Management Recommendations•Group 10

Uncommon Mushrooms: Cortinarius magnivelatus Dearness ex Fogel
Rare Gilled Mushroom: Cortinarius verrucisporus Thiers & Smith, Cortinarius wiebeae Thiers & Smith
Rare False Truffle: Destuntzia fusca Fogel & Trappe, Destuntzia rubra (Harkness) Fogel & Trappe
Undescribed Taxa: Thaxterogaster pavelekii Trappe, Castellano & Rawlinson (= Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 4867, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 6242, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7427, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7962, and Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 8520)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Species: Cortinarius magnivelatus Dearness, Cortinarius verrucisporus Thiers & Smith, Cortinarius wiebeae Thiers & Smith, Destuntzia fusca Fogel & Trappe, Destuntzia rubra (Harkness) Fogel & Trappe, Thaxterogaster pavelekii Trappe, Castellano & Rawlinson (= Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 4867, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 6242, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7427, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7962, and Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 8520)

Taxonomic Group: Fungi

ROD Component(s): 1 & 3

Other Management Status: none

Range: Cortinarius magnivelatus is known from Mt. Shasta in California west to Utah and north to Mt. Ashland in Oregon. Only two sites are within the assessment area. Cortinarius verrucisporus is known only from Mt. Shasta area and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. Cortinarius wiebeae is known from only 2 sites from near Mt. Hood south to near Mt. Bachelor, both in Oregon. Destuntzia fusca is known from only 3 sites from the Willamette National Forest in Oregon along the coast to Van Damme State Park in Mendocino Co. California. Destuntzia rubra is known from 4 sites along the north coast of California in Del Norte Co. south to Mendocino Co. Thaxterogaster pavalekii is restricted to coastal forests in Oregon from Tillamook Co. south to Lincoln Co.

Specific Habitat: All these taxa form sequestrate sporocarps in soil that develop and mature beneath the surface of the ground. Cortinarius magnivelatus is found in association with the roots of Abies concolor, A. bifolia, A. magnifica, Picea engelmannii, Pinus lambertiana, and P. ponderosa at elevations above 4,500 ft. Cortinarius verrucisporus is found in association with the roots of Abies magnifica and possibly other Abies spp. at 4,000 ft. elevation or above. Cortinarius wiebeae is found with Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa at 3,500 ft. elevation or above. Destuntzia fusca is found in association with the roots of Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Tsuga heterophylla below 3,000 ft. elevation. Destuntzia rubra is found in association with the roots of Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Sequoia sempervirens at below 2,000 ft. elevation. Thaxterogaster pavalekii is found in association with the roots of Picea sitchensis and Pinus contorta below 800 ft. in elevation.

Threats: Threats to Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii are those actions that disrupt stand conditions necessary for their survival, particularly damage to host trees and soil disturbance. These include logging that removes its presumed mycorrhizal host and other actions that cause disturbance to the soil, particularly road construction and campground construction.

Management Recommendations: Maintain habitat for Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii at known Federal sites by retaining forest structure and soil conditions. Avoid disturbance at known Federal sites, including modification of canopy until additional data is collected on taxon viability. There are no known sites of Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, and Destuntzia rubra on Federal land so the goal for management of these taxa would be to identify likely habitat on Federal land that may support populations, survey those sites to reveal populations and manage those sites to retain forest structure and soil conditions.

Information Needs: Revisit known sites of all taxa and collect ecological data to more completelycharacterize habitat. Conduct inventories, particularly in late-successional reserves, Research Natural Areas and when appropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

I. NATURAL HISTORY

A. Taxonomic/Nomenclatural History

Cortinarius magnivelatus was originally described by Dearness (Morse 1941) as Pholiota magnivelatus from Sequoia National Park in California. Thiers and Smith (1969) later transferred it to Cortinarius. Unfortunately it was invalidly published by Morse so the recombination by Thiers and Smith was also invalid. Fogel (1994) correctly published it as Cortinarius magnivelatus Dearness ex Fogel. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

