Management Recommendations•Group 17

Rare Gilled Mushroom (Decomposer): Neolentinus adhaerens (Alb. & Schw.: Fr.) Redhead & Ginns
Uncommon Mushrooms (Decomposer): Neolentinus kauffmanii (Smith) Redhead & Ginns

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Species: Neolentinus adhaerens (Alb. & Schw.: Fr.) Redhead & Ginns and Neolentinus kauffmanii (Smith) Redhead & Ginns

Taxonomic Group: Fungi

ROD Component(s): 1 & 3

Other Management Status: Both taxa are listed as sensitive taxa in a preliminary report on endangered, threatened, and sensitive macrofungi of Washington State by Ammirati (1994).

Range: Neolentinus adhaerens is known from Europe and western North America, within the range of the northern spotted owl it is known only from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Neolentinus kauffmanii is endemic to the range of the northern spotted owl and occurs from the Washington Cascades to the Coast Ranges of California.

Specific Habitat: Neolentinus adhaerens occurs on dead wood causing a brown rot of gymnosperms. Neolentinus kauffmanii occurs on dead wood causing brown pocket rot in Picea sitchensis.

Threats: Removal of the substrate, conifer logs, by logging, fire, road, trail, and campground construction or other management activities is the most serious threat to these taxa. Since most populations are in protected areas of Federal ownership with high recreational use, road, trail, and campground construction could potentially impact these taxa.

Management Recommendations: Known sites of these taxa should be protected until sufficient information is gathered to suggest that management activities will not extirpate populations. Avoid disturbance at known sites, including fire, logging, and road, trail, or campground construction until additional data is collected on taxon viability.

Information Needs: Revisit known sites of both taxa and collect ecological data to more completely characterize 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

Neolentinus adhaerens was originally described from Europe (as Agaricus adhaerens) by Albertini and Schweinitz (1805). It was transferred to Neolentinus by Redhead and Ginns (1985). Other known synonyms include: Lentinus adhaerens (Alb. & Sch.:Fr) Fr.; Panus adhaerens (Alb. & Schw.:Fr.) Corner; L. adhaerens forma pulverulentus (Scop.); Agaricus pulverulentus Scop.; Lentinus pulverulentus (Scop.) Fr.; Lentinus adhaerens var. resinaceus (Trog) Killerm; Agaricus resinaceus Trog; Lentinus resinaceus (Trog) Fr.; Lentinus hornotinus Fries; Lentinus melzeri Velenovsky. It is a gilled mushroom in the family Lentinaceae in the order Poriales.

Neolentinus kauffmanii was described as (Lentinus kauffmanii) by Smith (1946) from Fort Dick,California. It was transferred to Neolentinus by Redhead and Ginns (1985). Other known synonyms include: Lentinus kauffmanii Smith in Bier & Nobles; and Panus kauffmanii (A. H. Smith). It is a gilled mushroom in the family Lentinaceae in the order Poriales.

B. Species Description

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

1. Morphology

Neolentinus adhaerens is white gilled mushroom with subdistant, finely fimbriate, pale brown gills, the entire mushroom gradually covered by a red-brown resinous coating. Neolentinus kauffmanii (Smith) Redhead & Ginns (see below) has a red brown cast when dried, does not secrete a red-brown resinous coating, and has more crowded, more fimbriate gills, and smaller shorter spores (4.5 -6.7 x 2.5-3.5 µm).

Pileus 20-50 mm, slightly depressed or umbonate convex to applanate, viscid in patches, pale gray beige to dark yellow red brown, finely scaly, progressively covered with an amber resin which darkens and hardens with age; context tough, beige; odor pleasant; taste bitter, astringent; lamellae sub-distant with smooth to uneven flocculose edges, pale brown; Stipe 30-70 x 6-16 mm, central to eccentric, hirsute-tomentose at apex, becoming glabrous at base, pale yellowish beige darkening to dark gray brown at clavate base. Basidiospores 7-10.5 (-11.5) x 3-3.5 µm, cylindrical to bacilliform, inamyloid; pleurocystidia 60-125 µm, lageniform, thin- to slightly thick-walled; cheilocystidia to 150 µm long, filiform to subclavate, frequently in bundles, covered with a yellowish encrusting pigment; lamellar trama parallel; Clamp connections present.

