The Greenland toadstool is an arctic species, while Acrodoncium Antarcticum was first recorded on the opposite side of the world in Antarctica. The previously unknown species discovered is from a group called Squamanita. The group includes a rare parasitic fungus nicknamed the strangler due to its ability to take over other fungi. Other finds included a purple coral in alpine pastures on two mountains. This species is one of the rarest grass mushrooms in the UK.
DNA extracted from soil
The new discoveries were made possible after 73 volunteers helped collect more than 200 soil samples last summer. The project was led by the charity Plantlife and the Aberdeen-based research organization James Hutton Institute. Hillwalkers collected soil samples at different altitudes from 55 Munros – mountains more than 914.4 m (3,000 ft) high – in the Cairngorms National Park. DNA was extracted from the soil and sequenced by scientists at the James Hutton Institute. The result was more than 17,000 records of 2,748 species of fungi.
Climate threat to Scottish arctic alpine plants
Plantlife’s Keilidh Ewan said the project offered a fascinating view of wildlife high up in the mountains.
She said: “Combining researchers, conservationists and the local community has revealed some wild and wonderful species and created an evidence-based foundation on which to monitor the effects of climate and environmental change in the future.”This helps us understand the threats facing this fragile habitat, and ultimately, the more we understand, the better we can protect these popular places in the future.”
Andrea Britton, an ecologist at the James Hutton Institute, added: “Fungi are essential to the functioning of our alpine ecosystems, but because they are mostly hidden underground and because alpine ecosystems are remote and difficult to access, we know very little. about the distribution and diversity of fungi in this iconic environment.”Thanks to the hard work of volunteers and scientists coming together, the data from this survey will add significantly to our knowledge of this vital group and can be used to begin identifying which habitats and sites are particularly important for maintaining fungal diversity.”
The Cairngorms National Park includes parts of Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Angus. Based on the total number of species found on each Munro sampled by the project, Beinna’ Bhuird was the most species-rich peak with 359 species found, followed by BeinnMheadhoin with 358 and the Cairngorm with 352.But there have been warnings that Scotland’s arctic-alpine fungi and flora are under threat from climate change.Scientists from the University of Stirling said the species was found to be moving further into the Ben Lawers range north of Loch Tay.
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