All groups of macrofungi were monitored on 32 decaying trunks of Norway spruce in Białowieża National Park, Poland. Spruce is a declining keystone species there. By means of a fruitbody-based survey, we captured 272 species in total, with 11–63 species per trunk. We registered 59 species of the Polish Red list and 30 species unpublished from Białowieża National Park, especially ones with inconspicuous fruitbodies. Detailed monitoring proved to be an effective way to capture them. The species number on individual trunks was significantly correlated with decay stage, shrub cover above the fallen trunks and trunk diameter. The most species-rich trunks were those in decay stages II and III, simultaneously having the largest diameter and shrub cover. These had the highest diversity, some even in comparison with previously published data. The species composition significantly reflected the different decay stages, trunk contact with the soil, trunk diameter, and shrub cover. Increased shrub cover was accompanied by a rich occurrence of corticioids and small agarics, apparently supported by a humid microclimate under the canopy of young trees. A total of 48 species were classified as generally rare, preferring natural forests, or associated with boreal/montane ecosystems. The most interesting of them, e.g. Amylocystis lapponica, Antrodiella citrinella, Crustoderma dryinum, Fomitopsis rosea, and Steccherinum gracile, were mainly associated with trunks having less contact with the soil. The funga of dead spruce wood in the Białowieża forest is enormously rich. It is distinguished by the occurrence of some extremely rare species (Cyphelloporia bialoviesensis, Gloeocystidiellum sibiricum, Mucronella pulchra) and rare boreal or boreal-montane elements (Asterodon ferruginosus, Boreostereum radiatum, Ceriporiopsis jelicii, Dichostereum boreale, Pycnoporellus alboluteus, Tricholomopsis sulphureoides). To preserve this diversity, measures will be needed at both the global and local level.
Holec J., Běťák J., Dvořák D., Kříž M., Beran M., Matouš J., Kolényová M., Krzyściak-Kosińska R., Kučera T. (2025): Report from a mycodiversity hotspot – macrofungi on decaying trunks of Norway spruce in the Białowieża virgin forest, Poland. – Czech Mycology 77(2): 121–154.