Neolentinus kauffmanii is a pale-pink to pink-brown tricholomatoid gilled mushroom on Sitka spruce logs with crowded denticulate gills. Neolentinus adhaeren secretes a reddish-brown resinous coating, has a gray dingy cast when dried, less crowded gills and longer spores (7-11 x 3-3.5 µm).

Macroscopic features: pileus 22-45 (-80) mm, convex to applanate, prunose to glabrous, dry (but can be tacky), whitish to pale pinkish yellow or vinaceous becoming dull tan in age; context tough, pale pinkish buff; odor not distinctive; taste bitter, then acrid; lamellae moderately crowded with uneven denticulate edges, whitish or pale pinkish buff; stipe 10-30 (-60) x 2-5 (12) mm, usually curved and eccentric, hirsute-tomentose at apex, becoming glabrous at base, concolorous with pileus. Basidiospores 4.5 -6.7 x (2-) 2.5-3 (-3.5) µm, short cylindrical, inamyloid; pleurocystidia 60-100 x 7-12 µm, lanceolate to ventricose fusoid with a rounded apex; cheilocystidia to 125 µm long, similar to pleurocystidia in shape; lamellar trama parallel; clamp connections present.

2. Reproductive Biology

Both taxa are gilled mushrooms and thus presumed to depend upon wind for spore dispersal; animal (especially arthropod) dispersal is also possible. No specific information on reproductive biology is available for these taxa at this time.

3. Ecology

Neolentinus adhaerens is saprophytic on dead wood causing a brown rot of gymnosperms. Neolentinus kauffmanii is a saprophyte, causing brown pocket rot in Picea sitchensis.

C. Range, Known Sites

Neolentinus adhaerens is rare within the range of the northern spotted owl where it is known from one site, on the Soleduc Falls trail, Olympic National Park, Clallam Co., Washington. Another collection is listed from Dalles Recreational area in Pierce Co., Washington but without specific locality information. It is also known from Europe.

Neolentinus kauffmanii is known from 23 sites within the range of the northern spotted owl: Washington: Skagit Co., Alger Bog; Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Whiskey Creek Beach; Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Soleduc Falls trail; Jefferson Co., Olympic National Park, Hoh River trail; Jefferson Co., Olympic National Park, West Twin Creek Research Natural Area; Gray's Harbor Co., Lake Quinault, North rd.; Jefferson Co., 5 miles south of Lake Quinault on South rd.; Grays Harbor Co., Quinault Research Natural Area; Grays Harbor Co., Humptulips; Pierce Co., Buckley crossroads; Grays Harbor Co., near Copalis Beach, the Pines. Oregon: Tillamook Co., Cape Meares State Park; Tillamook Co., Siuslaw National Forest, Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Neskowin Creek campground; Lincoln Co., Siuslaw National Forest, Cascade Head; Lincoln Co., Van Duzer Wayside; Lincoln Co., Siuslaw National Forest, Otis; Coos Co., Beaver Hill Forest; Coos Co., north Bandon. California: Del Norte Co., Fort Dick; Del Norte Co., Jedidiah Smith State Park, Rugg Grove; Del Norte Co., near Klamath, Wilson Creek rd.; Humboldt Co., Redwood National Park , Fern Canyon near mouth west of spillway on log in stream off Davison rd.; Humboldt Co., Patrick's Point State Park.

D. Habitat Characteristics and Species Abundance

Both taxa are saprophytic on conifer logs, Neolentinus kauffmanii is restricted to Picea sitchensis.

II. CURRENT SPECIES SITUATION

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

Neolentinus adhaerens is restricted to Washington within the range of the northern spotted owl. Under option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 0 percent likelihood of being well distributed throughout its range, 40 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 38 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 23 percent likelihood of extirpation on federal lands.

Neolentinus kauffmanii is uncommon within the range of the northern spotted owl. Under option 9, this taxon was considered to have a 40 percent likelihood of being well distributed throughout its range, 35 percent likelihood of being locally restricted, 15 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 10 percent likelihood of extirpation on Federal lands.

B. Major Habitat and Viability Considerations

The major viability consideration for these taxa are loss of known populations on Federal land within the range of the northern spotted owl. Considerations include all management or recreational activities that disturb the logs or coarse woody debris. The presence of extant sites in high recreational use areas exposes them to adverse impact due to management or recreational activities, particularly those that disturb the logs or coarse woody debris.

