Craterellus niger is found subgregarious growning directly from ground, being possible ectomycorrhizal as it is a Craterellus species. This species was found only in Brazil, Pernambuco state, within a conservation unit. 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)].

Craterellus niger Sá, Pinheiro & Wartchow, Nova Hedwigia 99 (3-4): 526 (2014) [MB#807221]

Chanterelle species

This species was found in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin in July of 2012. 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 2012 the species is known to occur restricted to Igarassu municipality (Pernambuco state, Brazil) within the Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin. This species is found sub gregarious growing directly on the ground, being possibly ectomycorrhizal as it is a Craterellus species, without any indications of a possible host. This species is considered rare as it is known only from its holotype, despite its conspicuous bright black basidiomata and high sampling efforts during the last decades in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Then, it is expected to be endemic to Pernambuco, being restricted to small remaining fragments of Dense Ombrophillous Forest exclusively in the coastal part, within natural areas that meet its environmental requirements found on its type locality. 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 restricted to the coastal Northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest within the Pernambuco state region. The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco state is facing historical threats like deforestation, and strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are being intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in the state, 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 and industrial and silvicultural centers 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.

Craterellus niger has been observed growing sub gregariously on soil among litter within the coastal Northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It is expected that the species is restricted to this small area within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in the Pernambuco state. Historial high-sampling efforts have been made throughout the phytogeographical domain and the species was only found in its type locality. This also renders the species highly rare, despite its conspicuous bright black basidiomes. It is plausible to state that the species forms symbiotic relationships with an unknown plant host, as species within Craterellus are often ectomycorrhizal.

The Atlantic Forest of the Pernambuco state is facing historical threats like deforestation, and 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 the state, 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 and industrial and silvicultural centers 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 of this species is located in the Pernambuco Endemism Center (hereafter PEC) formerly comprised of 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 the Atlantic Forest hotspot (Dias et al. 2023). Remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion over decades due to the edge effects and the fungal population is expected to decline in light of the 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