Report by Swasti Sharma
Cairngorms mountain in Scotland is home to many fungi species that were undiscovered earlier.
A new fungal species named Squamanita was observed in Cairngorms – a national park and nature reserve in Scotland.
The new discoveries were possible due to 73 volunteers who helped to gather more than 200 soil samples.
Conservation charity Plantlife and Aberdeen-based research organisation, the James Hutton Institute, led the project.
Hillwalkers collected samples of soil at different altitudes from 55 Munros (peaks) of the Cairngorms National Park.
DNA (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid) was taken from the soil and sequenced by scientists at the James Hutton Institute. This resulted in the discovery of more than 17,000 species out of which 2,748 were fungal species.
Two species of fungi new to the UK are:
- Amanita groenlandica: An arctic species that originated in Greenland.
- Acrodontium antarcticum: It was first discovered in Antarctica.
The previously unknown species that are now uncovered are from a group called Squamanita. The group includes a rare parasitic fungus also called as the Strangler. The name is because of its ability to enslave other fungi.
Scotland’s Cairngorms is home to these two endangered Arctic-alpine species due to its cold climate.
Beside this, two Munros’ grasslands included the vivid and colourful Violet Coral fungus.
This species is one of UK’s rarest grassland fungi.
