Insect–fungal interactions are an important but understudied aspect of tropical forest ecology. Here we present the first large-scale study of insect communities feeding on the reproductive ...structures of macrofungi (basidiomes) in the Neotropics. This trophic interaction is not well characterized in most ecosystems; however, beetle consumption of basidiomes is thought to be affected by fungal factors, via mechanisms analogous to those observed in plant–herbivore interactions and in some interactions with fungi as hosts in the Holarctic region. We investigated how the composition of beetle assemblages varies as a function of fungal taxonomic distance, basidiome consistency, and hyphal systems. We collected 367 basidiomes belonging to the orders Polyporales and Hymenochaetales in the subtropical Araucaria angustifolia forest region of southern Brazil, along with any fauna present or without it. Basidiomes were maintained individually in the laboratory in plastic containers for up to three months to allow beetles to develop to adulthood, at which point the beetles were collected. We found that 207 basidiome specimens representing 40 species were associated with beetles. We recorded 447 occurrences of Coleoptera, representing 90 morphospecies from 20 families. We found that assemblages of fungivorous Coleoptera were more similar among more closely related fungi. Furthermore, the beetle assemblages varied as a function of basidiome toughness, which is influenced by sporocarp consistency and hyphal system type. The associations between beetles and basidiomes resemble those reported previously in temperate zones, suggesting continuity in the structure of such associations across a wide latitudinal range.
The genus
was first introduced to accommodate two Brazilian species of coralloid fungi with affinities to Pterulaceae (Agaricales). Despite the coralloid habit and the presence of skeletal hyphae, ...other features, notably the presence of gloeocystidia, dichophyses and papillate hyphal ends, differentiate this genus from Pterulaceae
Fieldwork in Brazil resulted in the rediscovery of two coralloid fungi identifiable as
, the first verified collections of this genus since Corner's original work in the 1950s. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nrITS and nrLSU sequences from these modern specimens revealed affinities with the /peniophorales clade in the Russulales, rather than Pterulaceae. The presence of distinctive hyphal elements, homologous to the defining features of /peniophorales, is consistent with the phylogenetic evidence and thus clearly distinguished
and its type species
from Pterulaceae, placing this genus within /peniophorales.
was also found to be polyphyletic so
gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate
,
,
and
also within /peniophorales.
Ciids or minute tree-fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Ciidae) are amongst the most abundant and speciose fungivorous beetles. They spend most of their lives in or around polypore basidiomes, which are ...used as a food resource and shelter by larvae and adults. The study of Neotropical ciids is incipient and there is no comprehensive work on their host fungi. The present work provides a descriptive analysis of the Ciidae fauna, its feeding habits and polypore hosts at a subtropical rainforest in São Francisco de Paula, southern Brazil. A discussion on the current knowledge of host fungi of Neotropical Ciidae is also provided. Polypore basidiomes were collected in field trips carried out monthly from Aug 2006 to Mar 2007 and kept in the laboratory for up to 3 mo, while adult beetles were continuously captured from them. Basidiomes of 376 individual fungi were collected, comprising a total of 40 species. Among these, 152 individual fungi of 33 species had ciid beetles. Twenty-one species of ciids were recognized among 233 emergent adults. Only 1 ciid species was considered monophagous, 6 were considered oligophagous, and 6 polyphagous. Eight ciid species had less than 5 occurrences, and thus could not be included in any category. There is empirical evidence, from data provided or compiled herein, indicating that some morphologically similar Ciidae species, usually comprising a species group, frequently use the same or closely related species of fungi as the host. This is the first faunistic study on Ciidae and their host fungi in the Neotropical region.
Three species of Grammothele found in Rio Grande do Sul State in southern Brazil - G. fuligo, G. lineata, G. subargentea - are described and illustrated. Grammothele fuligo is recorded for the first ...time from extra-Amazonian Brazil. The
genus produces resupinate basidiomata with bluish-gray to dark-gray pore surfaces and with very shallow pores; microscopically, it is diagnosed by a dimitic hyphal system, clamped generative hyphae, dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, and abundant dendrohyphidia.
During a survey of the polypore fungi in the Morro Santana, Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil, two species never before recorded for the country were found. Ganoderma chalceum has a pileate basidiome, ...laccate pileus surface, dimitic hyphal system, and a cuticle composed of clavate
and amyloid hyphae. Junghuhnia meridionalis has a resupinate basidiome, dimitic hyphal system, and heavily incrusted clavate cystidia. Both species are compared with related species and illustrations are provided.
A fungal survey in the National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, in southern Brazil, displayed 38 pileate polypores species (eight Hymenochaetales and 30 Polyporales). Amauroderma coltricioides T.W. ...Henkel, Aime & Ryvarden and Inonotus fulvomelleus Murrill are recorded for the fist time from Brazil, whereas Antrodiella multipileata Log.-Leite & J.E. Wright and Junghuhnia minuta I. Lindblad & Ryvarden are new records to Rio Grande do Sul State. Keys to species and remarks on the taxa are presented.
Num estudo de fungos na Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula, no sul do Brasil, 38 espécies de políporos pileados foram identificadas (oito Hymenochaetales e 30 Polyporales). Amauroderma coltricioides T.W. Henkel, Aime & Ryvarden e Inonotus fulvomelleus Murrill são citadas pela primeira vez para o Brasil, enquanto Antrodiella multipileata Log.-Leite & J.E. Wright e Junghuhnia minuta I. Lindblad & Ryvarden são citações novas para o Rio Grande do Sul. Chaves para identificação e comentários sobre as espécies são apresentados.
Microporellus iguazuensis is redescribed from the southern Atlantic rainforest of Brazil 23 years after its original description. The species is characterized by stipitate basidiomata, smooth ...ellipsoid basidiospores, simple-septate generative hyphae, dextrinoid skeletal hyphae,
and a root-parasite habit. In the present work this noteworthy polypore is described, illustrated and its taxonomy discussed.
During a survey of xylophilous fungi in the municipality of São Francisco de Paula, in southern Brazil, Phlebia incarnata, a species never before recorded for South America, was found. Phlebia ...incarnata has a pileate basidiome with vivid pink coloration, a hymenophore
with folds, a monomitic hyphal system, and cylindrical basidiospores. In this work, P. incarnata is compared with related species; a full description and illustrations are provided.
Polyporus dictyopus, with a large number of heterotypic synonyms, has been traditionally considered a species complex, characterized by wide morphological variation and geographic distribution. Thus, ...neotropical specimens previously identified as P. dictyopus from Amazonia, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes were studied based on detailed macro- and micromorphological examination and phylogenetic analyses, using distinct ribosomal and protein-coding genomic regions: the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU), and RNA polymerase II second subunit (RPB2). Two unrelated generic lineages, each one represented by different species, are reported: Atroporus is recovered and re-circumscribed to include A. diabolicus and A. rufoatratus comb. nov.; Neodictyopus gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate N. dictyopus comb. nov. and two new species, N. atlanticae and N. gugliottae. Our study showed that at least five distinct species were hidden under the name P. dictyopus. Detailed descriptions, pictures, illustrations, and a key are provided for Atroporus and Neodictyopus species.
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