Relatively little is known about the autecology of these taxa. They are presumed saprophytes of conifers, Neolentinus kauffmanii is associated with Picea sitchensis. Therefore, disturbance that affects the substrate will potentially strongly affect these taxa. Recreational activities are a significant threat to both taxa because many known populations are from high recreational use sites.

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 both taxa. An increase in temperature or a decrease in precipitation could affect disjunct populations.

C. Threats to the Species

Threats to these taxa are those actions that disrupt stand conditions necessary for their survival, particularly damage down logs or coarse woody debris. These include logging and other actions that cause disturbance to down logs or coarse woody debris, particularly road, trail, or campground construction. Fire is a significant concern due to the loss of large down wood.

These taxa are not routinely harvested for use as food.

D. Distribution Relative to Land Allocations

The single known site of Neolentinus adhaerens is on congressionally withdrawn land.

Of the 23 known sites for Neolentinus kauffmanii 14 are non-Federal land: Fort Dick, Redwood National Park, Van Duzer wayside, Whiskey Creek Beach, Jedidiah Smith State Park, Patrick's Point State Park, Wilson Creek rd., Beaver Hill Forest, Alger Bog, Humptulips, north Bandon, Buckley crossroads, Cape Meares State Park, and The Pines. One site is located in an adaptive management area near Otis. Four sites are on congressionally withdrawn land in Olympic National Park. Two sites are on administratively withdrawn land in the Cascade Head Experimental Forest. Two sites are in late-successional reserves: Quinault Research Natural Area, and Lake Quinault, South rd.

III. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Management Goals for Taxon

The goal for the management of these taxa are to assist in maintaining viable populations of each taxon within the assessment area. Known sites on Federal land of these rare taxa should be protected until sufficient information is generated to suggest management can sustain taxon viability, particularly on Federal land.

B. Specific Objectives

Maintain habitat conditions at all known sites on Federal land for these taxa.

IV. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

A. Lessons from History

There has not been any specific management of sites for these taxa. Since they are saprophytes, coarse woody debris and down logs should be protected where populations exist. 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

The single known site of Neolentinus adhaerens is on congressionally withdrawn land.

The sites of Neolentinus kauffmanii in the Quinault Research Natural Area and Cascade Head Experimental Forest have good potential for management to sustain population viability. In addition the site near Otis in an adaptive management area should also be managed to sustain population viability. Other populations are in National Parks or on non-Federal land.

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 recreational activities minimized, and disruption to coarse woody debris, particularly by fire and logging, prevented.

The known sites of Neolentinus adhaerens and N. kaufmanii on Federal land should be managed to include an area that is large enough to maintain the habitat and associated micro-climate of these populations. 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 overstory tree associates as outlined in section 1D.
• Minimize loss, disruption or compaction of soil particularly from management, road, trail, and campground construction or recreational activities.
• Manage tree diseases in the area to minimize loss of overstory 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 and collect ecological data to more completely characterize habitat. Conduct surveys to locate additional populations of this taxon, Research Natural Areas and when appropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

Data are lacking regarding the specific response of this taxon to management practices such as logging, road, trail, and campground construction, prescribed fire and collection of secondary forest products. Also needed are information on this 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 this taxon need documentation.

B. Research Questions

• What is the ecological amplitude of Neolentinus adhaerens and Neolentinus kauffmanii, particularly are they restricted to low-elevation old-growth conifer forests?
• How do these taxa respond to manipulation or modification of the micro-climate?
• What is the impact of fire?
• How soon after removal of old-growth trees and logs do these taxa return?

C. Monitoring Needs and Recommendations

Known sites of both taxa should be revisited periodically to assess compliance with management guidelines and evaluate impacts.

VI. REFERENCES

Ammirati, J. 1994. Endangered, threatened and sensitive macrofungi of Washington State. Official Letter to C. Turley, Science Team Leader, Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources.

Gulden, 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.

Norvell, L.L. 1996. Unpublished report on file, Forestry Sciences Lab. Corvallis, Oregon.

Redhead, S. A., and J. H. Ginns. 1985. A reappraisal of agaric genera associated with brown rots of wood, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Japan 26:349-381.