Data from: Taxonomic survey of Agaricomycetes (Fungi: Basidiomycota) in Ontario tallgrass prairies determined by fruiting body and soil rDNA sampling

The fungal composition of North America’s grasslands is poorly known, but
an important area of study due to grassland conservation concerns and
their close relation to agricultural lands. This study is a survey of
Agaricomcyetes from fifteen diverse tallgrass prairies across southwestern
Ontario, determined through fruiting body surveys (above-ground) and
next-generation sequencing of soil ribosomal DNA (below-ground), and makes
comparisons between the results of these two techniques. The most species
rich taxa were the Clavariaceae, Hygrophoraceae, and Entolomataceae, each
detected by both techniques, with the addition of the Sebacinaceae and
Polyporaceae sensu lato below-ground, and Hymenogastraceae (Hebeloma spp.)
and Mycenaceae above-ground. Many of the most abundant species belonged to
these species-rich taxa and were highly abundant by either technique. The
above-ground surveys found at least 73 species and the below-ground
technique 238 operatonal taxonomic units. Although many fine-scale taxa
(species and approximate families) were unique to one technique or the
other (only eight genetic species were shared between both), the
below-ground technique uncovered a greater breadth of higher taxa (mostly
equivalent to orders), including ones undetected by the above-ground
technique. A review of grassland fungi surveys around the world shows many
similarities and the potential for grassland fungal conservation in North
America. Given current technological advancements and grassland
conservation concerns, it is prudent to further study North America’s
grassland fungi.