Fungi of the Right Bank Polissya of Ukraine

The monograph is focused on fungal diversity of theRight 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. TheRight 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 bookis largelybased 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 ofUkraine, and the research carried outin the Department particularly over the recentfive-year research project (2018–2022).During this project, mycological observations were made in ChornobylRadiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, RivneNature Reserve, in Shatsk, LesserPolissya and Pripyat-Stokhidnational natureparks 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 Polissyahas been significantly expanded. In the monograph, a brief overview of the history and current state ofthe studies on distribution of fungi in theregion is provided. However, the major part of the book is an inventory of fungal diversity of theRight 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 collectiondate, 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 Polissyathat can be used as a basis for further study of the mycobiota of the region. It is illustrated with numerous photographs, includingcolour pictures of fungi taken during field observations or in the laboratory. These pictures presenting visual documentationcan be helpful in identification of the illustrated species. The book is intended primarily for nature conservationists in the Ukrainian Polissya, administrationsof nature reserves and national nature parks and all those interested inmycology and fungal diversity. It will be also useful for scientists studying forest ecosystems in Europe, lecturers of higher education institutions as well as forstudents carrying out their qualification works in the Ukrainian Polissya.