Cantharellus aurantioconspicuus is found subgregarious growning directly from ground, being possible ectomycorrhizal as it is a Cantharellus species. This species was found in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in two sites. Considering the sampling efforts during last decades in the Northeast Region it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco State and may be restricted to small remain fragments of Dense Ombrophillous Forest exclusively in the costal part. The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing historical threats like deforestation, strong fragmentation, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem and secondary forests. It is assumed that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total inferred population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation. Consequently, this species is assessed as Endangered, based on the small population size and decline [C2a(ii)].

Cantharellus aurantioconspicuus Wartchow & Buyck, Nova Hedwigia 94 (1-2): 131 (2012)

Chanterelle species

This species was found in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in two sites: Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin in July of 2008 and Usina São José, Mata da Cruzinha in May 2010. Another preserved specimen, potentially conspecific, collected also in the type locality in 1995 is also kept preserved by URM - Herbário Pe. Camille Torrend. Taking in consideration the sampling efforts during last decades in the Northeast Region it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco and may be restricted to small remain fragments of Dense Ombrophillous Forest exclusively in the costal part.

Since 2008 the species is know to occurs restricted to Igarassu municipality (Pernambuco state, Brazil) in two sites: Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, and Usina São José, Mata da Cruzinha, representing 6 collections in total. This species is found subgregarious growning directly on the ground, being possible ectomycorrhizal as it is a Cantharellus species. This species is likely rare due to low collection number, despite its conspicuous orange basidiomata and high sampling efforts during last decades in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Then, it is expected to be endemic to Pernambuco, being restricted to small remain fragments of Dense Ombrophillous Forest exclusively in the costal part. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total inferred population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation. The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing historical threats like deforestation, strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem and secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization, industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionary assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe.

This species has been observed growing sub-gregariously and is widespread on soil among litter in tropical fragmented Atlantic forest, potentially as ectomycorrhizal.

The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing historical threats like deforestation, strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem and secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization, industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionary assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The occurrence are of this species is located in the Pernambuco Endemism Center (hereafter PEC) formerly comprised a 4.4 Mha area located north of the São Francisco River, in northeastern Brazil. Today, the PEC is the most degraded of the Atlantic Forest regions, the reason why it has been considered a hotspot within Atlantic Forest hotspot (Dias et al. 2023). Remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion over decades due the edge effects and the fungal population is expected to decline in light of extensive loss of suitable and quality habitat (Rezende et al. 2018) and the putative influence that habitat degradation has on species occupation in a given environment (Berglund and Jonsson 2003, Haddad et al. 2015).

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 its habitat. It is also important to ensure the ex-situ conservation of this species’ genetic diversity for future reintroductions and restoration work.

This species appears to exist either under preservation, or within protected habitat, however further research into this species’ current population size, habitat preferences, and potential threats. The endemic status to Pernambuco should be verified in order to better understand the better distribution and its environmental requirements (potentially ectomycorrhizal).

None known.

Berglund, H. and Jonsson, B.G. 2003. Nested plant and fungal communities; the importance of area and habitat quality in maximizing species capture in boreal old-growth forests. Biological Conservation 112(3): 319-328.

Dias, T. D. C., Silveira, L. F., & Francisco, M. R. (2023). Spatiotemporal dynamics reveals forest rejuvenation, fragmentation, and edge effects in an Atlantic Forest hotspot, the Pernambuco Endemism Center, northeastern Brazil. Plos one, 18(9), e0291234.

Galindo-Leal, C. and De Gusmao Câmara, I. (eds). 2003. The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. State of the Hotspots. Island Press, CABS/CI, Washington, DC, USA.

Haddad, N.M., Brudvig, L.A., Clobert, J., Davies, K.F, Gonzales, A., Holt, R.D., Lovejoy, T.E., Sexton, J.O., Austin, M.P., Collins, C.D., Cook, W.M., Damschen, E.I., Ewers, R.M., Foster, B.L., Jenkins, C.N., King, A.J., Laurance, W.F., Levey, D.J., Margules, C.R., Melbourne, B.A., Nicholls, A.O., Orrock, J.L., Song, D.X., and Townshend, J.R. 2015. Habitat fragmentation and its lasting impact on Earth’s ecosystems. Science Advances 1: e1500052.

Rezende, C. L., Scarano, F. R., Assad, E. D., Joly, C. A., Metzger, J. P., Strassburg, B. B. N., … Mittermeier, R. A. (2018). From hotspot to hopespot: An opportunity for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation. doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2018.10.00