Ten principles for conservation translocations of threatened wood-inhabiting fungi

Abstract

Unlike for many other organism groups, conservation translocations of fungi are still rare. Encouraged by recent successful translocations, there is a growing interest in applying this conservation tool to threatened wood-inhabiting fungi. When combined with other conservation or restoration measures, translocation can be an effective measure for preventing further population decline in the short term, and species extinctions in the long term. Translocations can be appropriate for rare and specialist fungal species that occur as small local populations in isolated patches across fragmented landscapes, where there is a low likelihood of successful dispersal between distant host trees that have special qualities and are situated in suitable conditions. As species translocations are a controversial topic, the pros and cons of translocation as a conservation tool for threatened fungi need careful consideration. We highlight the uncertainties and risks that are connected to fungal translocations, and propose ten principles adhering to the precautionary principle.

Extinction risk and threats to plants and fungi

“…As long as extinctions have not happened yet, there is a window of opportunity to take appropriate action (Wearn, Reuman, & Ewers, 2012). For example, reintroducing threatened fungal species to suitable habitats within their historical range may turn extinction debt into species credit (Nordén et al., 2020). So, knowledge of extinction debt can be a motivation and means to design better conservation strategies (Newmark, Jenkins, Pimm, McNeally, & Halley, 2017).…”

Successional Development of Fungal Communities Associated with Decomposing Deadwood in a Natural Mixed Temperate Forest

“…In European forests where the volume of deadwood is on average 15.8 m 3 ha −1 and can reach up to 880 m 3 ha −1 [3], their role in ecosystem processes seems to be fundamental. By degrading deadwood, fungi contribute to stabilization of the wood carbon fraction by transforming it into soil organic matter [4][5][6], maintaining the fertility of forest soils [7] and promoting global biodiversity [8][9][10]. The communities of deadwood-associated fungi are often diverse [11,12] and include rare and endangered taxa [9].…”

What Do the First 597 Global Fungal Red List Assessments Tell Us about the Threat Status of Fungi?

“…Practical topics in conservation biology that are well explored and implemented for many threatened animals and plants, such as translocation and ex situ conservation, need to be elaborated for conservation mycology. The recent development of "principles for conservation translocations of threatened wood-inhabiting fungi" [94] show the way forward.…”