Management Recommendations•Group 24

Rare Cup Fungi (Decomposer): Gelatinodiscus flavidus Kanouse & A.H. Smith

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Species: Gelatinodiscus flavidus Kanouse & A.H. Smith

Taxonomic Group: Fungi

ROD Component(s): 1 & 3

Other Management Status: none

Range: Gelatinodiscus flavidus is rare within the range of the northern spotted owl and is found from Snohomish Co., Washington south to Lane Co., Oregon.

Specific Habitat: Gelatinodiscus flavidus is restricted to fruiting from cones, twigs, and down foliage of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. It typically occurs near or under melting snow-banks.

Threats: Removal of the host, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, by logging, fire, road, trail, or campground construction or other management activities, is the most serious threat to Gelatinodiscus flavidus. Most known sites are in protected areas on Federal land but are exposed to high recreational use, road, trail, or campground construction that could potentially impact this taxon.

Management Recommendations: Maintain habitat for this taxon by retaining Chamaecyparis nootkatensis at known sites. 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 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. Determine the host range of this taxon, in particular, survey stands of other Chamaecyparis spp. during snow-melt for the presence of Gelatinodiscus flavidus.

I. NATURAL HISTORY

A. Taxonomic/Nomenclatural History

Gelatinodiscus flavidus was described from the Olympic Peninsula, Washington by Kanouse and Smith (1940). Known synonyms include Mitrula gracilis Karsten, Gymnomitrula gracilis Imai, Mitrula muscicola Henning, Mitrula rehmii Bresadola, Gymnomitrula rehmii (Bresadola) Favre, Mitrula gracilis var. flavipes Peck, Cudoniella muscorum Linder, and Cudoniella borealis Linder. It is a member of the cup fungus family Leotiaceae in the order Leotiales.

B. Species Description

1. Morphology

Gelatinodiscus flavidus is characterized by bright yellow apothecia on a short, bright yellow, translucent stalk, and the spores that measure 26-34 by 9-11 µm that are contained within an inoperculate ascus.

Sporocarps are short-stipitate, apotheciate, to about 4 mm tall. Apothecia regular from above, 1-5 mm in diameter, at first concave, becoming plane then convex at maturity. Hymenium bright yellow, even, opaque. Margin glabrous, not extending beyond hymenial surface. Abhymenial surface concolorous with hymenial surface, appearing "translucent" or "gelatinous," glabrous except for short yellow "fuzz" at the very base. Stipe slender, 2-5 mm long, ca. 1 mm thick. Ascospores nearly ellipsoid to "oblong-ellipsoid" but with one end (usually the uppermost on ascospores still in the ascus) slightly broader than the other, 26-34 x 9-11 µm, biguttulate, smooth, hyaline to yellowish at first, reported to turn brown after discharge (Carpenter, 1976). Asci opening by a broad pore, 8-spored, amyloid in part of the apical region, maturing simultaneously in nature. Paraphyses curved at the apices, branched, hyaline.

2. Reproductive Biology

Because this taxon is a cup fungus, it presumably depends upon wind for spore dispersal; animal (especially arthropod) dispersal is also possible. No specific information on reproductive biology is available for this taxon at this time.

3. Ecology

This taxon is a presumed saprophyte or needle endophyte. Fruiting in scattered to gregarious habit on cones, foliage, and small branches of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis near or under melting snow-banks. No other specific ecological information is available for this taxon at this time.

C. Range, Known Sites

Gelatinodiscus flavidus is known from 6 sites within the range of the northern spotted owl in Washington: Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge rd.; Clallam Co., Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Park; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Narada Falls; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Reflection Falls; Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, Ricksetter Point; Snohomish Co., Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Silver Tip Lake. Although reported by Carpenter (1976) from Lane Co. and Jefferson Co. in Oregon, these collections were not found during the herbarium survey. Gelatinodiscus flavidus is endemic to a portion of the range of the northern spotted owl.

D. Habitat Characteristics and Species Abundance

Gelatinodiscus flavidus is scattered to gregarious in habit and restricted to fruiting from cones, twigs and foliage of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. It consistently fruits near or under melting snow-banks.

