VU

Upper Crust

Amaurodon cyaneus

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Upper Crust faces significant pressure from logging and forest fragmentation across its range in old-growth coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may alter the specific moisture and temperature conditions this saprophytic fungus requires for fruiting. The species' dependence on large, decaying conifer logs makes it particularly vulnerable to intensive forest management practices that remove dead wood from forest ecosystems.

Threat summary

Habitat

Amaurodon cyaneus grows exclusively on decaying coniferous wood, particularly large fallen logs and stumps in old-growth and mature forests of western North America. The species requires specific moisture conditions and is typically found in undisturbed forest environments with substantial amounts of coarse woody debris.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Thelephoraceae

Fused ToothVU

Fused Tooth

Phellodon confluens

Unknown
Woolly ToothVU

Woolly Tooth

Phellodon tomentosus

Unknown
VU

Pseudotomentella nigra

Unknown
Grey ToothEN

Grey Tooth

Phellodon melaleucus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Upper Crust classified as Vulnerable?
Upper Crust is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Upper Crust faces significant pressure from logging and forest fragmentation across its range in old-growth coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may alter the specific moisture and temperature conditions this saprophytic fungus requires for fruiting. The species' dependence on large, decaying conifer logs makes it particularly vulnerable to intensive forest management practices that remove dead wood from forest ecosystems.
Where does Upper Crust live?
Upper Crust occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Upper Crust?
The main threats to Upper Crust are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.