Ramaria in Finland - taxonomy and genetic diversity
Ilkka Kytövuori, University of Helsinki
Other participant in the project: Mika Toivonen
Fungi with colorful, extensively branched basidiocarps are referred as coral fungi. In this project the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of coral fungi (genus Ramaria and allied genera) in Finland are examined. The project is included in the research programme PUTTE - Deficiently known and endangered forest species in Finland (2003 - 2007).
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Ramaria stricta, suorahaarakas, on Euroopassa yleinen lehtojen sieni, joka Suomessa tunnetaan vain kahdesta paikasta. © Ilkka Kytövuori
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Kuvan haarakaslaji on löydetty meiltä toistaiseksi vain Ahvenanmaalta. Lajin nimeä ei toistaiseksi tiedetä.© Ilkka Kytövuori
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The great majority of coral fungi in Finland favours forest habitats. Many species are ectomycorrhizal, while many others decay litter and some grow on wood. Identification of the species is usually impossible without microscope and requires a long experience. Fortunately, the identification is most often possible by comparing the DNA sequence data between the specimens. Sixteen species of coral fungi have been reported from Finland, but no comprehensive research has yet been made.
In this project the species diversity, distribution and ecology of coral fungi in Finland are detected. In addition to annual field work and personal collections, the specimens from the Finnish and Nordic herbaria are revised. Type specimens from various herbaria are examined to clarify the names of the species. Selected specimens are identified by comparing the DNA sequence data (ITS-LSU rDNA) between the specimens and between the data in public genbanks. The sequence data will be deposited to genbanks. The results will be exploited in the ecological list of the Finnish Aphyllophorales, including the assessment of the IUCN red list categories of the species in Finland.
So far two thousand specimens have been examined microscopically, of which 250 have been sequenced. 42 Ramaria species have been recognized from Finland - that is almost three times more than previously reported. Most species are yet unnamed and many of them might even be new to science.
In spite of fairly abundant material, the ecology and the distribution of many species are for the moment unclear. Some ten species seem to be common, whereas some fifteen species appear to be rare or very rare in Finland.
Additional information:
Mika Toivonen, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 65, 00014 University of Helsinki, mika.toivonen(at)helsinki.fi.
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