Commercial forest rotations are usually shorter than natural disturbance return intervals, which could affect the distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) species dependent on late-seral stands. We examined this potential reduction in species richness by comparing ectomycorrhizal mushroom communities across four age-classes (pole stage, young, mature, and old growth) of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) – lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) stands on submesic sites in northwestern British Columbia. Almost 130 species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms were identified over the 12 sites during the 3-year study period. EMF richness was lowest in pole stands and almost twice as high in the older age-classes. Species composition and abundance were related to stand age, with relatively large differences in communities between the ages of 20 and 120 and relatively smaller differences between 120 and 225 years. Twelve species, including the economically important pine mushroom (Tricholoma magnivelare (Peck) Redhead), were late-seral stand dependent, fruiting in forests that are at least older than 85 years. This distribution of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms across stand ages suggests EMF succession is primarily an accumulation of species and is likely affected by differences in dispersal by ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil properties (increased soil acidity and reduced nitrogen availability), and the rate of stand development. The evidence for EMF species limited to late-seral stands supports the maintenance of some mature forests within these landscapes to conserve EMF richness.
A. smithiana is a nephrotoxic mushroom that can be easily mistaken for the edible and highly prized Pine mushroom (Tricholoma magnivelare). It causes initial gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by acute renal failure. Treatment includes dialysis and supportive care until the patient recovers renal function. The chemical structure of the A. smithiana toxin is unknown, but it can be identified as a characteristic spot on thin-layer chromatography.
Soil fertility and associated nitrogen (N) status was a key ecosystem attribute, and surveys of ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities via epigeous fruiting bodies could provide an effective biotic indicator of forest soil productivity. We explored the utility of aboveground EMF communities in this regard by surveying sporocarps over a 3-year period from contrasting plant associations of southern old-growth boreal forests of British Columbia (Canada). Cumulative richness ranged from 39 to 89 EMF species per plot (0.15 ha) and followed a skewed parabolic correlation with foliar N concentrations and soil N availability. EMF species composition was consistently distinct in ordinations and strongly correlated to the increasing rates of N mineralization aligned with soil productivity. Approximately 40 EMF species were specialists, as they collectively indicated oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic nutrient regimes, while the remaining species were categorized as broadly tolerant (distributed over 100% of the N gradient), partially intolerant (approximately 70%), or satellites (rare). The functional organization of EMF communities reflected by distribution classes could help define the ecological integrity of forests, which was characterized in this boreal landscape by an average allotment of 20 broadly tolerant, 25 partially intolerant, 15 specialist, and ten satellite species per plot. Epigeous fruiting bodies provided a disparate yet complementary view to the belowground assessment of EMF communities that was valuable in identifying indicators for ecosystem monitoring.
We examined epigeous ectomycorrhizal mushroom richness and productivity after partial cutting in a western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) - western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don in Lamb.) forest of northwestern British Columbia. Mushrooms were collected throughout the fruiting season (July to October) for 3 years, starting 5 years after partial cutting, from plots with mesic soil conditions and residual basal areas ranging from 23 to 69 m2/ha for western hemlock and 0 to 26 m2/ha for western redcedar. Partial cutting had no apparent effect on mushroom phenology over the 3 years. Significant block interactions demonstrated that reductions in basal area of western hemlock could lead to positive, neutral, and negative responses in mushroom richness, biomass, and number of fruiting bodies. These responses were related to stand structure and the potential differences in tree vigour after partial cutting. In addition, there was weak evidence that western redcedar, a host for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza, had a negative effect on average taxon richness. The study demonstrated that partial-cutting systems could allow some timber removal without necessarily reducing ectomycorrhizal mushroom communities.
Mushroom field guides warn against mistaking Amanita smithiana for pine mushrooms. They are similar in size, color and habitat. It appears possible that Amanita smithiana mushrooms were eaten instead of pine mushrooms in these cases.
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