Cortinarius verrucisporus was originally described by Thiers and Smith (1969) from Silver Lake, Amador Co. in California. There are no known synonyms. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

Cortinarius wiebeae was originally described by Thiers and Smith (1969) from Camas Prairie, Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. There are no known synonyms. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

Destuntzia fusca was originally described by Fogel & Trappe (1985) from west of Leggett, Mendocino Co. in California. There are no known synonyms. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

Destuntzia rubra was originally described as Hymenogaster ruber by Harkness (1899) from Mill Valley, Marin Co., California. Fogel and Trappe (1985) transferred it from Hymenogaster to Destuntzia. Hymenogaster versicolor Harkness (1899) is a synonym. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

Thaxterogaster pavelekii is currently in the process of being published. It is listed in the FEMAT report, ROD, and the known site database as Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 4867, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 6242, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7427, Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 7962, and Thaxterogaster sp. nov. #Trappe 8520). There are no known synonyms. It is a member of the family Cortinariaceae in the order Cortinariales.

B. Species Description

These fungal taxa are grouped together because they all belong to the family Cortinariaceae and form similarly structured sporocarps.

1. Morphology

Cortinarius magnivelatus is characterized by the white sporocarps, a white membranous veil, and darkening on handling.

Pileus 30-65 mm broad , convex becoming plano-convex expanding with undulate outline, sometimes becoming shallowly depressed to umbonate; surface moist to dry; usually appearing glabrous when young, occasionally silky-appressed fibrillose, becoming innately fibrillose to somewhat tomentose, white when young, becoming pale yellow to moderate yellow, then moderate orange yellow to dark orange yellow with age or bruising; margin incurved to strongly decurved; attached to the stipe by a membranaceous veil during all stages of development. Lamellae adnate toshallowly depressed; white to light orange yellow in young basidiomes becoming near brownish orange to strong yellowish brown or finally strong yellowish brown when mature, unchanging when bruised; thin, not fragile, even when dry; several tiers of lamellae present at margin; abundantly forked near and at the stipe; margin entire becoming locally eroded at maturity, entirely covered by veil. Veil persistent as a heavy, thick membrane, becoming somewhat radially shredded at the pileus margin on drying, remaining attached to the stipe, satiny-white, spores deposited inside. Stipe 15-60 x 10-30 mm broad at apex, typically somewhat bulbous at base, occasionally equal to tapering slightly, context white, unchanging. Taste and odor not distinctive. Basidiospores 8.5-11 (14) x 5-8 µm, grand mean length of 700 spores 9.9 ±0.6 µm, grand mean width 6.1 ± 0.3 µ, grand mean length to width ratio 1.63 ±0.001, inequilateral in profile with laterally placed hilar apex, ellipsoid in face view, minutely verrucose to rugulose, light orange yellow, immature spores dextrinoid, spore wall <0.5 µ thick. Basidia four-spored, 27-40 x 7-10 µm, clavate, hyaline, thin-walled , base truncate, lacking clamp connection. Sterigmata 2-4 x 1.5-2 µm, conical, straight to slightly curved. Pleurocystidia not seen; cheilocystidia reviving poorly, 18-23 x 4-6 µm hyaline, thin-walled, cylindric, ventricose or nearly filamentous. Pileus cuticle differentiated only as a narrow layer of compactly interwoven hyphae 4-5 (-8) µm in diam obscured by organic debris. Not reviving well in older herbarium specimens. Context composed of interwoven, hyaline 4-10 (-15) µm in diam hyphae. Stipe composed of dextrinoid, appressed parallel hyphae 3-5 µm in diam., a few 10 µ in diam, clamp connections common, no cystidia reviving. Veil composed of hyaline, dextrinoid, thin-walled, appressed, parallel hyphae 3-6 µ in diam. Clamp connections abundant.

Cortinarius verrucisporus is characterized by the presence of bright yellow stains on the pileus and a strong development of warts on the spores.

