Values and challenges in the assessment of coprophilous fungi according to the IUCN Red List criteria: the case study of Poronia punctata (Xylariales, Ascomycota)

Abstract

Coprophilous fungi are specialized microorganisms, playing key roles in ecosystems and in several other contexts, whose protection requires more substantial efforts. This paper aims to highlight and discuss valuable and critical aspects faced during the process of the threat status assessment of Poronia punctata, providing inspirations for future conservation actions.

Keywords:

• Fungal biodiversity
• coprophilous fungi
• Poronia punctata
• habitat loss
• threat status
• IUCN Red List
• fungal conservation

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the Herbarium Museum of Sapienza University of Rome (RO) and in particular Dr. Anna Millozza and Dr. Agnese Tilia for the support in the specimen’s examination. We also gratefully acknowledge Prof. Dario Lunghini for his precious consultation on the ecology of the species and for providing photographs. We gratefully acknowledge the Mycology Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society, the working group of the project “Progetto Speciale Funghi” of ISPRA and the mycological association Associazione Micologica ed Ecologica Romana. At last but not least we gratefully acknowledge the Italian Botanical Society and in particular the President Maria Consolata Siniscalco for the support to the activities that finally led to this publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.