Catálogo crítico y cartografía de los macromicetos (Basidomicotas) de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco

Abstract

This work compiles and analyses the bibliographic records of around 10,000 reports of macromycetes (Basidiomycota) from the Basque Country. The study area presents an extension of 7,480 Km², where three territories are included (Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa), as well as Treviño (220 Km² belonging to Burgos). The Basque Countty is between the west side of the Pyrenees and the east side of the Cantabrian range. The territory is crossed by three mountain alignments of moderate height, following the northwest southeast position, more or less parallel to the coast. In general, the rocks are poor in bases, mainly sandstones, and these appear in the mountains of the watershed and in all the territory to the north of them; however, in the southern part of the Basque Country these rocks are rare, appearing calcareous substrates. Due to its position, in the territory two phytogeographic regions can be recognized: Eurosiberian and Mediterranean. The Eurosiberian region presents a temperate climate, with moderate summers and without summer dryness. The Mediterranean region occupies the most southern regions and presents a Mediterranean climate with summer dryness.

The first references about macromycetes can be found in Aranzadi (1897) in his work Setas ú hongos del País Vasco (Euskalerriko Perrechikuak), later Losa España (1942), Buesa (1950), Puente Amestoy (1954) and Ruíz de Gaona & Oñativia (1955) can be mentioned, as they give a few reports. From the 60's onwards, the Society of Natural Science of Aranzadi and the Group for the Study and Protection of Nature in Álava (AEPNA) published some generic works of great value (Anonymous 1967, 1970, 1973, 1976). However, some of these works can not be compiled in this work because the localities were not given.

In this catalogue 1,742 taxa have been recognized, with the families Tricholomataceae (317 especies in 40 genera), Cortinariaceae (302, 13), Russulaceae (172, 2), Agaricaceae (108, 9), Boletaceae (65, 10) and Polyporaceae (64, 24) being the most important with regard to the number of species. For each taxon the following scheme has been followed. First, a nomenclahtral part, followed by the distribution according to the bibliographic reports and finally the ecology and potential distribution in the area. To analyse the bibliographic data the Bibmaster programme created by Pando (2000) has been used. Likewise, for the recognized taxa distribution maps have been made using the Miramon programme (Pons 2002), a geographic information system and remote sensing software connected with databases.

In accordance with our data the distribution of the taxa by territories is irregular, Álava (1257 taxa), Bizkaia (1190) and Guipuzkoa (344). The difference in the number of data in Guipuzkoa, is due to the absence of publications rather than a real difference in fungal richness.

It is known that taxonomic knowledge of the organisms, fungi in our case, as well as their distribution and ecology, is necessary to broach any programme of management and conservation. This knowledge is possible after an intensive work of inventorying (mycoflora). Thus, the compiled information will be the basic data for future works, such as the proposal of a Red List, programmes of monitoring threatened species, etc. Nowadays, many people say that fungi are declining, qualitatively and quantitatively, however, there is no scientific proof at a local level. To demonstrate these changes it is necessary to compare different situations, that is why this work can be used as a starting point for future ones. No official Red List exists for fungi, neither at a peninsular level nor at a local level, only the preliminary work of Calonge (1993). However, 8 of the recognized species in the catalogue (Boletus dupanii, Cantharellus melanaxeros, Cortinarius ionochlorus, Entoloma bloxamii, Gomphus clavatus, Hericium erinaceum, Hygrocybe calyptriformis and Tricholoma colossus) are included in the Appendix 1 (33 Threatened Fungi in Europe) presented by the ECCF to the Committee of Conservation of European wildlife and Natural Habitats for the Bern Convention in September 2001.(Bern\T-PVS 2001\tpvs 34e_2001).