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Pseudotricholoma metapodium (Fr.) Sánchez-García & Matheny

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Scientific name
Pseudotricholoma metapodium
Author
(Fr.) Sánchez-García & Matheny
Common names
rødmende alfehat
grå narremusserong
mealy meadowcap
Tuhruvalhakka
Svartnande narrmusseron
Schwärzender Wiesenritterling
IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Tricholomataceae
Assessment status
Published
Assessment date
2019-03-26
IUCN Red List Category
EN
IUCN Red List Criteria
A2c+3c+4c
Assessors
Jordal, J. & Olariaga Ibarguren, I.
Reviewers
Ainsworth, A.M. & Mešić, A.

Assessment Notes

The content on this page is fetched from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/70401892/70401908

Justification

Pseudotricholoma metapodium is rare and strongly confined to semi-natural grasslands in Europe, especially in lowland/coastal areas. Griffith et al. (2013) estimated a habitat loss of 90% over the last 75 years for the CHEG-fungi (grassland fungi of the groups Clavariaceae, Hygrocybe s.l., Entoloma and Geoglossaceae; where also Pseudotricholoma metapodium belongs) as a whole in Western Europe. These habitats are declining and getting bad quality due to changing agricultural practices, development projects and pollution (nitrogen deposition). A total of ca. 400-450 localities (>800 occurrences in GBIF) is known in Europe, of which ca. 90% (350-400) are in Sweden, Norway and Great Britain. Switzerland has 19 loc. after 1990, Denmark 12, and there is further information on 1-10 in each of Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Czechia, Finland, France, Croatia, Italy and Spain. The species is nationally assessed as EN in three countries, CR in two and VU in one. The largest populations (Norway + Sweden) are assumed to have experienced a decline of 50-80% in the past and present - and also possibly future - three generations. The species is in many countries known to occur mainly in the most species rich/high quality “waxcap grasslands”. Many of its localities seem to have very few mycelia/individuals. There is information of a combined habitat loss and decreased habitat quality of >50% in West European lowlands the past 50 years. As this species is probably restricted to the oldest and highest quality seminatural grasslands, probably responding to some ecological features of these, its population decrease is probably well over 50% in the past 50 years. The species meets the threshold for EN (A2c+3c+4c) in Europe (population decline >50% in three generations), which is also assumed to be the total area of the species, thus the global status is the same.

Taxonomic notes

This species has long been placed in the genus Porpoloma Singer. Recent molecular studies suggest a placement in the genus Pseudotricholoma (Singer) Sánchez-García & Matheny, as it is not closely related to the type species of Porpoloma, P. sejunctum Singer. Pseudotricholoma metapodium is normally easily recognized but be aware of Lepista luscina. It has also been confused with Hygrocybe ovina.

Geographic range

This species is endemic to Europe. It is broadly distributed in temperate areas, but the main population is around the North Sea (Norway, Sweden, UK), probably with oceanic tendency. It is scattered and rare in all of its distribution range, but less rare in Norway, Sweden and the UK. Mainly found in the lowlands, but in Scandinavia rarely in middle boreal vegetation zone and in the Swiss Alps up to 2020 m asl.

Population and Trends

A total of ca. 400-450 known localities is estimated in Europe, of which ca. 90% are in Sweden, Norway and Great Britain. Switzerland has ca. 19 localities after 1990, Denmark has 12 localities, and there is further information on 1-10 in each of Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Czechia, Finland, France, Italy, Croatia and Spain. The species is nationally assessed EN in three countries, CR in two and VU in one. The largest populations (Norway and Sweden) are assumed to have declined 50-80% in the past and present - and also possibly future - three generations. The species is in many countries known to occur mainly in the most species rich/high quality “waxcap grasslands”. Its populations are decreasing due to loss of habitat, and many of them have very few mycelia/individuals. Semi-natural grasslands are known to have strongly decreased in Europe. There is information of a combined habitat loss and decreased habitat quality of >50% in West European lowlands in the past 50 years. As this species is probably restricted to the oldest highest quality seminatural grasslands, probably responding to some ecological features of these, its population decrease is probably well over 50% in the past 50 years.

Population Trend: decreasing


Habitat and Ecology

The species is primarily found in non-fertilized dry grasslands and natural pastures. In Spain, it also occurs in periodically cut Pteridium stands and grassy forest clearings, on acid soil. In Norway it is strongly confined to old seminatural grasslands; of 189 observations, 94.2% were in seminatural grasslands, only 1.6% in forest-like habitats, and the rest in grassy habitats resembling seminatural grasslands (Jordal et al. 2016). It has similar habitat requirements in other countries. Its main distribution is in the lowlands, but it is found up into the middle boreal vegetation zone in Norway (ca. 770 m) and 2020 m in the Swiss Alps.

Threats

This species has undergone a strong regression due to loss of habitat. Natural pastures and nutrient poor grasslands have disappeared to a large extent in Europe. Thus, P. metapodium is sensitive to changes in traditional use of seminatural grasslands, e.g. fertilization. On a smaller scale, cessation of traditional cutting Pteridium fields is a secondary threat in northern Spain. Development projects and airborne nitrogen deposition can also be threats.

Conservation Actions

The key conservation actions for this species are maintenance of traditional use of semi-natural grasslands and protection of sites where it occurs against change of use (e.g. development projects). The maintaining of seminatural grasslands demands yearly grazing or mowing. If grazing by heavy animals destroys part of the soil, light animals like sheep should be recommended. Habitat conservation by governmental support to traditional agricultural practices is most important, this exists in many countries to maintain extensive areas of agricultural areas, and should be extended to larger areas than today. Management plans are needed. It is proposed as a national priority species in Norway (Jordal 2013).

Research is needed into ecological requirements and trophic form. Management plans are needed. Habitat trends should be monitored.

Use and Trade

The species is not known to be used.

Source and Citation

Jordal, J. & Olariaga Ibarguren, I. 2019. Pseudotricholoma metapodium. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T70401892A70401908. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T70401892A70401908.en .Accessed on 3 February 2025

Country occurrence