• Proposed
  • Under Assessment
  • Preliminary Assessed
  • NTAssessed
  • 5Published

Cantharellus stramineus De Kesel

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Scientific name
Cantharellus stramineus
Author
De Kesel
Common names
 
IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Cantharellales
Family
Hydnaceae
Assessment status
Assessed
Preliminary Category
NT C2a(ii)
Proposed by
James Westrip
Assessors
James Westrip
Reviewers
Gregory Mueller

Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus stramieus is currently only known from near Kisangwe in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is thought to be scarce. Therefore, even when taking into account additional possible sites the population size could still be small. Very tentatively the population size is estimated at 3,000-30,000 mature individuals, but this is highly uncertain. The population is also suspected to be declining as a result of ongoing threats to miombo woodland. Given the high levels of uncertainty, it is difficult to come to a clear final Red List category. However, due to the apparent scarcity of the species, and the fact that it could be in decline, it is assessed as Near Threatened C2a(ii).


Taxonomic notes


Why suggested for a Global Red List Assessment?

Chanterelle project


Geographic range

This species has only been recorded from a small area near Kisangwe in the south of Democratic Republic of Congo (De Kesel et al. 2016). However, it could be far more widespread, in line with the distribution of its host plant.


Population and Trends

De Kesel et al. (2017) describe the species as ‘relatively rare’ in Haut-Katanga, and so it is possible that this species has a very small population size. Ongoing loss of miombo woodland is also thought to be leading to population declines. Assuming that each georeferenced site contains one functional individual, this would equate to 10 mature individuals per site (see Dahlberg and Mueller 2011). This would give 30 mature individuals. However, additional (as yet unknown) sites also need to be taken into account. There is a large amount of suitable habitat for the species throughout the miombo region, and so a large multiplier should be used in this instance; potentially up to a multiplier of 1,000 to 10,000, which would give a total population size of 3,000 to 30,000 mature individuals. Given the apparent scarcity of the species, though, this upper estimate could still be too large, but at the same time given the potential for a very wide distribution the estimate could be too low.

Population Trend: Decreasing


Habitat and Ecology

This species appears to be associated with Brachystegia wangermeeana (De Kesel et al. 2016), in miombo woodland. It can occur in areas where this tree is dominant, or where it is mixed with other Brachystegia species

Subtropical/Tropical Dry ForestDry Savanna

Threats

There are ongoing threats to miombo woodland including logging, and land clearance for agriculture (see Jew et al. 2016). Mining could prove to be an additional threat.

Small-holder farmingSmall-holder grazing, ranching or farmingMining & quarryingUnintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]

Conservation Actions

Collections have occurred within the Mikembo Sanctuary. Conservation actions should be undertaken to protect suitable habitat for this species, and engagement with local stakeholders should be conducted too.

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionAwareness & communications

Research needed

Further research is needed to ascertain the full distribution of the species, which will then enable more accurate estimates of the population size.

Population size, distribution & trends

Use and Trade

This species is edible (De Kesel et al. 2017).

Food - human

Bibliography


Country occurrence

Regional Population and Trends

Country Trend Redlisted