Pileus 3-6 cm broad at maturity; convex when young, becoming pale to plano-convex to plane shallowly depressed with age, frequently highly irregular and undulating in outline; surface dry to moist, innately fibrillose to subtomentose when young, unchanging or becoming glabrous to obscurely fibrillose with age; when very young white to pale brown, very soon becoming rusty brown with some areas colored near yellow to pale brown to brown; margin strongly incurved, attached to the stipe by a tenacious permanent veil during all stages of development. Flesh up to 1 cm. thick, yellow, unchanging when exposed, firm; taste and odor not distinctive. Lamellae subdecurrent to adnate, close to subdistant, pallid to pale olive when young becoming red brown as spores mature, thin, becoming noticeably crisped when dry, fragile; several tiers of lamellulae present; somewhat ventricose; margin entire, concolorus. Stipe poorly developed and somewhat obscure, 1-1.5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm broad at the apex, equal to slightly bulbous; concolorus with the pileus; covered with partial veil during all stages of development; solid, flesh yellow, unchanging when exposed; partial veil permanent, tough, fibrous, concolorus with the surface of the pileus. Spores ovoid, noticeably thick-walled, conspicuously verrucose-roughened with large, coarse warts which often unite to form short reticulations, 10.5-13 x 6.5-8.0 µm; basidia hyaline in KOH, clavate, 4-spored, 27-30 x 7-9 µm; pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia apparently absent; gill trama subregular, hyaline in KOH; cuticle differentiated as a layer of appressed hyphae which stain vinaceous in KOH, walls subgelatinous in KOH; clamp connections present throughout, abundant in the veil tissue.

Cortinarius wiebeae is characterized by the ferruginous gills, small basidia, and heavy veil.

Pileus 6-13 cm broadly convex becoming nearly plane or finally slightly depressed, surface dry and silky, with radiating fibrils, white, becoming somewhat tan colored on handling and on drying, margin long remaining enrolled. Context white, firm, confluent with stipe, 3 cm thick near stipe; taste mild; odor faintly radish-like. Lamellae ferruginous when fresh and young, dark rusty brown from spores in age, sinuate, broad (up to 13 mm), narrowed toward both extremities, crowded, numerous tiers of lamellulae present, very thin and very fragile, edges eroded. Stipe 4-9 cm long, 2.4-4 cm at apex, up to 5 cm thick at base, clavate, whitish when fresh within and without, solid,surface dry and coated with white fibrils from the copious veil ending in a submembranous annulus. Veil persistently extending from pileus margin to stipe and only in age shredding radially (hence development of the gills is angiocarpic until the spores mature). Spore deposit dark brown; spores 9-11 x 6-7.5 µm, subelliptic in face view, obscurely inequilateral in profile, warty-rugulose. Basidia 4-spored, hyaline in KOH, 17-22 x 5.5-7 µm. pleurocystidia none. Cheylocystidia scattered, hyaline, filamentose, 3-4 µm in diam. Gill trama of parallel, hyaline, thin-walled, scarcely inflated hyphae 4-8 µ in diam. Pileus trama lacking a differentiated cutis, hyphae at surface appressed, all hyphae thin-walled, hyaline, smooth, 3-12 µm in diam, some cells inflated, others 4-9 µm broad and uninflated. Clamp connections rare and very inconspicuous.

Destuntzia fusca is characterized by its short spore ornamentation, presence of sphaerocysts in the tramal plates, and a brownish black gleba.

