Abstract
In this paper, we present results of survey on the occurrence of true morels, conducted in the Ojców National Park (ONP). The first data about true morels from the area of the ONP date back to the nineteenth century. However, despite multiple surveys in the next decades, their presence has not been confirmed. Therefore, true morels were thought to be extinct in the ONP. In 2014 and 2015, two morphotypes of true morel fruiting bodies were discovered in two sites, identified as black morels and yellow morels. In 2016, we collected three fruiting bodies for detailed morphological characterization and molecular identification. According to our results, these morels were identified as <em>Morchella deliciosa</em> and <em>Morchella esculenta</em>. Our finding is the first confirmation of the occurrence of both species (as they are presently recognized) in Poland.
Highlights
The Ojców National Park (ONP) is the smallest national park in Poland, it has only 2146 ha, it is characterized by unique biodiversity and the occurrence of almost 10.4 thousand species of fungi, plants, and animals that have been reported here [1]
True morels Morchella spp. are among interesting and rare fungi, which occurrence have not been confirmed in the ONP, for more than 100 years
Five species of true morels have been reported from Poland: Morchella esculenta, M. elata, M. conica, M. gigas, and M. crassipes, all of them are under partial protection [8,9]
Summary
The Ojców National Park (ONP) is the smallest national park in Poland, it has only 2146 ha, it is characterized by unique biodiversity and the occurrence of almost 10.4 thousand species of fungi, plants, and animals that have been reported here [1]. For many species of fungi these records are outdated and not confirmed recently. These species have been deemed extinct in the ONP [2]. True morels Morchella spp. are among interesting and rare fungi, which occurrence have not been confirmed in the ONP, for more than 100 years. True morels are sac fungi belonging to Morchellaceae family. Their fruiting bodies appear generally in spring, albeit sometimes even from early spring to mid-winter [3,4,5]. They are saprotrophs or form biotrophic relationships with trees [6]. Five species of true morels have been reported from Poland: Morchella esculenta, M. elata, M. conica, M. gigas, and M. crassipes, all of them are under partial protection [8,9]
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