Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus californicus is a common species in the live oak woodlands on California. There has been decline in habitat, but the extent to which this is affecting the population overall needs to be assessed. Thus, at the moment it is not thought to be approaching the thresholds for listing as threatened, but further research could clarify the situation. C. californicus is, therefore, tentatively assessed as Least Concern.

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Taxonomic notes

Cantharellus californicus is an oak associated species from California, USA. For many years it has been called C. cibarius (Thiers 1985, Arora 1986), before being formally described as a distinct species (Arora and Dunham 2008).

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Geographic range

This species is known from coastal counties from southern Mendocino County, California, USA, south to northern Baja California, Mexico, and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. A single subpopulation has been reported from Quercus forests near Corvallis, Oregon.

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Population and Trends

The population is widespread, but a decline is likely occurring mostly due to habitat loss from urban development and horticulture expansion; especially with increased clearing of oak woodlands for vineyards.

Population Trend: decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

This species is ectomycorrhizal with oaks, especially with Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) and occasionally other oaks (Quercus spp). It has also been reported with Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus). It is most common from Sonoma County to Santa Barbara County, California, and occasional elsewhere in its range. Fruiting is from fall into spring; fruit bodies are long lasting, and often slow developing.

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Threats

Habitat loss due to urban development and clearing of woodlands for horticulture is a threat to this species. Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) has had detrimental affects on Coast Live Oak habitat (Arora and Dunham 2008).

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Conservation Actions

Preservation and conservation of oak woodlands across the range is required. There is a need to research trends of this species, and to determine whether it is in decline in protected habitats.

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Use and Trade

Cantharellus californicus is a highly prized edible species, and is commonly collected.

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Source and Citation

Siegel, N. 2022. Cantharellus californicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T198622675A198624965. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T198622675A198624965.en .Accessed on 1 August 2024

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• Country occurrence