Basidiocarps pulvinate, up to 12-15 mm broad when fresh, 12 x 8 mm as dried. Peridium + 0.25 mm thick, glabrous, pallid, in time (overnight) becoming "dull brownish rose," drying brownish orange. Gleba as dried composed of brownish black, elongate locules 0.7 x 0.25-0.5 mm in diam, filled with gel-embedded spores, separated by white to dull yellow veins. Columella a pulvinate base up to 3 x 5 mm with irregular branches. Rhizomorphs lacking. Chemical reactions of the peridium not recorded. Odor not distinctive. Spores ellipsoid, 8-11 x 5-6 µm including ornamentation but not pedicel, mean length 8.8 + 0.8 µm, width 5.7 + 0.4 µm, L/W=1.54, dark grayish yellow in KOH; ornamentation warty-rugulose, 0.5 µm or less long, inner spore wall 0.25 µm thick, pedicel central, tubular, hyaline, 1-4 x 1.5 µm broad. Basidia reviving poorly, obovate, 40-50 x 8-11 µm, hyaline, thin-walled, no clamp connection observed at basal septum, 4-spored, sterigmata tubular, 2-4 x 1.5-2 µm. Basidioles not rehydrating. Trama 25-75 µm wide, of interwoven, hyaline, thin-walled, gelatinous, septate hyphae 3-4 in diam, cells inflated to 12 µm, clamp connections present, sphaerocysts common in axes of tramal plates. Peridium 440-519 µm thick, two layered; epicutis 198-250 µm thick, of periclinal, hyaline, thin-walled hyphae 3-4 µm broad, cells not becoming inflated, clamp connections present. One sporocarp with hyaline, thick-walled hyphae 5-10 µm in diam, attached to thick-walled, terminal, subglobose vesicles 50 x 40 µm in diam, subtending hyphae constricted at point of attachment to vesicle. Subcutis 190-231 µm thick, confluent with trama, of periclinal, hyaline, thin-walled hyphae 3-4 µm broad at septa, cells becoming inflated to 8 µm, clamp connections present.

Destuntzia rubra is characterized by the distinctive monosporus basidia, thick peridium, and the prominent, striate, conical warts ornamenting the spores.

Basidiocarps reniform to subglobose, up to 20-25 mm broad when fresh, 16 x 12 mm as dried, found in small veins of white rhizomorphs. Peridium 1-1.5 mm thick, pubescent, soil adhering, white in youth, becoming deep pink above, grading to white below at maturity, slowly staining bluish pink when bruised, pink when cut, drying medium red. Gleba composed of dark grayish yellow to olive brown, spherical locules ca. 0.2 mm broad, filled with gel-embedded spores at maturity. Columella absent or a pulvinate base up to 6 x 3 mm with a few radiating branches. Rhizomorphs basal, concolorus with peridium. Chemical reactions of the peridium: KOH, brownish black on epicutis, yellow brown on subcutis; FeSO4 negative; ethanol deep red. Odor strong, "fishy-rancid." Spores subglobose to ellipsoid, 8-11 x 7-9 µm including ornamentation but not pedicel, mean length 10.1 ±0.8 µm, L/W=1.3, light olive in KOH and Melzer's reagent, immature spores hyaline, cyanophilic; ornamented with conical, vertically striate warts 0.5-2 x ±1.5 µm broad, warts smaller on sides of spore than on ends, inner spore wall 0.5 µ thick, base truncate with a cup or eared flange formed from the pedicel in mature spores, pedicel of immature spores 2-3 x 2 µm. Basidia cylindrical to clavate, 40-50 x 4-8 µm, hyaline, walls thickened slightly, clamp connection present at basal septum, single-spored, projecting into locules, not forming a euhymenium. Basidioles clavate, 40-50 x 8-10 µm, hyaline, walls thickened slightly. Trama 35-50 µm wide, of subparallel, hyaline, thin-walled, gelatinous, refractive, septate hyphae 2-4 µm in diam,cells inflated to 8 µ in diam, clamp connections rare, occasional large (9µm broad) hyphae present. Peridium 875-1500 µm thick, two-layered; epicutis 250-470 µm thick, of tightly interwoven, hyaline, thin-walled hyphae 2-4 µm broad, cells becoming inflated to 5 µm in diam; clamp connections small, common. Subcutis 625-1030 µm thick, confluent with trama, of tightly interwoven, hyaline, thin-walled hyphae 3-4 µm broad at septa, cells inflated to 10 µm in diam, clamp connections infrequent. A band of interwoven, irregular, aseptate, thick-walled (1-2 µm) hyphae 4-12 (-18) µm broad occurs at the junction of the epicutis and subcutis. Associated with the thick-walled hyphae are hyaline, thick-walled (2 µ), subglobose to ellipsoid cells 29-54 x 22-48 µm which arise from the thin-walled hyphae; no thick-walled hyphae were noted penetrating through the epicutis to the outside of the sporocarp.

