• Proposed
  • Under Assessment
  • Preliminary Assessed
  • VUAssessed
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Hygrophorus marzuolus (Fr.) Bres.

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Scientific name
Hygrophorus marzuolus
Author
(Fr.) Bres.
Common names
März-Schneckling, Fungo marzuolo, Dormiente
šťavnačka marcová
ožujka
šťavnatka březnovka
мартовка
hygrophore de mars
Wodnicha marcowa
März-Schneckling
IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Hygrophoraceae
Assessment status
Assessed
Preliminary Category
VU A2c+3c+4c
Proposed by
Beatrice Senn-Irlet
Assessors
Ivona Kautmanova
Contributors
Vladimír Kunca, Mitko Karadelev, Beatrice Senn-Irlet, Tommy Knutsson, Ibai Olariaga Ibarguren
Comments etc.
Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Nicolas Schwab, Daniel Dvořák, James Westrip, Armin Mešić, Claudia Perini, Slavica Tofilovska, Izabela L. Kalucka
Reviewers
Anders Dahlberg

Assessment Notes

Justification

Hygrophorus marzuolus is a rare edible ectomycorrhizal fungus associating with Abies, Pinus and Fagus with an unusul fruting period already in late spring. It is an european species distributed in the temperate Europe around the Pyrenees, Alps and the Carpathes. Only isolated single and historical records are reported from bordering regions. It is nationally redlisted in multiple European countries, DD and NT to EN.

The species is restricted to old forests. Its population has decreased during the last 50 years due to reduction of its potential habitat in old forest and probably also due to nitrogen deposition.

Decline in area and quality of available habitat is estimated to have exceeded 30% over the last 50 years; the decline in population size over this time could be higher. This decline in habitat is expected to continue over the next 50 years (approximately three generations: one generation for the species is around 17 years). Currently the population size probably exceeds 10,000 mature individuals.This species meets the threshold for VU A2c+3c+4c.


Taxonomic notes

The taxon named Hygrophorus marzuolus in Western North America is trated as a differerent taxon. Taxonomic research based on the comparison of DNA sequences is needed.


Why suggested for a Global Red List Assessment?

Hygrophorus marzuolus is a, edible ectomycorrhizal species mainly of Abies, fruiting in spring. Most records come from continental Europe,  where it occurs fragmentaily in mountainous areas. Considerable decrease has been noted in most parts of the area of occupancy in the last 40 years, probably due to nitrogen deposition and fir decline.


Geographic range

Hygrophorus marzuolus is distributed in the temperate Europe around the Pyrenees, Alps and the Carpathes (Fraiture and Otto 2015; GBIF 2024). Few records come from bordering areas in Greece , Russia (Caucassus, Krasnojarsk, Tomsk), Pakistan and Morocco (Zervakis et al 1998; Vaishlya et al., 2017; Razaq and Shahzad 2005). Not known from Scandinavia and United Kingdom. Most of the records (+300) come from Slovenia and Switzerland as a result of broad mapping projects.


Population and Trends

The population of H. marzuolus has decreased during the last 50 years due to reduction of its potential habitat of old forest, and probably also due to nitrogen deposition. It may be overlooked as it produce sporocarps in the spring outside the main season. However it is a well recogniced and searched for species. The species is red listed in most European countries having a national fungal Red where it is occuring; Austria (EN), Czech Republic (EN), Germany (EN), Hungary, Macedonia (VU), Serbia, and Slovakia (VU), Switzerland (NT) (Fraiture and Otto, 2015; Dämon and Krisai-Greithuber, 2017; Dämmrich et al 2016; Karadelev et al, 2022; Kasom and Milickovic 2006). It is protected by law in a few coutries (Croatia, Germany, Serbia, and Slovakia) and locally protected or picking is restricted in certain regions of Italy (Onofri 2005; Fortain and Otto, 2016).

The main host of H. marzuolus, Silver fir (Abies alba) show a strong dieback in the 1980s in its range of occurrence in Europe (Willy et al 2013).

The total population is estimated to be larger than 10 000 mature individuals. The lenght period of evaluation is 50 years (= 3 generations of ectomycorrizal fungi according to the recommendations of Dahlberg & Mueller, 2011).

