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Mushrooms named Gymnopilus spectabilis and G. junonius have been reported widely in North America on both dead hardwood or dead or living conifers. Based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large ribosomal subunit (LSU), we found that although Gymnopilus junonius (= G. spectabilis s. auct.) is widespread in Europe, South America, and Australia, none of the limited sequences available from North America represent this species. We report five species of this group from North America, including three previously described species, G. luteus, G. subspectabilis, and G. ventricosus, and two new species, Gymnopilus voitkii and Gymnopilus speciosissimus. We recognize a sister species to G. luteus, based on sequences previously reported as G. spectabilis from China, Japan, and the Russian Far East, but, lacking material to describe it as a new species, we give it an informal clade name, /sororiluteus. Another new species in this complex is described from Japan, as Gymnopilus orientispectabilis. Species in this group may be distinguished by their ITS sequences as well as by macro- and micromorphology, substrate, and geography. Key words: Gymnopilus spectabilis, Pholiota ventricosa, host associations, phylogeny, psilocybin, three new species. Les champignons identifiés Gymnopilus spectabilis et G. junonius ont été largement rapportés en Amérique du Nord, tant sur des bois durs morts que sur des conifères morts ou vivants. À partir des séquences d'ADN de la région de l'espaceur interne transcrit (ITS) et de la grande sous-unité ribosomale (LSU), les auteurs ont découvert que, bien que Gymnopilus junonius (= G. spectabilis s. auct.) soit répandu en Europe, en Amérique du Sud et en Australie, aucune des quelques séquences disponibles en Amérique du Nord ne représente cette espèce. Ils rapportent cinq espèces appartenant à ce groupe en Amérique du Nord, dont trois espèces décrites précédemment, G. luteus, G. subspectabilis et G. ventricosus ainsi que deux nouvelles espèces, Gymnopilus voitkii et Gymnopilus speciosissimus. Ils reconnaissent une espèce saeur de G. luteus à partir de séquences précédemment rapportées pour correspondre à G. spectabilis de Chine, du Japon et de l'Extrême-Orient russe, mais faute de matériel pour la décrire comme nouvelle espèce, ils lui donnent un nom de clade informel, /sororiluteus. Une autre nouvelle espèce membre de ce complexe est décrite au Japon comme Gymnopilus orientispectabilis. Les espèces membres de ce groupe peuvent se distinguer par les séquences de leur ITS ainsi que par leur macro- et micromorphologie, leur substrat et leur géographie. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : Gymnopilus spectabilis, Pholiota ventricosa, association d'hôtes, phylogénie, psilocybine, trois nouvelles espèces., Introduction Collectors in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador have repeatedly observed large basidiomata of a mushroom growing on living and recently dead wood of Abies [...]

Abstract: Three species of golden chanterelles were found in Newfoundland and Labrador and were compared with other Cantharellus species by macromorphology, microscopy, and multilocus phylogenetic studies. The commonest species is [...]

Fungi in the Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota) are the primary decomposers in temperate forests of dead wood on and in the forest soil. Through the use of isolation techniques selective for saprotrophic Agaricomycetes, a variety of wood decay fungi were isolated from a northern hardwood stand in the Bartlett Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. In particular, Hypholoma lateritium (Schaeff.: Fr.) P. Kumm. was isolated from basidiocarps, decaying Acer rubrum L. logs, the Oe organic soil horizon, and the E and BC mineral soil horizons. Identification was confirmed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. All isolates had identical sequences in this region to previously published sequences for the species; some were monokaryotic and simple-septate and others were dikaryotic, with clamp connections. Isolates were further characterized by banding patterns (DNA fingerprints) produced with PCR primers based in simple repetitive sequences and the minisatellite M13. Nine dikaryotic isolates from basidiocarps and from soil horizons Oe, E, and BC had identical fingerprint patterns with all primers tested. The confirmed presence of H. lateritium suggests that this fungus could form a mycelial translocation network that bridges mineral and organic soil horizons and decaying logs. Key words: Hypholoma sublateritium, DNA fingerprinting, nutrient recycling, coarse woody debris, DAPI. Les champignons appartenant aux Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota) venant sur le bois mort et les sols forestiers representent les decomposeurs primaires des forets temperees. A l'aide d'une technique d'isolement selective pour les Agaricomycetes, les auteurs ont obtenu une variete de champignons decomposeurs du bois, dans un peuplement nordique de bois feuillus de la Foret experimentale de Bartlett, dans l' etat du New Hampshire aux Etats-Unis. Ils ont obtenu en particulier l'Hypholoma lateritium (Schaeff. : Fr.) P. Kumm, a partir de basidiocarpes, de billes d Acer rubrum L. en decomposition, ainsi que de l horizon organique Oe et des horizons mineraux E et BC du sol. Ils en ont confirme l identification par l analyse des sequences de la region de l espaceur interne transcrit de l ADN ribosomal nucleique. Tous les isolats montrent pour cette region des sequences identiques aux sequences deja publiees pour cette espece; on y trouve des isolats a monocaryons avec septations simples et d autres a dicaryons avec anses d anastomose. Les auteurs ont poursuivi la caracterisation a partir de patrons de bandes (empreintes ADN) produits avec des amorces et PCR basees sur des sequences repetitives simples et du microsatellite M13. Neuf isolats dicaryotiques provenant de basidiocarpes et des horizons Oe, E, et BC du sol montrent des empreintes identiques, avec toutes les amorces. La presence confirmee du H. lateritius suggere que ce champignon pourrait former un reseau mycelien de translocation, faisant le pont entre les horizons mineraux et organiques du sol, avec le bois en decomposition. Mots-cles : Hypholoma sublateritium, empreinte ADN, recyclage des elements, debris ligneux grossiers, DAPI. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Coarse woody debris (CWD), defined as fallen limbs and tree boles having a diameter greater than 10 cm (Harmon et al. 1986), is a major element of the carbon [...]

