Browsing by Author "Cripps, Cathy L."

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A 200-year history of arctic and alpine fungi in North America: Early sailing expeditions to the molecular era
(2020) Noffsinger, Chance; Cripps, Cathy L.; Horak, Egon
Mushrooms and other fleshy fungi are important components of arctic and alpine habitats where they enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition. Here we assemble the 200-year (1819–2019) record of their discovery in North America, beginning with early Arctic sailing expeditions, followed by intense taxonomic studies, and concluding with the molecular era, all of which highlight the difficulty of exhaustively revealing their biodiversity in these extreme, cold-dominated habitats. Compiled biogeographic data reveal that a majority of arctic fungi have large intercontinental distributions with disjunct alpine populations. A newly compiled checklist of 170 species of Basidiomycota in fifty-one genera and twenty families in the Rocky Mountain alpine zone provides current baseline data prior to expected environmental shifts.
Amanita alpinicola sp nov., associated with Pinus albicaulis, a western 5-needle pine
(2017-07) Cripps, Cathy L.; Lindgren, Janet E.; Barge, Edward G.
A new species, Amanita alpinicola, is proposed for specimens fruiting under high elevation pines in Montana, conspecific with specimens from Idaho previously described under the invalid name, Amanita alpina A.H. Sm., nom. prov. Montana specimens originated from five-needle whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests where they fruit in late spring to early summer soon after snow melt; sporocarps are found mostly half-buried in soil. The pileus is cream to pale yellow with innate patches of volval tissue, the annulus is sporadic, and the volva is present as a tidy cup situated below ragged tissue on the stipe. Analysis of the ITS region places the new species in A. sect Amanita and separates it from A. gemmata, A. pantherina, A. aprica, and the A. muscaria group; it is closest to the A. muscaria group.
Barriers and Opportunities: Specialty Cultivated Mushroom Production in the United States
(MDPI, 2022-10) Moxley, Alexandria; Ebel, Roland; Cripps, Cathy L.; Austin, Caroline Graham; Stein, Mary; Winder, Meaghan
Producing and consuming specialty cultivated mushrooms (SCMs), cultivated mushrooms outside of the Agaricus genus, has the potential to positively impact sustainable food systems. Few studies have examined consumer perceptions of SCMs and industry-wide trends of SCM production in the United States (US), despite the USD 66.1 million in SCM sales in the US during 2020. This study looked at the barriers to and opportunities for cultivating, marketing, and consuming SCMs in the US by conducting a producer survey with SCM facilities in the US (n = 63). Survey results found diversification across products and practices within the SCM industry and on an individual business level. The most common place SCM growers sold their products was farmers’ markets (n = 63). The majority (53%) of growers (n = 60) used diverse (four or more) approaches to advertise their products. The majority of SCM growers (57%) indicated they had participated in a community outreach event in the past five years to help promote their SCM products (n = 63). Findings indicate there are opportunities for greater SCM business owner diversity. Our results indicate that production of SCMs may support economic, environmentally, and socio-culturally sustainable food systems and that there is further room for increased sustainability across the industry.
The genus Hebeloma in the Rocky Mountain Alpine Zone
(2019-02) Cripps, Cathy L.; Eberhardt, Ursula; Schutz, Nicole; Beker, Henry J.; Evenson, Vera S.; Horak, Egon
Numerous taxa of Hebeloma have been reported in association with Salix, Dryas, and Betula in arctic-alpine habitats. However, species are notoriously difficult to delineate because morphological features overlap, and previously there was little reliable molecular data available. Recent progress in ITS-sequencing within the genus, coupled with an extensive database of parametrically described collections, now allows comparisons between species and their distributions. Here we report 16 species of Hebeloma from the Rocky Mountain alpine zone from some of the lowest latitudes (latitude 36Â°-45Â°N) and highest elevations (3000-4000 m) for arctic-alpine fungi in the northern hemisphere. Twelve of these species have been reported from arctic-alpine habitats in Europe and Greenland and are now molecularly confirmed from the Middle and Southern Rockies, greatly expanding their distribution. These are: Hebelomaalpinum, H.aurantioumbrinum, H.dunense, H.hiemale, H.marginatulum, H.mesophaeum, H.nigellum, H.oreophilum, H.subconcolor, H.spetsbergense, H.vaccinum, and H.velutipes. Hebelomahygrophilum is known from subalpine habitats in Europe, but was never recorded in arctic-alpine ecology. Three species recorded from the Rockies, but as yet not reported from Europe, are H.alpinicola, H.avellaneum, and H.excedens. The last two have never previously been reported from an arctic-alpine habitat. For all three of these species, the holotypes have been studied morphologically and molecularly, and have been incorporated into the analysis.