Thaxterogaster pavalekii is characterized by the pale yellow gray to pale brown gray sporocarp and narrow spores.

Basidiomata hypogeous, 7-40 x 12-35 mm, convex to turbinate, the pileus margin appressed against protruding base or seceded up to a mm to expose underlying locules; peridium thickly slimy-viscid when wet, shiny when dry, pale yellow gray to pale brown gray on the disc, towards the margin concolorous or grading to olive gray or brownish gray, often radially streaked. Gleba with radiate-labyrinthiform locules, dark cinnamon to dark brown, with a percurrent stipe-columella that often protrudes beyond the basidioma base; columella columnar and 1-2 mm broad or often greatly enlarged near the base, white to gray, in wet weather subviscid or with a viscid zone where the pileus margin is appressed, the context white throughout or in age becoming brownish yellow below. Odor faint or sometimes musty-raphanoid to sweet-medicinal. Taste not distinctive. Peridium a tangled ixotrichodermium of thin-walled, hyaline hyphae 3-4 µm in diam, these becoming appressed to the surface on dried material. Context of loosely interwoven, thin-walled, hyaline hyphae 3-10 µm in diam at the septa, the cells mostly inflated to 5-20 (-30) µm, many isodiametric. Clamp connections lacking. Glebal trama of subparallel, thin-walled, hyaline hyphae 3-6 µm in diam at the septa, some cells inflated up to 15 µm, infrequent brownish golden laticiferous hyphae present; subhymenium of ± isodiametric cells 5-15 (20) µm in diam. Basidia 30-40 x 9-11 µm, with 2-4 sterigmata ± 5 x 1.5 µm, the hymenium hyaline but each basidium becoming brownish golden as it begins to produce spores. Clamp connections lacking. Spores brown, ellipsoid, 14-18 (-21) x (8-) 9-10 (-11) µm excluding the ornamentation of narrow lines and warts 0.1-0.5 (-1) µm tall and broad, sometimes nearly partially reticulate, the length:width ratio 1.5-2, bilaterally asymmetric with an offset sterigmal appendage ±1 x 1.5 µm, the spore wall ±1.5 µm thick; in Melzer’s reagent spores golden brown.

2. Reproductive Biology

All taxa are sequestrate fungi and thus are presumed to be dependent on mycophagy for dispersal of spores. Sequestrate fungi have sporocarps that have evolved from having exposed hymenia and forcibly discharged spores to a closed or even hypogeous habit in which the spores are retained in the sporocarp until it is consumed by an animal vector or it decays. Sequestrate fungi encompasses an artificial grouping of various genera or taxa from different families that are dependent on mycophagy for spore dispersal. Mycophagy is the consumption of fungi by animals. No specific information on reproductive biology is available for any of these taxa at this time.

3. Ecology

All taxa are presumed ectomycorrhiza formers. Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic, mutually beneficial association between a fungus and plant root. This highly interdependent relationship involves the translocation of mineral nutrients and water by the fungus to the host plant while the fungus obtains photosynthetic carbon from the host plant. Some mycorrhizal associations are strongly host specific. Many plants depend upon mycorrhizal fungi for adequate uptake of nutrients and survivalin nature. Likewise mycorrhizal fungi depend upon their host plant for carbohydrate. No specific ecological information is available for any of these taxa at this time except that all these taxa form ectomycorrhiza with Pinaceae.

C. Range, Known Sites

Cortinarius magnivelatus is known in California from Bear Springs, Siskiyou Co. and Oregon along highway 5 at the pass near Mt. Ashland, Siskiyou Co. Cortinarius magnivelatus is also known from Lassen Volcanic National Park, through the southern Sierra mountains and into Nevada and Utah. There are no known sites in Washington.

