Assessment Notes

Justification

Lycoperdon sulcatostoma is a saprotrophic gasteroid species with a gregarious habit found on dead plant debris. It is known from southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnants, with only nine collections, of which six are distributed in Paraná State, and three in Santa Catarina State. Based on sampling efforts for gasteroid species throughout the Atlantic Forest distribution, the species is considered rare and likely restricted to the southern part of the domain in Brazil, requiring well conserved areas; although it could also occur in adjacent areas in Argentina and Paraguay. The species is mainly threatened by the loss of its habitat area and quality, with the Atlantic Forest having faced intense anthropogenic disturbances for decades. Based on the species' rarity and sampling efforts within its habitat, it is inferred that it has no more than 10,000 mature individuals, all distributed in one subpopulation. Based on the severe habitat decline within the area, it is possible to suspect a population size decline of at least 10% in the last three generations (20 years), that is expected to be still undergoing. It is, therefore, assessed as Vulnerable under criterion C2a(ii).

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Geographic range

Lycoperdon sulcatostomum is currently known from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. It is only known from three sites, in seasonal semideciduous forest in Paraná (six collections) and dense ombrophilous forest lowlands in Santa Catarina (three collections) (SpeciesLink 2021). The diversity of gasteroid fungi is well investigated in southern Brazil, São Paulo (southeastern Brazil) and northern Brazil, reinforcing that this species is rare (or restricted to some remnant fragments of Atlantic Forest). Since it was found in the National Park of Foz do Iguaçu, it is also likely to occur in Argentina (Misiones) and maybe Paraguay.

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Population and Trends

There are nine known collections of the species deposited in fungaria. This is a species with medium detectability since its basidiomes are light-coloured (contrasting with rotten wood and forest litterfall), but small (around 1 cm). Basidiomes could be solitary (one collection) or gregarious, with most collections composed of three to five basidiomes, enhancing its detectability. The species is known so far from three sites and it is expected to occur in 500 additional, well-conserved, potential sites within the Atlantic Forest from southern Brazil and adjacent areas, such as Misiones in Argentina and Paraguay. It is expected that it has no more than 10,000 mature individuals, restricted to one subpopulation. 

The Atlantic Forest has been deforested over decades, and the remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion. The Atlantic Forest is one of the most fragmented tropical/subtropical forests in the world, and only around 28% percent of the original forest in Brazil is left, much of it in small, unconnected fragments (Rezende et al. 2018). A population decline was inferred in light of the extensive loss of suitable habitat (Rezende et al. 2018) and the putative impact that habitat degradation has on this species occurrence in a given environment (Berglund and Jonsson 2003, Haddad et al. 2015). Based on this information, we conservatively inferred there has been a habitat loss of at least 10% within the past three generations (20 years) and that this may also equates to a suspected population decline of the fungus of at least 10% within this timeframe, that is currently in continuing.

Population Trend: decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

Lycoperdon sulcatostomum is a saprotrophic species and grows, usually gregariously, on dead plant debris, requiring well-conserved habitat conditions. The holotype was collected on debris of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm) but the species is also found on rotten hardwood and fallen branches. Its distribution is restricted to the now fragmented and scattered Atlantic Forest.

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Threats

The Atlantic Forest as a whole has suffered from decades of deforestation due to intensive land use change and urban expansion; as well as impacts of habitat degradation by alien species, such as Eucalyptus and Pinus spp. Only 28% of its natural coverage remains, largely composed of small forest fragments and secondary forests (Tabarelli et al. 2010, Rezende et al. 2018). In the type locality (Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest), the main threats to the forest fragments are agricultural expansion and pasture areas.

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Conservation Actions

The main action needed to preserve the species is the protection of its habitat and creation of new conservation areas to harbour the probable microhabitats to which the Atlantic Forest may be restricted in the future. Also, measures must be taken to ensure that the protected Atlantic Forest areas reach a mature state. Ex situ conservation is suggested if the species could be cultivated in vitro. It would also be important to investigate if the species also occurs in Argentina and Paraguay (adjacent countries from the type locality), as well as other Atlantic Forest fragments in southern Brazil.

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Use and Trade

There are no known uses for this species.

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Source and Citation

Trierveiler-Pereira, L., Baltazar, J.M., Alves, C., Alves-Silva, G. & Costa-Rezende, D.H. 2023. Lycoperdon sulcatostomum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T245800524A245801663. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T245800524A245801663.en .Accessed on 6 January 2024

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• Country occurrence