Atlantic laurel forests: Hotspots in fungal biodiversity
17 Jul 2025 - Saúl de la Peña-Lastra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela | 15h00 | Hybrid Seminar
CASUAL SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION
This study investigates the fungal diversity of Atlantic laurel forests, including continental and insular environments, which are relict ecosystems of Tertiary origin harboring high, yet understudied, biodiversity. Using a standardized, replicable sampling protocol across multiple sites dominated by Laurus spp. and Prunus lusitanica subspecies, intensive fieldwork over three years yielded over 1,100 samples and identified 811 distinct fungal species. Sampling included soil, decaying wood, and foliage strata, with identifications based on morphological and genetic analyses. The findings reveal numerous poorly documented taxa and potentially new genera and species, confirming these forests as fungal biodiversity hotspots.
Saúl holds a PhD in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Valladolid and is currently pursuing a second doctorate in Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, with the thesis "Continent vs. Islands: Fungal Connections among Atlantic Laurel Forests.” He is a Forestry Technical Engineer, Forest Engineer, and holds a Master’s degree in Environment and Natural Resources, for which he received the Extraordinary Prize. Additionally, he is a Higher Technician in Environmental Health and in the Management of Natural and Landscape Resources. His research spans mycology, botany, soil science, nutrient cycles, heavy metals, and bird ecology. He has discovered several previously unknown fungal genera, species, and forms, as well as a new orchid hybrid between two distinct genera. He is the author of the books Guía Micológica de la Isla de Cortegada and Iniciación á micoloxía e principais especies comercializables de Galicia. Introduced to mycology by his father, he has over 30 years of experience studying biodiversity, particularly plants and fungi. He is also an environmental science communicator and biodiversity photographer.
[Host: Carlos Vila-Viçosa, Biogeography and Evolution of Plants and Ecosystems - BEPE]
Zoom Link: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/91257410767
Zoom Link: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/91257410767