Canopy cover influence on macrofungal richness and sporocarp production in montado ecosystems

Abstract

In this study we aimed to find out how macrofungi richness and sporocarp production varies in relation to both canopy cover and proximity of crown projection area, in order to discuss strategies and point out management actions that ensure macrofungal communities sustainability in montado ecosystems. The sporocarp survey was conducted once every two weeks, from October to February, between 2007 and 2009 in two representative sites of the most common (cork and holm oak) open montado ecosystems in southern Portugal. Results showed that canopy cover strongly shaped macrofungal communities composition and yield. Denser canopy cover enhanced mycorrhizal richness and reduced saprotrophic yield. Furthermore, mycorrhizal richness and yield increased with tree proximity. Finally some forest management strategies are suggested in order to enhance macrofungal richness and productivity, in montado ecosystems.

Variation in soil C and microbial functions across tree canopy projection and open grassland microenvironments

“…The lack of significant differences in terms of AP between microenvironments of the 2 grassland management types and the tilled vineyard was associated with sheep dejections and the addition of poultry droppings as organic fertilizer in the tilled vineyard (Okur et al, 2009). Higher ARYL and NAG activities observed under the oak canopy in the pasture were associated with macrofungal richness, as these saprophytic organisms benefit from nutrients' availability and hyphae if soils are preserved from tillage (Santos-Silva et al, 2011). In fact, Castillo-Monroy et al (2011) observed a high covering of soil biological crust under perennial plant canopy if soil is undisturbed.…”

Logged peat swamp forest supports greater macrofungal biodiversity than large‐scale oil palm plantations and smallholdings

“…This is probably because deadwood is rarely removed in polyculture smallholdings. Previous studies have reported that saprotrophic fungi are more strongly associated with substrate availability than canopy cover (Robert, Ceska, Kroeger, & Kendrick, ; Santos‐Silva, Gonçalves, & Louro, ), and substrates are known to be important in maintaining a diverse community of fungi (Bader, Jansson, & Jonsson, ; Brazee et al., ; Heilmann‐Clausen & Christensen, ; Nordén, Ryberg, Götmark, & Olausson, ). For example, results from a study in Sarawak, Malaysia found that fungal species density increased with increasing number of substrates (such as coarse woody debris; Yamashita et al., ).…”

Decline of ectomycorrhizal fungi following a mountain pine beetle epidemic

“…Unlike EM fungi, saprotrophic fungi acquire carbon exclusively through decomposition of organic materials and thus are less likely to be immediately responsive to tree mortality, as shown in our study. Saprotrophic fungi may have a particular preference for litter type (Dix and Webster 1995) or be influenced more by soil texture than by overstory composition (Santos-Silva et al 2011).…”