Le Riserve Naturali Statali di Cornocchia e Palazzo: macromiceti lignicoli in querceti decidui

Wood-inhabiting macromycetes in deciduous oak woods in two natural reservesThe results of a mycological research carried out in Quercus cerris woods in the territory of the State Natural Reserves of Cornocchia and Palazzo (Tuscany, Italy) are reported. Among the great Regnum Fungi, in this context wood-inhabiting macro-fungi have been observed, a group of mycetes considered, together with other saproxylic organism, good indicators of the health status of forest. The sampling was carried out in 24 permanents plots, taking note of all the fungal species found on each piece of dead wood, irrespective of size and stage of decay. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge of both the diversity and the ecology of this specific group of fungi in a Mediterranean habitat. Among the 182 macromycetes identified, there are some with characteristic Mediterranean distribution and some others have been observed on different wood substrate as referred in bibliography. Thanks to these specific observations, 139 new species could be added to the fungal list of previous mycocoenological study performed in the same areas. The data collected in this research enhanced strongly the knowledge on the wood-inhabiting fungal community growing in the two Reserves and became an important basis for future analysis in the Mediterranean area. Moreover the relevant number of rare species found here gives the starting-point for more accurate surveys from an ecological and taxonomical point of view.