Diversity and species patterns of macrofungi in a relict Pinus mugo Turra population in the Apennines

The European orophyte Pinus mugo Turra has a main Alpic corpus and major disjunctions across Europe shaped by glaciations; only a couple of native relict populations is found in the Apennines.

In current and potential impact of humans on P. mugo, two opposite factors drive the population dynamics: on one hand, this species suffers decreasing snow cover; on the other hand, grazing abandonment allows pines to colonize new areas upward in altitude.

Pinus mugo is also the featuring species in two habitats according to Directive 92/43/EEC, despite no specific characterization of the fungal component is available and very few authors have to now investigated macrofungi with specific concern to this pine. Thus, relict populations are particularly interesting as they offer a double focus: fungal diversity associated to P. mugo and bottleneck experienced by diversity spectrum itself.

In this work we present the results of the first year of surveys on macrofungi in the Sites of Community Importance IT4020008 - Monte Ragola, Lago Moo', Lago Bino and IT4010003 - Monte Nero, Monte Maggiorasca, La Ciapa Liscia in the Emilian Apennines, including Habitat 9430* - Subalpine and montane Pinus uncinata forests on gypsum or limestone.

Field surveys were periodically conducted since July 2025 in N, W, S and E aspects of the cacuminal belt of Monte Nero and Monte Ragola. Specimens were identified on morphological and molecular basis (ITS region) and diversity was analyzed based on α, β, γ and ζ concepts.

The results achieved to now suggest distinct phenology timing in Monte Nero and Monte Ragola due to different vegetation structure and disturbance. Despite species spectrum is similar between the two mountains, species patterns are significantly affected by side aspect as well as the presence/absence of grazing cattle. The relationship between host and non-generalist fungal species is also discussed.