Cortinarius verrucisporus is known in California from Horse Camp, Siskiyou Co. and Summit Lake in the Lassen Volcanic National Park. There are no known sites in Oregon or Washington.

Cortinarius wiebeae is known from one site in Oregon on the Mt. Hood National Forest at Camas Prairie. Another site is known in Oregon from near Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. There are no known sites in California or Washington.

Destuntzia fusca is known from 3 sites within the range of the northern spotted owl: California: Mendocino Co., 8 miles west of Leggett, along highway 1 and Mendocino Co., Van Damme State Park. Oregon: Lane Co., Willamette National Forest, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, stand 3 at 2,500 ft. elevation. There are no known sites in Washington.

Destuntzia rubra is known from 4 sites within the range of the northern spotted owl in California: Del Norte Co., 2 miles south of Smith River; Mendocino Co., Jackson State Forest, Woodlands camp on hill above mess hall; Mendocino Co., near Albion bridge at junction of rd. 409 and rd. 408; Humboldt Co., junction of Maple Creek rd. and Simpson rd. 4800. There are no known sites from Oregon or Washington.

Thaxterogaster pavalekii is known from 7 sites within the range of the northern spotted owl in Oregon: Tillamook Co., Cape Lookout State Park, south of parking area at 50 ft. elevation; Lincoln Co., Siuslaw National Forest, Cape Perpetua, at top of auto tour at 780 ft. elevation; Lincoln Co., near Yachats at 30 ft. elevation; Tillamook Co., near junction of Tierra del Mar rd. and Haystack Rock rd. at 70 ft. elevation; Tillamook Co., 1.5 miles north of Pacific City on Three Capes Loop at 500 ft. elevation; Lincoln Co., near Otter Rock; Lincoln Co., near Agate Beach at 20 ft. elevation. There are no known sites from California or Washington.

D. Habitat Characteristics and Species Abundance

All these taxa form sequestrate sporocarps in soil that develop and mature beneath the surface of the ground.

Cortinarius magnivelatus is found in association with the roots of Abies concolor, A. bifolia, A. magnifica, Picea engelmannii, Pinus lambertiana, and P. ponderosa at elevations above 4,500 ft.

Cortinarius verrucisporus is found in association with the roots of Abies magnifica and possibly other Abies spp. at 4,000 ft. elevation or above.

Cortinarius wiebeae is found in association with the roots of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa at 3,500 ft. elevation or above.

Destuntzia fusca is found in association with the roots of Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Tsuga heterophylla below 3,000 ft. elevation.

Destuntzia rubra is found in association with the roots of Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Sequoia sempervirens at below 2,000 ft. elevation.

Thaxterogaster pavalekii is found in association with the roots of Picea sitchensis and Pinus contorta below 800 ft. in elevation.

II. CURRENT SPECIES SITUATION

A. Why Species is Listed under Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines

Potentially all taxa are at risk from management and recreational activities that remove the mycorrhizal host or disturb the soil.

Cortinarius magnivelatus is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from 2 disjunct populations. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 5 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 50 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 28 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 18 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, high-elevation Abies concolor, A. bifolia, A. magnifica, Picea engelmannii, Pinus lambertiana, and P. ponderosa.

Cortinarius verrucisporus is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from a single population. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 2 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 83 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 15 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, high-elevation Abies magnifica and possibly other Abies spp.

Cortinarius wiebeae is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from 2 populations. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 2 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 83 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 15 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, high-elevation Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa.

Destuntzia fusca is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from 3 populations. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 35 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 50 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 15 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, low- to mid-elevation Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Tsuga heterophylla.

Destuntzia rubra is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from 4 populations. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 35 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 50 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 15 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, low-elevation Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Sequoia sempervirens.

