Authors: V.P. Heluta, M.P. Prydiuk, Yu.Ya. Tykhonenko, M.O. Zykova,V.P. Hayova, T.V. Andrianova et al.

Summary: he monograph is focused on fungal diversity of the Right Bank Polissya of Ukraine. This region, further divided into Western and Central Polissya, is located in the northwest of the country and covers the northern parts of Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Volyn and Zhytomyr regions. The Right Bank Polissya of Ukraine is a lowland area, large part of which is covered with wetlands and forests. Beyond critically examined information from the available literature sources and Herbaria/Dry reference collections of Ukraine, the book is largely based on long-term field observations of the authors, staff members of the Department of Mycology, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the research carried out in the Department particularly over the recent five-year research project (2018–2022). During this project, mycological observations were made in Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, Rivne Nature Reserve, in Shatsk, Lesser Polissya and Pripyat-Stokhid national nature parks as well as some other remote and difficult to access areas. As a result, data on the species diversity of fungi in both Western and Central Polissya has been significantly expanded. In the monograph, a brief overview of the history and current state of the studies on distribution of fungi in the region is provided. However, the major part of the book is an inventory of fungal diversity of the Right Bank Polissya of Ukraine. Altogether, 2395 species have been recorded, representing 717 genera, 60 orders and 16 classes of Fungi. For each species, its distribution in the Western and/or Central Polissya is indicated, along with other data, such as collection date, collector’s names, bibliographic source, etc. For plant pathogenic fungi, their associated organisms, or host substrates (mostly species of vascular plants) are presented. For the whole list of species, analysis of the distribution of fungi by habitats is provided. Moreover, a table of all species of fungi recorded in nature reserves and national natural parks is included. New records of the species of fungi listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine are also reported. Thus, their distribution patterns within the country have been updated. This monograph is the first critical compilation of the species composition of fungi of the Right Bank Polissya that can be used as a basis for further study of the mycobiota of the region. It is illustrated with numerous photographs, including colour pictures of fungi taken during field observations or in the laboratory. These pictures presenting visual documentation can be helpful in identification of the illustrated species.

Reading audience: The book is intended primarily for nature conservationists in the Ukrainian Polissya, administrations of nature reserves and national nature parks and all those interested in mycology and fungal diversity. It will be also useful for scientists studying forest ecosystems in Europe, lecturers of higher education institutions as well as for students carrying out their qualification works in the Ukrainian Polissya.

ISBN 978-966-00-1953-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/978-966-00-1953-9

Book project: Scientific book

Responsible institutions: M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of NAS of Ukraine

Published: Kyiv

Size in pages: 488

Print run: 100