The third edition of the Red Book of the Penza region: II. Mosses, lichens, fungi

The article includes the results of the study of rare species of mosses, lichens and fungi in the course of research conducted from 2012 to 2023 as part of the work on maintaining the Red Book of the Penza region. Of the 118 species of mosses known in the region, the third edition of the Red Book includes 19 species, of which the Sphagnaceae family is represented by the largest number of species. This is justified by the fact that in the forest-steppe of the Russian plain, moss swamps, as well as the species of sphagnum mosses forming them, are located on the southern border of their distribution. The species composition of lichens in the Penza region includes 256 species. Of these, 27 species are listed in the third edition of the Red Book of the Penza region. Mushrooms belonging to the Agaricomycetes class are represented by 953 species in the Penza region. Of these, 50 species are included in the third edition of the Red Book of the Penza region. The article contains lists of species of mosses, lichens and fungi included in the third edition of the Red Book of the Penza region. The analysis of natural and anthropogenic factors negatively affecting the number of organisms belonging to the taxonomic groups under consideration is given. Information is provided on the measures taken and recommended for the protection of mosses, lichens and fungi, primarily in terms of including habitats of stenotopic species in the protected areas of the Penza region.