Inocybe praetervisa group – A clade of four closely related species with partly different geographical distribution ranges in Europe
(2018-07) Larsson, Ellen; Vauras, Jukka; Cripps, Cathy L.
Sequence data from a broad geographical region and different habitats show that the Inocybe praetervisa clade is comprised of four closely related species. These species of section Marginatae are characterized by having nodulose spores and a stipe that is abundantly pruinose only in the upper half. Inocybe praetervisa occurs in Southern Europe in mountainous mixed coniferous forests, and is not confirmed from Northern Europe. Inocybe rivularis occurs in northern boreal forests up to the lower alpine zone, associated with Betula in moist habitats, and is not confirmed from Southern Europe. Inocybe taxocystis is confirmed as a later synonym of I. favrei. The species has a wide geographical distribution range in Europe, mainly restricted to the alpine zone and moist soils, associated with Salix herbacea. Inocybe arctica is here described as a new species. It occurs in the arctic and higher alpine zones, associated with Dryas octopetala, Salix polaris, S. reticulata and S. herbacea. All species except I. arctica are shown to have an intercontinental distribution range and are confirmed from North America. Sequence data suggest the occurrence of one additional species in the alpine zone of China. A key to the species in the I. praetervisa group is provided.
Intercontinental distributions of species of Cortinarius, subgenus Phlegmacium, associated with Populus in western North America
(2014-10) Cripps, Cathy L.; Liimatainen, Kare; Niskanen, Tuula; Dima, Balint; Bishop, Richard F.; Ammarati, Joseph F.
Three species of Cortinarius subg. Phlegmacium, Cortinarius argutus Fr. and Cortinarius hedyaromaticus C. Cripps & O.K. Mill. (section Arguti stat. nov.) and Cortinarius talus Fr. (section Multiformes), are compared from western North America and Europe. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region shows that C. argutus and C. hedyaromaticus are separate, closely related species with rooting stipes. Cortinarius talus is a pale species with a bulbous stipe and a sweet odor similar to that of C. hedyaromaticus; C. argutus lacks this sweet odor. All three species have intercontinental distributions and are associated with deciduous trees, primarily Populus tremuloides Michx., Populus tremula L., but also Salix spp. This study highlights the importance of the study of type specimens and molecular analysis to stabilize the application of established names.
New Reports, phylogenetic analysis, and a key to Lactarius Pers. in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem informed by molecular data
(2016-09) Cripps, Cathy L.; Barge, Edward G.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), located in the Central Rocky Mountains of western North America, is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. Here, Lactarius is an important component of ectomycorrhizal communities in many habitat types, from low elevation riparian areas to high elevation conifer forests and alpine tundra. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and RPB2gene sequences along with detailed morphological examination confirm at least 20 Lactarius species, as well as three varieties, and one unresolved species group in the GYE. Eight taxa are reported from the GYE for the first time, and nearly every major ectomycorrhizal host plant in the GYE appears to have at least one Lactarius species associated with it. Broad intercontinental distributions are suggested for alpine Salix and Betula associates, and for certain subalpine Picea and aspen (Populus spp.) associates. Some species appear to be restricted to western North America with Pinus, Pseudotsuga or Abies. The distribution and/or host affinities of others is not clear due in part to ambiguous host assignment, taxonomic problems or the relative rarity with which they have been reported.
Scorched Earth: Suillus colonization of Pinus albicaulis seedlings planted in wildfire-impacted soil affects seedling biomass, foliar nutrient content, and isotope signatures
(2018-04) Jenkins, Martha L.; Cripps, Cathy L.; Gains-Germain, Leslie
Aims In western North America ectomycorrhizal fungi are critical to establishment of conifers in low nitrogen soils. Fire can affect both ectomycorrhizal fungi and soil properties, and inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi is recommended when planting on burns for restoration. The aim of this study was to examine how Suillus species used in inoculation affect whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis L.) seedlings planted in fire-impacted soil. Methods In a greenhouse experiment, Suillus-colonized and uncolonized whitebark pine seedlings were planted in unsterilized and sterilized (control) soil from a recent burn. After 6 months, foliar nitrogen and carbon content, concentration, and stable isotope values were assessed, along with growth parameters. Results When seedlings were colonized, biomass was 61% greater, foliar nitrogen content 25% higher, foliar nitrogen concentration 30–63% lower; needles had lower δ15N and higher δ13C. Differences were more pronounced in sterilized soil where colonization was higher. Foliar N content was negatively correlated with δ15N values. Conclusions Colonization by host-specific fungi produced larger seedlings with higher foliar nitrogen content in both burn soils. The hypothesis that ectomycorrhizal fungi on roots fractionate nitrogen isotopes leading to lower δ15N in needles is supported. This helps explain restoration outcomes, and bridges the gap between field and in vitro investigations.
