic diversity for future reintroductions and restoration work.

More research is needed to understand the species’ full distribution and its ecology.

There are no known uses for this species.

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