Diversity of ethnomycological knowledge and mushroom foraging culture in a small nation: case of Lithuania.

Background: Even in mycophilic nations, mushroom foraging and use traditions may vary from region to region, making it part of cultural diversity and a source of traditional knowledge even in modern and changing societies. The main objective of our study was to investigate mushroom foraging and use traditions in major ethno-regions of Lithuania, to record and analyse whether and how biogeographical and ethno-cultural features influence these traditions, what is their biocultural significance, and whether they persist in the face of societal and environmental change.

Methods: The study conducted a survey among 106 respondents from eleven administrative units of Lithuania, representing four ethno-regions (Žemaitija, Suvalkija, Dzūkija and Aukštaitija, the latter divided into North and East).

Regionally Varying Habitat Relationships in Lichens: The Concept and Evidence with an Emphasis on North-Temperate Ecosystems.

Habitat ecology of lichens (lichen-forming fungi) involves diverse adaptations to stressful environments where lichens use specific habitat conditions. Field observations confirm that such habitat 'preferences' can vary significantly across species' distribution ranges, sometimes revealing abrupt changes over short distances. We critically review and generalize such empirical evidence as broad ecological patterns, link these with the likely physiological mechanisms and evolutionary processes involved, and outline the implications for lichen conservation.

Response of ectomycorrhizal and other Pinus sylvestris root-associated fungi to the load of allochthonous material from a great cormorant colony.

Colonies of piscivorous birds nesting in forests bring in loads of allochthonous material in amounts significantly exceeding atmospheric depositions, eventually causing major ecosystem changes. We studied the effect of increasing ornithogenic impact on ectomycorrhizal (EMF) and other root-associated fungi in a Scots pine forest affected by a colony of great cormorants. We evaluated quantitative data of ectomycorrhiza (numbers of root tips and morphotypes) and identified fungal species from pine root tips and from sporocarps collected in three designated study zones: D (zone of active nesting), E (colony margin), and G (pristine forest).

Crown fire and surface fire: effects on myxomycetes inhabiting pine plantations.

Myxomycetes are heterotrophic eukaryote organisms that have three life stages, none of which are known to be resistant to fire. The response of myxobiota to different severity of fire is not well known either. We examined myxomycetes in Pinus mugo plantations following a crown fire and in Pinus sylvestris plantations following a surface fire during the first three years after the wildfire event in forested coastal sand dunes in western Lithuania.

Epiphytic lichen community dynamics in deciduous forests around a phosphorus fertiliser factory in Central Lithuania.

The detailed dynamics of epiphytic lichen communities were observed while studying permanent quadrats in the zone of influence of a phosphorus fertiliser factory in central Lithuania. The most significant changes were induced by several factors: changes in macroenvironment (increase of illumination), bark scaling, succession processes, individual growth characteristics of the community members, and influence of fungal infection and invertebrate grazing. None of these changes could be directly linked with air pollution.