Abstract: Hohenbuehelia (Agaricales, Pleurotaceae) and Nematoctonus (Hyphomycetes) are the names for the sexual and asexual stages of a genus of nematode-destroying fungi (Basidiomycota). We obtained partial sequences of nuclear ribosomal [...]

Abstract: Nematoctonus (Hyphomycetes) and Hohenbuehelia (Agaricales, Pleurotaceae) are the names for the asexual and sexual stages of a genus of nematode-destroying fungi (Basidiomycota). Six morphospecies of Nematoctonus, all previously described, [...]

The isolation of saprophytic basidiomycetes from soil involves selective inhibitors, an indicator substrate and soil particle washing. The washed organic particles are plated on a medium containing lignin, guaiacol and benomyl to reduce mold growth and allow detection of basidiomycetes producing laccase. The method is useful for the investigation of biodiversity of soil basidiomycetes and gives organisms for bioremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides.

A novel, wood-inhabiting jelly fungus from China is described as a new species, Exidia qinghaiensis (Basidiomycota: Auriculariaceae). Phylogenetic analyses were based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and large subunit (nrLSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-a (Tef1) regions. Sequences of the new taxon formed a sister group to Exidia thuretiana, a species known from Europe and Asia, and distant to sequences of Exidia repanda from Europe. Fruiting bodies are cushion-shaped to irregularly lobed and yellowish brown, basidiospores are hyaline, allantoid (averaging 12.7 × 3.4 μm; average length/width is 3.7), and the host is Betula. The new species also can be distinguished by nrITS, nrLSU, RPB2, and Tef1 sequences. Our multigene phylogeny supports an Exidia including Exidia japonica, type species of Tremellochaete, but defining generic limits in Auriculariaceae will require more extensive taxon sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communities of soil basidiomycetes in agroecosystems that differ in tillage history at the Kellog Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research site near Battle Creek, Michigan are analyzed. Results reveal that only 24 of 241 species had 99% or greater sequence similarity to named reference sequences in GenBank, and several clades with multiple 'species' could not be identified at the genus level by phylogenetic comparisons with named sequences.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is the most abundant and broadly distributed thrush in North America. Both sexes likely engage in mate choice, and there is some evidence of assortative mating based on breast colour in this species. Over two breeding seasons, we documented a case of partial leucism, primarily of the breast feathers, in a male American Robin in London, Ontario, Canada. We report evidence that the leucistic robin was capable of successful breeding. How the fitness of leucistic versus normal robins compares and how leucism influences mate choice in this and other species remain to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungal composition of North America's grasslands is poorly known, but an important area of study due to grassland conservation concerns and their close relation to agricultural lands. This study is a survey of Agaricomcyetes from fifteen diverse tallgrass prairies across southwestern Ontario, determined through fruiting body surveys (above-ground) and next-generation sequencing of soil ribosomal DNA (below-ground), and compares the results of these two techniques. The most species rich taxa were the Clavariaceae, Hygrophoraceae, and Entolomataceae, each detected by both techniques, with the addition of the Sebacinaceae and Polyporaceae sensu lato below-ground, and Hymenogastraceae (Hebeloma spp.) and Mycenaceae above-ground. Many of the most abundant species belonged to these species-rich taxa and were highly abundant by either technique. The above-ground surveys found at least 73 species and the below-ground technique 238 operatonal taxonomic units. Although many fine-scale taxa (species and approximate families) were unique to one technique or the other (only eight genetic species were shared between both), the below-ground technique uncovered a greater breadth of higher taxa (mostly equivalent to orders), including ones undetected by the above-ground technique. A review of grassland fungi surveys around the world shows many similarities and the potential for grassland fungal conservation in North America. Given current technological advancements and grassland conservation concerns, it is prudent to further study North America's grassland fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]