Paddenstoelen in de regio Leuven: 1981-2004: verspreiding en ecologie

This atlas starts with a short history of the mycology in the region of Leuven. The establishment of the Independent Working group of amateur mycologists (ZWAM) in 1981, was a milestone for the mycology in Leuven. Before 1982, no local mycological society was active in Leuven, despite the presence of extensive woodlands. Excursions in the region were occasionally organised by Mycological societies from elsewhere (the royal Antwerp society of mycologists (KAMK) and the mycological society of mycologists of Brussel). Since 1981, the Independent Working group for amateur mycologists (ZWAM) annually organizes excursions in the region. In 1992, the Society of Flemish mycologists (VMV) was founded and organizes an annual excursion in the region of Leuven. In 2001, the idea arose at Natuurpunt Studie to make an atlas of the mushrooms in the region of Leuven, in association with the ZWAM and KAMK and with the financial support of the province of Vlaams-Brabant. Natuurpunt studie made extra efforts and motivated many volunteers to map un-surveyed or rarely visited areas in the region of Leuven. This resulted in new and interesting records.

The region of Leuven has been subdivided in three soil districts: Sand -, Sandloam - and Loamdistrict. Many species have a particular preference for a specific biotope type. In the region of Leuven, especially the forests, but also parks and alleys with old trees are important for the myccorhizasymbionts. The region of Leuven also has a number of small "heathland areas, peat and waxcap grasslands. The survey was done by mycological societies and more than 50 individual recorders. The region was divided in 31 squares of 4x4 km,using the Belgian IFBL grid system. The mycoflora has been explored in 218 out of all 464 square km (40%). Finally 35 962 observations were registered in the region, over a period of 24 years, which resulted in 1556 species for this atlas. This number concerns also the Uredinales, Ustilagines and flour dew, which are just named but not discussed in this atlas. The discussed species are subdivided in the following practical groups: Agaricales, Aphyllophorales, Phragmobasidiomycetidae, Gasteromycetes, Deuterornycotina, Ascomycotina and Myxomycota.

In chapter 5, all species are discussed, with notes on ecology (substrate, habitat, vegetation type, soil district, biotope type), functional groups and frequency. Specific notes (year, location, observer(s)) of the observations are added for species that were observed in less than three 4x4km squares. For more common species a distribution card is given. For species with more than 10 observations, a phenology graph is given. In chapter 6, a general discussion is made of the data. The 50 most common species are given in a table, based on the number of squared km in which the species have been observed. A few particular biotopes and groups are discussed: mycorrhizas, grassland fungi and wood fungi. The ten nlycologically most valuable 4x4 km squares and the 50 most valuable squared km are reviewed, based on the Red-Listindex according to Jalink (1999) and the number of Red-Listspecies. In the final chapter, 20 important areas or sites for mushrooms are discussed: position, area (ha), soil (water household), property structure and history of the area (use, management), current vegetation, the conducted management and why these areas are interesting for mushrooms. The degree of protection and the management are evaluated for each site. In two of these sites, an adapted management is necessary for the conservation of the present mycological values. Some general guidelines for mycological management are given as well as a list of 19 species requiring protection in the region of Leuven, with respect to the conservation of these species in Flanders.