Population Trend: Decreasing


Habitat and Ecology

Hygrophorus marzuolus mainly forms ectomycorrhiza with coniferous trees of the family Pinaceae, most often with Abies (alba, borisii-regis ) and Picea, but also with Pinus (mugo incl. uncinata, nigra, sylvestris) and Pseudotsuga (France). Rarely, it is found associated Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, Quercus cerris, Q. suber and Q. petraea.  The fungus nearly exclusively occurs in natural or near-natural forests and only rarely in plantations. It has been recorded on calcareus as well as acidic and sandy soils. It produce sporocarps early in the spring, sometimes even under the snow in altitudes up to 2000 m (Fortin and Otto, 2015).

Temperate Forest

Threats

The populations of H. marzuolus is declining due to the loss of the suitable habitat, which is naturally grown old seminatural or natural coniferous and mixed forests. Sites are mainly threatened by silvicultural intensification, but probably also due to nitrogen deposition.

Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Type Unknown/Unrecorded

Conservation Actions

Protection of sites where it grows with high conservation values. Selective cutting may be appropriate at sites of lower conservation values. Communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi, hence also H. marzuolus, largely survives selective cutting as the majority of their host trees are left.

Site/area protectionSite/area management

Research needed

Desired research inludes into its ecology, population biology and needed habitat conditions. Taxonomic research is needed to clarify the relationship between the European and North American taxon named the same, here considered being different taxa.

TaxonomyPopulation size, distribution & trendsLife history & ecology

Use and Trade

Hygrophorus marzuolus is an appreciated edible mushroom. In the past, it was sold on markets in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland (nowadays this is prohibited).

Food - human

Bibliography

Dämmrich, F., Lotz-Winter H., Schmidt M., Pätzold W., Otto P., Schmitt J.A., Scholler M., Schurig B., Winterhoff W., Gminder A., Hardtke H.J., Hirsch G., Karasch P., Luderitz M., Schmidt-Stohn G., Siepe K., Täglich U. and Wöldecke K. (2016). Rote Liste der Großpilze und vorläufige Gesamtartenliste der Ständer- und Schlauchpilze (Basidiomycota und Ascomycota) Deutschlands mit Ausnahme der Flechten und der phytoparasitischen Kleinpilze.

Dämon, W and Krisai-Greilhuber, I. (2017). Die Pilze Österreichs. Verzeichnis und Rote Liste 2016.

Fraiture A & Otto P (ed) 2015. Distribution, ecology and distribution of 51 macromycetes in Europe. Result of ECCF Mapping. Programme.Meise, Botanic GArden Meise. Scripta Botanica Belgica 53.

GBIF Secretariat (2024). Hygrophorus marzuolus (Fr.) Bres. inGBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-28.

Karadelev M, Tofilovska S, Rusevska K. (2022) 2021 National Red List of fungi: focusing on critical endangered species. Section of Natural, Mathematical and Biotechnical Sciences, MASA, Vol. 42, No. 1–2, pp. 37–43 (2021) https://doi.org/10.20903/masa/nmbsci.2021.42.9

Kasom G and Milickovic 2006. Protected macrofungi in Montenegro. Natura Montenegria, Podgorica 9(2): 19-203

Onofri, S. (ed). 2005. Checklist of Italian fungi- Basidiomycetes. O.P.T.I.M.A. 380 p.

Razaq A. & Shahzad S. (2005) Hygrophorus marzuolus, a new report from Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot. 37 (4): 1031-1032.

Senn-Irlet B., Bieri G and Egli S. (2007). Rote Liste Grosspilze. Rote Liste der gefährdeten Arten der Schweiz Ausgabe 2007

Zervakis G, Dimou D, Balis C (1998) A check-list of the Greek macrofungi including hosts and biogeographic distribution: I. Basidiomycotina. Mycotaxon 66:273 – 336

Vaishlya et al., 2017 First list of macromycetes forming ectomycorrhizas in cedar and pine forests of Tomsk region of West Siberia. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 74(5)

Willy Tinner, Daniele Colombaroli, Oliver Heiri, Paul D. Henne, Marco Steinacher, Johanna Untenecker, Elisa Vescovi, Judy R. M. Allen, Gabriele Carraro, Marco Conedera, Fortunat Joos, André F. Lotter, Jürg Luterbacher,
Stéphanie Samartin, and Verushka Valsecchi 2013. The past ecology of Abies alba provides new perspectives on future responses of silver fir forests to global warming. Ecological Monographs 83:419–439.


Country occurrence

Regional Population and Trends

Country Trend Redlisted