II. CURRENT SPECIES SITUATION

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

Gelatinodiscus flavidus is endemic to Washington and possibly Oregon. 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, 38 percent likelihood of restriction to refugia, and 28 percent likelihood of extirpation on federal lands. This taxon is believed to be at high risk under the Northwest Forest Plan because of its endemism, rarity and disjunct population status. Potentiallythis taxon is at risk from land management and recreational activities that remove or damage the host or disturb the litter layer.

B. Major Habitat and Viability Considerations

The major viability consideration for Gelatinodiscus flavidus is loss of known sites within the range of the northern spotted owl. Considerations include all management or recreational activities that disturb the soil, litter, or duff. The presence of extant sites in high recreational use areas exposes it to adverse impact due to management or recreational activities, particularly those that disturb the soil, litter, and duff or damage host trees.

The autecology of this taxon was studied by Carpenter (1976). It is a presumed saprophyte, pathogen, or endophyte associated with a single Cupressaceae species. Therefore disturbance that affects the host will potentially strongly affect this taxon. Recreational activities, particularly those that disturb the soil, litter, and duff or damage host trees are a significant threat to Gelatinodiscus flavidus because its few known sites have high recreational use.

Climate change may result in decline in vigor of this taxon and may result in the extirpation of the taxon from the range of the northern spotted owl. Climate change could potentially impact all populations of Gelatinodiscus flavidus. An increase in temperature or a decrease in precipitation could affect disjunct populations.

C. Threats to the Species

Threats to Gelatinodiscus flavidus are those actions that disrupt stand conditions necessary for their survival, particularly damage to host trees and soil, litter, and duff disturbance. Fire is a significant concern although moist, high-elevation sites have low susceptibility to wildfire.

This taxon is not routinely harvested for use as food.

D. Distribution Relative to Land Allocations

Five of the 6 known sites for this taxon are from National Park land. The remaining site is on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on congressionally withdrawn land.

III. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Management Goals for Taxon

The goal for management of Gelatinodiscus flavidus is to assist in maintaining viable populations of this taxon within the assessment area. Known sites on Federal land of this rare taxon 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 this taxon.

IV. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

A. Lessons from History

There has not been any management of sites for Gelatinodiscus flavidus. Since it is a presumptive host-specific saprophyte, pathogen, or endophyte, the host and its duff and litter should be protected where populations exist. Although not documented for this taxon, many fungi are harmed by air pollution, acid deposition, N deposition, and SOx (Gulden et al., 1992).

B. Identification of Habitat Areas for Management

There is one population of Gelatinodiscus flavidus that has good potential to be managed to maintain viability. The known site of Gelatinodiscus flavidus on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest should be managed to maintain the viability of this population. Two other reported populations on Federal lands with potential for management are not supported with voucher specimens; all other known sites occur on National Park land.

The seemingly preferred habitat of this taxon is also somewhat under-collected by mycologists and in critical need of 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 recreational activities minimized, and disruption to the host populations and litter, particularly fire and logging, prevented.

The few known locations on Federal land of Gelatinodiscus flavidus 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. For Gelatinodiscus flavidus:

• 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 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 and collect ecological data to more completely characterize habitat. Conduct surveys to locate additional populations of this taxon, Research Natural Areas, and whenappropriate where management treatments or projects are scheduled or proposed.

Revisit the sites of Gelatinodiscus flavidus in Washington and Oregon and determine its status. Attempt to verify the populations at Brightenbush Lake and Iron Mt. on the Willamette National Forest in Oregon.

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 Gelatinodiscus flavidus, particularly is it restricted to Chamaecyparis nootkatensis?
• How does this taxon respond to manipulation or modification of its micro-climate?
• What is the impact of fire?
• How soon after removal of its host does Gelatinodiscus flavidus return?
• What is the relationship of stand age to population viability for this taxon?
• What is the density of tree hosts needed to sustain viability of a population?

C. Monitoring Needs and Recommendations

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

VI. REFERENCES

Carpenter, S.E. 1976. Taxonomy, morphology and ontogeny of Gelatinodiscus flavidus. Mycotaxon 3:209-232.

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.

Kanouse, B.B., and A.H. Smith. 1940. Two new genera of Discomycetes from the Olympic National Forest. Mycologia 32:756-759.

Weber, N.S. 1996. unpublished report on file, Forestry Sciences Lab. Corvallis, Oregon.