Thaxterogaster pavalekii is found within the range of the northern spotted owl from 7 populations. Under Option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well-distributed throughout its range, 35 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 50 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 15 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its rarity and dependent mycorrhizal association with old-growth legacy, low-elevation Picea sitchensis and Pinus contorta.

B. Major Habitat and Viability Considerations

The major viability consideration for Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii is loss of the known populations within the range of the northern spotted owl. Considerations include all management or recreational activities that disturb the soil or duff. The predomination of extant populations of these taxa in high recreational use areas exposes them to adverse impact due to management or recreational activities, particularly those that disturb the soil or damage host trees.

Relatively little is known about the autecology of Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii. They are presumed mycorrhiza formers of a restricted group of Pinaceae species. Therefore disturbance that affects the host will potentially strongly affect these taxa.

Climate change may result in decline in vigor of these taxa and may result in the extirpation of these taxa from the range of the northern spotted owl. Climate change could potentially impact all populations of Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii. An increase in temperature or a decrease in precipitation could affect disjunct populations.

C. Threats to the Species

Threats to Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii are those actions that disrupt stand conditions necessary for their survival, particularly damage to host trees and soil disturbance. These include logging that removes its presumed mycorrhizal host and other actions that cause disturbance to the soil, particularly road, trail, and campground construction.

These taxa are not routinely harvested for use as food.

D. Distribution Relative to Land Allocations

Cortinarius magnivelatus is known from two sites that are not on Federal land: California, Siskiyou Co., Bear Springs; Oregon, Siskiyou Co., along highway 5 at the pass near Mt. Ashland. Two dozen other sites lie outside the assessment area.

Cortinarius verrucisporus is known from one site that is not on Federal land: California, Siskiyou Co., Horse Camp. Another site is located outside the assessment area at Summit Lake in the Lassen Volcanic National Park.

The site of Cortinarius wiebeae on the Mt. Hood National Forest is designated as administratively withdrawn. The site near Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest does not have a specific location.

Destuntzia fusca is known from two sites that are not on Federal land in California: , Mendocino Co., 8 miles west of Leggett, along highway 1 and Mendocino Co., Van Damme State Park. Onesite is located in an adaptive management area on the H.J. Andrews experimental Forest in the Willamette National Forest.

All known sites of Destuntzia rubra are on non-Federal land.

Only one site of Thaxterogaster pavalekii is on Federal land and is located in a late-successional reserve in Oregon: Lincoln Co., Siuslaw National Forest, Cape Perpetua, at top of auto tour at 780 ft. elevation. The other six sites are on non-Federal land.

III. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Management Goals for Taxon

The goal for the management of Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii is to assist in maintaining viable populations of these taxa within the assessment area. Known sites of these rare taxa should be protected until sufficient information is generated to suggest management will not result in extirpation of these taxa.

There are no known sites of Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, and Destuntzia rubra on Federal land within the assessment area so a goal for management of these taxa could be to identify likely habitat on Federal land that may support populations, survey those sites to reveal populations and manage those sites to retain forest structure and soil conditions.

B. Specific Objectives

Maintain habitat conditions at all known sites on Federal land for Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii.

IV. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

A. Lessons from History

There has not been any management of sites for any of these taxa. Since all taxa are presumptive mycorrhiza formers, an abundance of potential hosts must be protected where fungal populations exist. When mycorrhiza host trees are damaged or removed a negative impact is usually reflected in the population of the fungal partner. Although not documented for these taxa, many fungi are harmed by air pollution, acid deposition, N deposition and SOx (Gulden et al., 1992).

B. Identification of Habitat Areas for Management

Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, and Destuntzia rubra are not known from any Federal lands within the range of the northern spotted owl.

The Mt. Hood National Forest site of Cortinarius wiebeae is the only site that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability.

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest site of Destuntzia fusca is the only site that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability.

The Siuslaw National Forest site of Thaxterogaster pavalekii is the only site that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability.

The seemingly preferred habitat of these taxa is also somewhat under-collected and in critical needof survey. New populations may be found with additional surveys.

