- Email: [email protected]
Inventory and mapping of the French mycota
187
INVENTORY AND MAPPING OF THE FRENCH MYCOTA R COURTECUISSE Laboratory of Botany and Cryptogams, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3 rue du Prof Laguesse, F59045 Lille CEDEX, France The purpose of this article is to inform overseas readers of the initiation of an important project in France. The project comprises a long-term plan for the mapping and inventory of the French mycota. It was first proposed in 1990 and, following encouragement, was formally sponsored by the Societe Mycologique de France in December 1990. Full details concerning the organization, aims and perspectives of this project will be finally published in the Bulletin Trimestriel de la Societe Mycologique de France, but preliminary details are offered here. A formalised check-list of the French mycota will be prepared, providing a basic knowledge of the mycoflora. In particular, it will draw attention to rare and newly described species, which may be otherwise overlooked. whilst at the same time outline the overall biodiversity of the area. A basis for mapping will also be established, providing the needs of taxonomy, chorology, and the value of Fungi as bioindicators. Inventories and chorological data provide the basis for Red Data Lists. The European Council for Conservation of Fungi (ECCF) is currently involved in the production of Lists, but success is only possible with full participation from all countries. Organization The organization within France involves the recognition of geographical units. Each Department (district) is under the direction of an approved mycologist, responsible for uniting the efforts of regional societies and individuals. In turn, these results are forwarded to a larger unit (Region), and thence to a national coordinator. The latter, currently R Courtecuisse, is assisted by his own university department in this project. A team of specialists will control the final results and assist with determinations. Mapping Scheme It is essential to select a simple system, thereby attractive to participants. A grid adopted by IGN (French National Geographical Institute) has been chosen. This is used for maps of differing scale, but mainly the 1/50,000 scale, and is commercially widely available. The system is based upon the geographical segmentation of the land, following the Paris meridian (Clark Ellipsoid), and each square represents 0.1 x 0.2 grade (or ca 10 x 14 km). This offers a suitable national matrix. more or less comparable with the German system, e.g. ca 10 sq. km. On the other hand, it is emphasized that participants may utilise another system for their data, but preferably compatible with the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM; European model), in order that it may eventually be incorporated into a future European programme. The UTM kilometric grid is currently available from some IGN maps, and will cover the entire country within the next five years. A decision has been taken to map all the mycota, rather than produce limited species lists, as the latter would restrict the opportunity to gain a complete overview of fungal chorology in France within a reasonable timescale. Each participant must provide complete information for only species which he can safely determine. Nevertheless, some species lists have been distributed in order to provide maps for certain taxa quickly thereby stimulating interest. Overseas mycologists are requested to supply data on collections made in France, of which material is now deposited in private or official herbaria. Details concerning localities, species collected, and other data should be forwarded to the author, who will undertake the necessary processing. Any help is welcomed, and full recognition of any contributions will be cited in all publications.
INVENTORY AND MAPPING OF THE FRENCH MYCOTA R COURTECUISSE Laboratory of Botany and Cryptogams, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3 rue du Prof Laguesse, F59045 Lille CEDEX, France The purpose of this article is to inform overseas readers of the initiation of an important project in France. The project comprises a long-term plan for the mapping and inventory of the French mycota. It was first proposed in 1990 and, following encouragement, was formally sponsored by the Societe Mycologique de France in December 1990. Full details concerning the organization, aims and perspectives of this project will be finally published in the Bulletin Trimestriel de la Societe Mycologique de France, but preliminary details are offered here. A formalised check-list of the French mycota will be prepared, providing a basic knowledge of the mycoflora. In particular, it will draw attention to rare and newly described species, which may be otherwise overlooked. whilst at the same time outline the overall biodiversity of the area. A basis for mapping will also be established, providing the needs of taxonomy, chorology, and the value of Fungi as bioindicators. Inventories and chorological data provide the basis for Red Data Lists. The European Council for Conservation of Fungi (ECCF) is currently involved in the production of Lists, but success is only possible with full participation from all countries. Organization The organization within France involves the recognition of geographical units. Each Department (district) is under the direction of an approved mycologist, responsible for uniting the efforts of regional societies and individuals. In turn, these results are forwarded to a larger unit (Region), and thence to a national coordinator. The latter, currently R Courtecuisse, is assisted by his own university department in this project. A team of specialists will control the final results and assist with determinations. Mapping Scheme It is essential to select a simple system, thereby attractive to participants. A grid adopted by IGN (French National Geographical Institute) has been chosen. This is used for maps of differing scale, but mainly the 1/50,000 scale, and is commercially widely available. The system is based upon the geographical segmentation of the land, following the Paris meridian (Clark Ellipsoid), and each square represents 0.1 x 0.2 grade (or ca 10 x 14 km). This offers a suitable national matrix. more or less comparable with the German system, e.g. ca 10 sq. km. On the other hand, it is emphasized that participants may utilise another system for their data, but preferably compatible with the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM; European model), in order that it may eventually be incorporated into a future European programme. The UTM kilometric grid is currently available from some IGN maps, and will cover the entire country within the next five years. A decision has been taken to map all the mycota, rather than produce limited species lists, as the latter would restrict the opportunity to gain a complete overview of fungal chorology in France within a reasonable timescale. Each participant must provide complete information for only species which he can safely determine. Nevertheless, some species lists have been distributed in order to provide maps for certain taxa quickly thereby stimulating interest. Overseas mycologists are requested to supply data on collections made in France, of which material is now deposited in private or official herbaria. Details concerning localities, species collected, and other data should be forwarded to the author, who will undertake the necessary processing. Any help is welcomed, and full recognition of any contributions will be cited in all publications.