Distribution and conservation status of Grifola frondosa (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in Ukraine

Grifola frondosa is a nationally red-listed species in Ukraine. In the third edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine it is assigned to a category Vulnerable (VU). Previously, the fungus was known from 17 localities in nine regions of Ukraine: Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Ternopil, Transcarpatian, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Over the recent decade, G. frondosa has been also recorded in the following eight regions: Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Rivne, Volyn, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv city. Thus, a number of known up to now localities of G. frondosa increased from 17 to more than 40. However, the expanded number of records is due to additional data recently provided from field observations by amateur mycologists, rather than a result of the increasing population trend of the fungus. Based on the current distribution pattern of G. frondosa in Ukraine, its contemporary conservation status on the national level was evaluated using the IUCN categories and criteria. The species was assessed as Endangered, EN under criteria 2(). This is the higher threat category as compared to Vulnerable (VU) in the current edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine. For conservation purposes, it is necessary to protect the already known sites, to search for new localities of the fungus, and to explore possibilities of its re-introduction into natural habitats. Global distribution and the Red List status of G. frondosa in Europe are briefly discussed. A list of currently known localities of the species in Ukraine and a distribution map of the reported sites are provided.

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