C. Management Within Habitat Areas

Status of specific management activities is unknown for extant sites. However, at and around known sites, it is recommended that current habitat conditions and micro-climatic conditions be maintained, impacts from soil disturbing activities minimized, and damage or removal of host trees prevented.

The only known locations on Federal land of Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii should be managed to include an area that is large enough to maintain the habitat and associated micro-climate of the population. The Regional mycologist is available to consult with field staff and managers on the size of the appropriate area for management.

• Maintain dominance of specific host tree associates as outlined in section 1D, which are necessary for mycorrhizal association.
• Minimize loss, disruption or compaction of soil particularly from management, road construction or recreational activities.
• Manage tree diseases in the area to minimize loss of host trees.

D. Other Management Issues and Considerations

No additional management issues or considerations are identified at this time.

V. RESEARCH, INVENTORY, AND MONITORING NEEDS

A. Data Gaps and Information Needs

Revisit known sites of all taxa and collect ecological data to more completely characterize habitat. Conduct surveys to locate additional populations of Cortinarius magnivelatus, Cortinarius verrucisporus, Cortinarius wiebeae, Destuntzia fusca, Destuntzia rubra, and Thaxterogaster pavalekii particularly in late-successional reserves, Research Natural Areas and when appropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

Data are lacking regarding the specific response of these taxa to management practices such as logging, road, trail and campground construction, prescribed fire and collection of secondary forest products. Also needed are information on each fungus taxon concerning the area required to support viable populations, population age structure, dispersal requirements and maximum distance over which populations can interact. Exact host tree associations for each fungus taxon need documentation.

B. Research Questions

• What is the ecological amplitude of Cortinarius magnivelatus, particularly is it restricted to association with Abies concolor, A. bifolia, A. magnifica, Picea engelmannii, Pinus lambertiana, and P. ponderosa?
• What is the ecological amplitude of Cortinarius verrucisporus, particularly is it restricted to association with Abies magnifica and possibly other Abies spp.?
• What is the ecological amplitude of Cortinarius wiebeae, particularly is it restricted toassociation with Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa?
• What is the ecological amplitude of Destuntzia fusca, particularly is it restricted to association with Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Tsuga heterophylla?
• What is the ecological amplitude of Destuntzia rubra, particularly is it restricted to association with Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Lithocarpus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Sequoia sempervirens?
• What is the ecological amplitude of Thaxterogaster pavalekii, particularly is it restricted to association with Picea sitchensis and Pinus contorta?
• How do all taxa respond to manipulation or modification of the micro-climate?
• What is the density of tree hosts needed to sustain viability of the populations of all taxa?
• What is the range of suitable microclimate conditions, particularly humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature for these taxa?
• What is the relationship of stand age to population viability for all taxa?

C. Monitoring Needs and Recommendations

Known sites on Federal land of all taxa should be revisited periodically to assess compliance with management guidelines and evaluate impacts.

VI. REFERENCES

Fogel, R. 1994. Materials for a hypogeous mycoflora of the Great Basin and adjacent cordilleras of the western United States II. Two subemergent species Cortinarius saxamontanus, sp. nov., and C. magnivelatus, plus comments on their evolution. Mycologia 86:795-801.

Fogel, R., and Trappe, J.M. 1985. Destuntzia, a new genus in the Hymenogastraceae (Basidiomycotina). Mycologia 77:732-742.

Goulden, G., K. Hoiland, K. Bendiksen, T.E. Brandrud, B.S. Foss, H.B. Jenssen, and D. Laber. 1992. Macromycetes and Air Pollution: Mycocoenological studies in three oligotrophic spruce forests in Europe. Bibliotheca Mycologica 144: 1-81.

Harkness, H.W. 1899. Californian hypogeous fungi. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. Third series 1(8) 241-292.

Morse, E.E. 1941. A new western Pholita. Mycologia 33:367-370.

Thiers, H., and Smith, A.H. 1969. Hypogeous cortinarii. Mycologia 61:526-536.