Conservation of fungi
Encyclopedia
Fungi are considered to be in urgent need of conservation
by the British Mycological Society
on the grounds that it is a traditionally neglected taxon
which has legal protection in few countries. Current threats to fungi include destruction of forests worldwide, fragmentation of habitat, changes in land use, pollution
, anthropogenic climate change and over-exploitation of commercially attractive species.
The Species Survival Commission of the IUCN has five specialist groups dealing with the conservation of fungi:
Lack of knowledge is considered a major concern with a general paucity of comprehensive checklists, even for developed nations. In addition, the criteria for "red-listing" is not specifically designed for fungi and the kinds of data required, viz. population size, lifespan, spatial distribution and poulation dynamics are poorly known for most fungi. As a result in practice, indicator species
are identified as target foci for the conservation of threatened fungi.
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
by the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
on the grounds that it is a traditionally neglected taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
which has legal protection in few countries. Current threats to fungi include destruction of forests worldwide, fragmentation of habitat, changes in land use, pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, anthropogenic climate change and over-exploitation of commercially attractive species.
The Species Survival Commission of the IUCN has five specialist groups dealing with the conservation of fungi:
- Chytrid, Zygomycete, Downy Mildew and Slime Mould Specialist Group
- Cup-fungus, Truffle and Ally Specialist Group
- Lichen Specialist Group
- Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball Specialist Group
- Rust and Smut Specialist Group
Lack of knowledge is considered a major concern with a general paucity of comprehensive checklists, even for developed nations. In addition, the criteria for "red-listing" is not specifically designed for fungi and the kinds of data required, viz. population size, lifespan, spatial distribution and poulation dynamics are poorly known for most fungi. As a result in practice, indicator species
Indicator species
An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment. For example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change...
are identified as target foci for the conservation of threatened fungi.