Sporocarp δ15N and use of inorganic and organic nitrogen in vitro differ among host-specific suilloid fungi associated with high elevation five-needle pines
(2018-07) Antibus, Robert K.; Hobbie, Erik A.; Cripps, Cathy L.
Widespread decline of whitebark and limber pines in the northern Rocky Mountains (USA) has created an imperative to understand functional diversity in their ectomycorrhizal associates. Because suilloid fungi are likely important in successful reestablishment of pines the nitrogen-related functional traits of 28 high-elevation suilloid isolates were examined. Radial growth, mass accumulation and mycelial density were measured for isolates on six different nitrogen sources. The δ15N values of suilloid sporocarps used as sources for pure cultures were compared against growth parameters to investigate a possible link between these N-related functional traits. Isolates grew poorly on nitrate and BSA and grew well on glutamine, alanyl-glutamine and ammonium phosphate, with somewhat slower growth on alanine. Isolates and species varied considerably in their growth response to different nitrogen sources. Effective use of nitrate and BSA was uncommon and associated with isolates with high inherent growth rates. Sporocarp δ15N was negatively correlated with relative growth on alanine of the corresponding isolates. Our results suggest strong similarities in N source use patterns of suilloid fungi of whitebark pine origin and those of another high-elevation five-needle stone pine, the Swiss stone pine.
Spring and early summer species of Cortinarius, subgenus Telamonia, section Colymbadini and /Flavobasilis, in the mountains of western North America
(2017-09) Ammirati, Joseph F.; Niskanen, Tuula; Liimatainen, Kare; Bojantchev, Dimitar; Peintner, Ursula; Kuhnert-Finkernagel, Regina; Cripps, Cathy L.
Seven species of Cortinarius, subgenus Telamonia, section Colymbadini and /Flavobasilis, are reported from conifer forests in the mountains of western North America. They typically produce basidiomes in the spring and summer. Only one species, C. colymbadinus, is widespread, occurring in Europe and western North America, but to date not reported from California. Cortinarius bridgei, C. flavobasilis, C. rumoribrunsi, C. vernalishastensis, and C. vernalisierraensis are new species. The first two are found throughout the western mountains, whereas the latter three thus far are known only from California. Cortinarius ahsii, a common species in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, also has not been recorded from California.
Systematics of the ectomycorrhizal genus Lactarius in the Rocky Mountain alpine zone
(2016-03) Barge, Edward G.; Cripps, Cathy L.; Osmundson, Todd W.
Lactarius (Russulales) is an important component of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in cold-dominated contiguous arctic and disjunct alpine habitats where it associates primarily with Betula, Dryas and Salix. However, little is known of this genus in the central and southern Rocky Mountain alpine zone (3000â€“3900 m) of North America. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS barcode) and the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2) partial sequences in conjunction with detailed morphological examination confirm at least six species occurring above treeline. Most have intercontinental distributions in North America and Eurasia according to molecular comparison with type material and collections from Europe, Fennoscandia, Svalbard and Alaska. Rocky Mountain collections of L. lanceolatus (subgenus Russularia), along with the type from Alaska are paraphyletic with respect to L. aurantiacus and North American taxa L. luculentus and L. luculentus v. laetus. Rocky Mountain collections of L. nanus, L. glyciosmus, L. repraesentaneus and L. salicis-reticulatae (subgenus Piperites) all form clades with European material from type localities and other arctic-alpine habitats. The arctic-alpine L. pseudouvidus/L. brunneoviolaceus group appears to be a complex containing additional taxa. North American material originally described as part of this group is well-separated phylogenetically and is described here as L. pallidomarginatus sp. nov. Lactarius lanceolatus, L. nanus and L. salicis-reticulatae appear largely restricted to arctic-alpine habitats with Salix. Lactarius glyciosmus and L. repraesentaneus occur in arctic-alpine, subalpine and boreal habitats with Betula and also Picea and possibly Salix for the latter. Species distributions are hypothesized to be shaped by host ranges, glaciation and long distance dispersal.